England bowl first in Melbourne, Australia confirms XI

Updated
Steve Smith is back in the captain's blazer for the third time in the series.
Steve Smith is back in the captain's blazer for the third time in the series.GARETH COPLEY / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

Noticing a "nice coverage of grass" on the MCG pitch, England captain Ben Stokes is hoping for some significant seam and swing movement on the first day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Having named a 12-man squad yesterday, Australia have cut Brendan Doggett to go with Jhye Richardson. 

Australia XI:

1 Jake Weatherald, 2 Travis Head, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steve Smith, 5 Usman Khawaja, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Cameron Green, 8 Michael Neser, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Scott Boland, 11 Jhye Richardson

IN: Steve Smith, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson

OUT: Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon

England XI:

1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (c), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Will Jacks, 9 Gus Atkinson, 10 Brydon Carse, 11 Josh Tongue

IN: Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson

OUT: Ollie Pope, Jofra Archer