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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
"All on the table": Smith considering all options for starting XI in Sydney
Nicholas Quinlan • January 3rd, 2026 4:56 pm
Australia’s interim captain Steve Smith has stated that all options for the starting XI remain on the table just a day away from the Fifth Test getting underway.
While England has already named their starting 12-man squad for the Sydney Test, Australia is yet to do the same.
So far, the hosts have only named an unchanged 15-man squad from Melbourne, with the 36-year-old saying that their decision will likely wait until he views the pitch later today.
“All on the table presently,” Smith told SEN.
“I haven’t seen the wicket today, saw it yesterday (and) it was still pretty grassy, a little bit soft.
“We’ll give ourselves an opportunity to have a look at that and then make the best decision to how we want to shape our team.”
Following the Boxing Day Test, which saw the MCG receive an unsatisfactory rating by the ICC, there has now been plenty of speculation on how the 22-yard stretch of grass at the SCG will behave.
Already, SCG Curator Adam Lewis has noted that they are hoping for a green tinge to the pitch on Day 1 to ensure an even surface.
But this left Smith somewhat surprised to see some grass, considering that last week’s Test concluded within two days.
“A little bit, yeah,” he continued.
“I was kind of hoping to see no grass on the wicket, nice and bare and a few runs.
“But yeah, it certainly wasn’t that. The grass certainly doesn’t look as thick as it did last week (in Melbourne).
“It’s still a reasonable coverage, the last time I saw it, but it was definitely thinned down, so I can’t see doing quite as much as last week.”
Smith also reflected on the career of Usman Khawaja, who’ll be retiring after playing 87 Test matches for Australia, having been seriously impressed by his hard work and determination.
He also hinted at the possibility that there may be some movement in how the batting line-up is shaped for the Test match, which might see the Queensland representative moved from the No. 5 position.
“Not sure whether he is going to bat No. 5, just yet,” Smith said.
“That’s on the table.
“I played with Uz for a very long time, the way he’s been able to develop over the years and find new skills. I think it has been spoken about, but his play in the subcontinent and against spin, he’s probably regarded as one of our best spin players now.
“And the way he was able to go and formulate that technique and go about it was really impressive.
“He’s one that has worked incredibly hard. Some of the criticism around his golf injury and his back was a bit unfair in my opinion.
“It’s something that he has done in his preparation for a long period of time, and it’s a way for him to get away and relax the day before a game. So, yeah, that was a little bit unfair.”
The Fifth Test gets underway from January 4 with SEN having live coverage of every ball bowled throughout the Test match on its radio network and on the SEN app.
