Australia vs England 4th Test cricket tips and predictions – Copybet
It has been a miserable Ashes so far for England, who find themselves 3-0 down with two Tests remaining and in danger of suffering a series whitewash.
With the series already wrapped up, Australia will not down tools as they look to pile the misery on the tourists.
Australia vs England
Australia have vowed not to rest on their laurels after racing into a 3-0 lead in the five-match Ashes series against England and they are worthy favourites for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
With a series victory wrapped up, the Aussies are unlikely to risk the fitness of captain Pat Cummins, who has only just recovered from a back problem, while spinner Nathan Lyon has joined fast bowler Josh Hazlewood on the sidelines.
Steve Smith missed the third Test in Adelaide due to vertigo but Travis Head and Alex Carey ensured that the hosts were able to cope without their star batsman.
Wicketkeeper Carey scored 106 and 72 at his home ground, following his knock of 63 in the second Test in Brisbane.
He also top-scored with 26 in Australia's first innings of the series and could shine once again at the MCG, where he made his first Test century against South Africa in December 2022.
Australia vs England
England's Josh Tongue took five wickets in his first appearance of the series in Adelaide and he should be backed to overshadow his weary teammates in the first innings in Melbourne.
Tongue bowled Josh Inglis in Australia's first dig at the Adelaide Oval and finished with figures of 4-70 in the second innings.
All four of his victims were top-seven batters as he had Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green caught behind the wicket and bounced out the in-form Head.
Tongue signed off the English summer with 15 wickets in his last two County Championship games for Nottinghamshire, following a promising series against India in which he claimed 19 scalps in three Tests.
Australia vs England
England will be hoping that Australia paceman Mitchell Starc is starting to tire after his heroics in the first three Tests and the tourists are worth backing to make over 20.5 runs in their opening partnership.
Ben Duckett has had a tough tour but his opening partner Zak Crawley bounced back from his pair in Perth with scores of 76, 44, nine and 85 in the second and third Tests.
England made 37 in the first innings in Adelaide for their first wicket and they will be desperate to make a solid start after going 3-0 down in the series.