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December 26, 2017

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Curran to make test debut for England

England paceman Tom Curran will make his test debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Australia today, replacing the injured Craig Overton, who has a fractured rib.

England skipper Joe Root says South Africa-born Curran is a 鈥渇eisty character鈥 with an impressive work ethic.

Curran, an uncapped right-arm bowler, was only added to England鈥檚 Ashes squad when Steve Finn was ruled out at the start of the tour due to injury.

The 22-year-old Curran played a one-day international and three Twenty20 matches for England earlier this year.

鈥淪ometimes as a captain you have to go with your gut,鈥 Root said yesterday. 鈥淚t was a close call. He鈥檚 obviously worked extremely hard, as has everyone else. You know you鈥檙e always going to get absolutely everything out of him.鈥

Australia regained the Ashes with a win in the third test at Perth.

Meanwhile, a sore hand may force Australia captain Steve Smith to tweak his approach during the fourth test.

Smith was on the wrong end of a freakish injury scare on Sunday when a ball driven by Cameron Bancroft burst over the nets and struck him on the right hand. Smith, waiting to bat at the time, wasn鈥檛 wearing gloves.

Smith, who boasts a test average of 127.6 at the MCG after posting centuries in the past three Boxing Day games, had a short hit on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Smith admitted he still wasn鈥檛 100 percent.

鈥淚t was a little bit sore today playing a few different shots,鈥 he said yesterday. 鈥淏ut I鈥檒l be able to deal with it and I鈥檒l get on with it. Maybe I鈥檒l just have to use a bit more of my top hand throughout the game, a bit less wristy.鈥

Australia has replaced left-handed fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who has a bruised right foot, with Jackson Bird.


 

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