The Ashes: Stuart Broad replaces Ollie Robinson in England team for fourth Test



Broad has taken

Broad will be in Australia for the fourth Test.

Broad replaces Robinson, who has a shoulder issue, in the only change to England's XI from last week's third Test defeat.

Australia have won the series with two Tests to spare after earning three dominant victories, and Broad has played just once so far.

Khawaja is back for the hosts. On Tuesday, play starts at 23:30.

Khawaja will be in the middle of the order for Head, who is isolating after a positive Covid test.

After producing a player-of-the-match performance in his Test debut, fast bowler Scott Boland keeps his place.

England XI: Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

Broad was left out of the England side for the first and third Tests because of the seamer friendly pitches, despite earning his 150th England cap in the second Test in which he took 2-100.

The preparation for the Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground has been disrupted by Covid-19, with head coach Chris Silverwood, pace bowling coach Jon Lewis, spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel and strength and conditioning coach Darren Veness all absent.

Chris Woakes has a shoulder injury.

In Silverwood's absence, Graham Thorpe will lead England and described Broad as a "caged tiger".

"I've been in contact with Silverwood throughout regarding team selection, as well as keeping him in the loop with what's been going on, but obviously myself and Joe Root are here on the ground," he said.

We're looking at the surface to see how our bowlers are doing. Stuart was brought back in because it felt a bit of a risk going in with a couple of guys carrying injuries.

"I've got a couple of tigers coming into this match, one of them is Ben Stokes." Stuart is not the only one.

England play for pride as the series progresses.

Khawaja played in the third Test at Headingley, which England won by one point, because of Ben Stokes' century.

The 35-year-old was named in Australia's 15-man squad for the first two Tests but did not make the team.

Pat Cummins said that fast bowler Josh Hazlewood would probably be fit to play in the fifth Test in Hobart from 14 January, despite still suffering from a side strain.

"Joshy was going to play, he's been a brilliant bowler for us for a long time," said Cummins.

It would have been terrible to see Scotty not play this week. It's unfortunate for Joshy but I'm glad Scott gets another chance.

Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, and David Warner are the Australians.