Sydney test! England plays for pride, Uzzy's last test and is Green out?

Steve O'Keefe and Moises Henriques return to preview the New Year's Test in Sydney, reflecting on Usman Khawaja's retirement, the selection dilemmas surrounding Cameron Green and Beau Webster, and the ongoing frustration with Australian pitch preparation.

Usman Khawaja's Legacy and the "Mancat" Lesson

The hosts pay tribute to Usman Khawaja, who is set to play his 88th and final Test. Henriques shares a hilarious story from their Under-11s days when he "mancatted" Khawaja without a warning — a lesson he believes kept Khawaja from ever being dismissed that way in his professional career. O'Keefe also recalls a fierce "bung on" with Khawaja over a team dress polo during a Shield loss. They both agree that Khawaja is one of Australia's most underrated stars, particularly praising his evolution into a dominant player of spin and his remarkable second half of his career.

The Cameron Green vs. Beau Webster Debate

A major point of contention is whether Cameron Green should be dropped. Henriques advocates for Green to return to Shield cricket to regain clarity and confidence away from the intense scrutiny of the Test arena, noting that Green doesn't look like the same calm player he was two years ago and that Beau Webster has "kicked every goal" and deserves his crack. O'Keefe, however, sympathises with Green, blaming the "putrid" state of Australian wickets for the struggles of all young batters. He suggests Green should stay in the team to work it out, as returning to Shield level to face medium-pace bowling on green seamers might only create more headaches.

The Death of Spin at the SCG

Despite the SCG's history as a turning wicket, both hosts are sceptical that Australia will play a specialist spinner like Todd Murphy. Henriques points out that Shield wickets have been "raging seamers" for years, discouraging the use of attacking spinners. They predict Australia might instead opt for a five-man pace attack including all-rounders Green and Webster, especially with a forecast of rain and overcast conditions.

Pitches Killing Fast Bowling and Entertainment

Henriques launches a passionate critique of current Australian pitch preparation. He argues that by leaving too much grass on the wickets, groundsmen are "killing" both high-quality spin and genuine fast bowling. On these green seamers, teams only need medium-pace accuracy rather than genuine pace, which he finds deeply disappointing for the entertainment value of Test cricket. He urges groundsmen to return to the "soil identity" of each state — turning at the SCG and bouncy at Perth — rather than producing uniform green pitches across the country.

Predictions for the Fifth Test

The toss will be paramount. Henriques expects the SCG wicket to deteriorate and crack early, meaning whoever bats first on a dry wicket will likely hold a significant advantage. While England found some rhythm at the MCG, the hosts believe Australia's ability to "grind away" on a flatter wicket still gives them the edge — provided they don't prepare yet another seamer's paradise that suits England's aggressive style.

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