England has announced its 12-man squad for the Sydney Test and could make as many as two changes from the team that won on Boxing Day.
Paceman Gus Atkinson will miss with the hamstring injury he suffered in Melbourne, joining Jofra Archer and Mark Wood as fast bowling casualties this summer.
He will be replaced by Matthew Potts, who will play his 11th Test for England.
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Potts took two wickets for the Lions against Australia’s Prime Minister’s XI in November.
England’s Shoaib Bashir bowls during a nets session. PA Images via Getty Images
Both teams will be weighing up just how important spin will be in Sydney, with less grass on the SCG pitch and hot temperatures expected.
England has named spinner Shoaib Bashir in its squad of 12 and he could potentially make his debut on January 4.
The 22-year-old has been left out all summer to this point, with England instead relying on part-timer Will Jacks to increase their batting depth.
Bashir would replace Jacks in the XI in all likelihood if a change is made.
Australia will make England wait before confirming any changes, though Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster was fielding at gully during training on Friday, hinting he could potentially replace Cameron Green.
Victorian Todd Murphy would likely replace Jhye Richardson in the XI if the Aussies elected to pick a specialist spinner of their own in Sydney.
Outside of Adelaide, neither team has bowled much spin so far all summer.
The Test will serve as a farewell match for 39-year-old batter Usman Khawaja, who has announced his retirement.