Ashes 2021-22: England swing the axe with four changes for Boxing Day Test

Batsmen
Zac
Crawley
and
Jonny
Bairstow
earn
their
first
opportunities
during
this
Ashes
series
while
paceman
Mark
Wood
and
spinner
Jack
Leach
have
been
recalled.

England
trail
2-0
in
the
Ashes
after
heavy
defeats
in
Brisbane
and
Adelaide
and
will
look
to
keep
the
series
alive
at
the
MCG
starting
on
Sunday.

Opening
batsman
Burns
has
been
left
out
after
managing
only
51
runs
at
12.75
along
with
Ollie
Pope
with
48
runs
at
12
in
the
first
two
Tests.

Broad
and
Woakes
make
way
as
England
look
to
add
variety
to
their
attack
which
has
allowed
Australia
to
score
more
than
400
runs
in
the
first
innings
of
both
Test
matches.

England
vice-captain
Jos
Buttler
told
reporters
on
Saturday:
“I’d
say
the
reaction
is
just
an
honest
one
from
the
group.
We’ve
had
some
honest
conversations.

“When
you
come
and
play
Australia
we
need
to
be
at
your
best.
We’re
honest
with
ourselves
that
we
haven’t
been
there
yet.
We
have
to
find
that
very
quickly.”