Ashes 4th Test: Australia aims to brush aside England in the 'Pink Test'

With a 3-0 lead, Australia has already retained the Ashes Urn but now their focus is to inflict a 5-0 series whitewash against England. The 'Pink Test' in Sydney starts on Wednesday as England are without their head coach Chris Silverwood who tested positive for Covid-19. When it comes to the on-field action, this series has been missing the rivalry that Ashes has been known for but Australian Captain Pat Cummins knows the reason.

Cummins before the 4th Test in Sydney highlighted the covid situation around the two teams and said, "I think it's been really tough for them. So we're just really thankful that they're out here you know, as part of the series. In terms of the cricket side of things, I couldn't be happier with how it's going for us. We've been on the other side of it, you know, before so it's not going to be like that forever so we'll enjoy it while we can."

Australia meanwhile has retained 3rd Test's hero Scott Boland and called up Usman Khawaja to feature in the Playing XI replacing Covid-19 positive Travis Head. This will be a big return for Khawaja in the Test set-up after a gap of more than 2 years.

Also read: Ashes 4th Test: 'We've got the foot on the throat' says Steve Smith as Australia aims for 5-0 vs England

England assistant coach Graham Thorpe meanwhile wants his players to deliver despite the distractions. He said, "Obviously, we've had the distractions of COVID Off the field as well, which have been challenging to say the least. But at the end of the day, we also know we haven't played good enough cricket when we have been out in the middle either.

England on the other hand has stuck to the batting line-up that failed miserably in the 3rd Test and have only made 1 change in the form of Stuart Broad who will once again get to bowl in tandem with James Anderson after missing 2 Test matches on the tour.

4th Ashes Test: Australia vs England Playing XI

England Playing XI for 4th Ashes Test: Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (captain), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Mark Wood, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson.

Australia Playing XI for 4th Ashes Test: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland