Match Facts
December 26-30, Melbourne
Start time 10:30 (23:30 GMT)
The Big Picture:
It doesn't get much bigger than this: Boxing Day at the MCG in front of a potential crowd of 90,000, the Ashes up for grabs, the series level at 1-1 with two Tests to play.
Australia's victory at the WACA might have disappointed England fans keen to see the urn safely in the visitors' hands as soon as possible. But for the series.
Watch out for:
He began the series as Australia's most under-pressure batsman, but now Michael Hussey is the one banker in a line-up that has struggled to post big totals. By freeing his thinking and playing his natural game, Hussey has sparked a career renaissance that has brought his highest Test score and six consecutive 50-plus Ashes scores, which is a record.
Team news:
The slow MCG drop-in pitches usually mean a spinner is required, so Beer could come in for his debut. If that is the case, Peter Siddle is likely to be the unlucky fast man who would be left out.
Steven Finn might be rested if Anderson plays. Either way, Tim Bresnan is likely to come in alongside Chris Tremlett and either Finn or Anderson.
Pitch and conditions:
Melbourne's drop-in pitches are usually slow and low, which will be a change after the lively surface in Perth. "I would think on the WACA's worst day they would still be faster and bouncier than anything we normally turn out," the MCG curator Cameron Hodgkins said.
Batting often becomes easier as the match progresses. The forecast for the first day is for a shower or two and 21C.
Stats:
Ricky Ponting enters this match having played in 99 Test victories, and should Australia prevail, he will be the first player in history to take part in 100 Test wins.
Australia have won 10 of the past 11 Tests at the MCG, the only loss in that time coming against South Africa two years ago.
Mike Hussey has scored 517 runs and Alastair Cook has 495 for the series. With two Tests remaining, both men have made more than any player did during the entire 2009 Ashes series.
The record crowd for cricket at the MCG was 90,800, set on day two of the Australia-West Indies Test in 1960-61.
Australia (probable):
1 Shane Watson, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Steven Smith, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Ryan Harris, 10 Michael Beer, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.
England (probable):
1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Ian Bell, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Chris Tremlett, 11 James Anderson.
Quotes:
"The Boxing Day Test is always very special because the guys have their families, it's a great time of the year. Everyone is pretty excited and probably a bit more excited after winning in Perth as well." Michael Clarke.
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