adminSydney. — Opening batsman Chris Rogers wants an unchanged Australian team for the fifth and final Ashes test as a reward for the eleven players who beat England in the first four matches to emphatically wrest back the urn. The hosts have played with the same team since the start of the series in November and they will head to Sydney eyeing a whitewash when the match starts on Friday.
“We’ve had some good stability,” Rogers, who struck a sparkling century to fire Australia to a dominant eight-wicket win in the fourth Ashes test, told reporters on Tuesday.
“I just think it would be nice to have that same 11 standing on the podium at the end.
“The guys who have been here this whole series deserve to be there so it would be nice if we can keep that same team.”
Paceman Ryan Harris and allrounder Shane Watson bowled sparingly in the second innings in Melbourne as they managed respective knee and groin complaints but are expected to be fit for Sydney.
Australia lost 3-0 in the year’s first Ashes series in England and few would have seen the reversal Down Under.
Australia v England schedule:
Jan 12: Melbourne
Jan 17: Brisbane
Jan 19: Sydney
Jan 24: Perth
Jan 26: Adelaide
Squad for the first three matches: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey (vice-capt), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, David Warner, Shane Watson. — Supersport.com/AFP
Online Reporter