Australia skipper Pat Cummins confirms swap for Manchester Test

Manchester: Australia skipper Pat Cummins has confirmed that Australia would make a change for the fourth Ashes Test here.

Australia could go in with an all-out pace attack at Old Trafford according to skipper Cummins.

A day ahead of the fourth Test, the Australian captain confirmed that Josh Hazlewood would return to the XI at the expense of Scott Boland, who has had an ordinary run in the series.

However, he commented that not playing Todd Murphy was an option that Australia are pondering, the ICC reported.

With Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood leading the pace pack, Australia could also have Michael Neser back in the mix. The pacer has had a good time with the bat for Glamorgan, smashing an unbeaten, career-best 176 in the County Championship after he was released from the squad.

The pacer has returned to join the Ashes camp and could be in contention for Manchester, although Cummins hinted about trying to fit in two all-rounders.

"Josh will come in for Scott Boland, and the top order will stay the same," said Cummins ahead of the Test.

Cameron Green, who was replaced by Mitchell Marsh last Test, is another option the visitors have. Marsh played a starring role at Headingley in the third Test and is likely to keep his place, which would mean Green remains on the sidelines unless he replaces Murphy.

On the ICC Review, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting had said that he would have liked Murphy to keep his place for the fourth Test.

"I've got no doubt that he stays in the side. And I think when they get the chance, when Pat gets the chance, he might look at getting him into the game a little bit earlier next time," Ponting had said.

While Cummins said that Australia were excited about Murphy, he pointed out that the 22-year-old isn't exactly a like-for-like to Nathan Lyon.

"Nathan Lyon is the greatest off-spinner we've ever had so it's not quite apples for apples," Cummins said.

"We are really excited by Todd, we think he's fantastic. I would have loved to use him a bit more last week, (but) conditions just favoured pace bowling," he said.

"We think he's a gun, we love having him around, he's got a big future. It was more conditions the way I used him, as opposed to how he bowled," Cummins said.

Meanwhile, England have confirmed their XI for the fourth Test with James Anderson set to return for Ollie Robinson in the only change from the winning team that played at Headingley last week.

Australia Ashes squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner

England XI for fourth Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson. (UNI)