The Ashes LIVE: Australia make a surprising name simply earlier than the beginning of play – and one legend is VERY offended about it

There’s 5mm of grass on the SCG deck and Ben Stokes had no hesitation in deciding to bat.

‘It looks a pretty good one and as the game goes on it might become a little bit easier,’ he said of the wicket.

Steve Smith would’ve made the same decision had he won the toss. He’s 0-4 when it comes to that in this series.

He also confirmed that Beau Webster is into the team, replacing Jhye Richardson, and Todd Murphy will not play.

Webster can bowl offspin if needed, but it can’t be stressed enough that going without a specialist spinner in Sydney is a stunning move from the hosts.

This hasn’t happened for almost 140 years and as we mentioned below, Kerry O’Keeffe will be outraged by the snub. He won’t be the only former great of the game who’s fuming, either.

It continues a big lack of emphasis on spin from both teams this series, with Nathan Lyon dropped for Brisbane, and not replaced for the Melbourne match after his injury in Adelaide.

England have relied on Will Jacks, who struggled badly in the third Test, instead of Shoaib Bashir.

The crowd has risen to its feet as victims, first responders, lifesavers and medics are presented to the crowd.

The biggest cheer came for Ahmed Al Ahmed, the man who disarmed one of the gunmen during the terror attack.

Daily Mail cricket correspondent Lawrence Booth delivers his take on the stunning selection call…

I’m writing this from the SCG’s Richie Benaud Media Centre, and I wonder what the great man would make of the absence from either side of a specialist spinner for a ground that was once the spiritual home of Australian slow bowlers. That means Australia are going into a Sydney Test without a frontline spinner for the first time since 1887-88. England, meanwhile, have preferred Matthew Potts to Shoaib Bashir, which makes Will Jacks the closest thing to an actual spinner in this game, though Joe Root, Jacob Bethell and Travis Head may disagree with that.

Australia: ravis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Michael Neser, Mitch Starc, Scott Boland

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue

Former spinner Kerry O’Keeffe said he will be ‘taking the selection panel to the Hague’ if the rumour about Todd Murphy being left out is true.

‘I’m going to the highest court in the world,’ he told Fox.

The Aussie great had to be put in an induced coma in a Gold Coast hospital after falling ill with meningitis on Boxing Day.

Now his family have given a promising update on his condition.

‘Damien is progressing well with his medical treatment,’ Martyn’s partner Amanda said.

‘We would like to thank everyone for the incredible outpouring of support our family has received.

‘We also want to express our deepest appreciation to the medical team at Gold Coast University Hospital who have been nothing short of amazing throughout this challenging time.

‘This has been a trying time and the family ask that you respect their privacy.’

All-rounder Beau Webster – who has been backed to replace the out-of-form Cameron Green at the SCG – has been seen marking out his run-up before play this morning.

Green and Michael Neser have also placed their marks, leading to speculation that Todd Murphy (pictured below with Green) could be about to miss out on a spot – and going without a spinner in Sydney is incredibly rare for the hosts.

The prime minister has sent a warm message to Khawaja, who has been tipped to make a move into politics at some stage…

Khawaja said the furore over him playing golf before suffering back spasms that left him unable to open in the first Test was an example of the racial stereotyping he’s suffereed throughout his career.

Former fast bowler Jason Gillespie disagreed yesterday, saying, ‘A few former players came out and quite rightly questioned whether that [playing golf before the Perth Test] was the best possible preparation.

‘Being questioned over that and being held to account over your choices, that’s not bullying, it’s not abuse, that’s all part and parcel of being a professional.

‘You can’t really throw a temper tantrum when asked to take accountability for the job you’re actually paid to do.’

As was the case in Adelaide and Melbourne, police equipped with long-arm rifles will be patrolling the ground and surrounding areas today, along with mounted and riot squad officers.

There will also be an on-field tribute to the victims and first responders after the atrocity at the famous beach, featuring a guard of honour and round of applause.

It’s currently bright and sunny in the Harbour City, as you can see from this shot of Aussie spinner Todd Murphy examining the pitch this morning… but it’s no certainty to stay that way.

Rain in the New Year’s Test has become an unwanted tradition, so much so that there have been calls for the match to be switched out of Sydney.

Today’s forecast predicts a 50 per cent chance of rain, starting at 2pm local time and going through to 7pm.