'No one really has a clue': Ben Stokes' pitch admission as England waits to name final Ashes XI
Updated . First published
England captain Ben Stokes has declared he's none the wiser on the make up of his XI for the final Ashes Test, admitting "no one really has a clue" when judging a pitch.
The SCG wicket has been a hot topic after the disaster at the MCG with Sydney curator Adam Lewis saying on Friday "this is our grand final".
England has named a 12-man squad for the match with Matthew Potts coming in for Gus Atkinson while spinner Shoaib Bashir is also in line for selection.
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The non-selection Bashir over the series has been a big talking point with Will Jacks preferred, despite not being a frontline spinner.
England's Shoaib Bashir bowls during a nets session. PA Images via Getty Images
Australia is also wrestling with the thought of whether or not to play Todd Murphy.
Stokes confessed it's been "quite difficult" to nail down an XI.
"I don't think a groundsman has ever been under this much pressure as the guy here this week," he said.
"We looked yesterday and the day before as well. We try and act like we know what we're doing when we look at the pitch ... no one really has a clue to be honest.
Ben Stokes in his press conference. Nine
'You can only just try and give yourself the best chance of thinking what eleven we need to give ourselves the best chance at winning this. We'll have a final look at some time today and then we'll get something out there."
After Stokes' press conference at 1:30pm (AEDT), SCG staff were applying the heavy roller to the pitch. The wicket's green tinge was still prominent but not as noticeable as it was two days ago.
The SCG pitch on Saturday afternoon. Lachlan Harper
In terms of England's inclusions, Potts took two wickets for the Lions against Australia's Prime Minister's XI in November.
Outside of Adelaide, neither team has prioritised spin over the series. If Murphy isn't selected for Sydney, it would make it two out of five matches that Australia has played a spinner.
The Test will serve as a farewell match for 39-year-old batter Usman Khawaja, who has announced his retirement.
