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England could take an unchanged side into the Boxing Day Test after skipper Andrew Strauss said pace bowler James Anderson was fit to play.
Anderson was in doubt with a side strain but bowled at close to full pace in the MCG nets over the past two days, including the touring team’s light session on Christmas morning.
“He had a bit of a niggle but he seems to have got over that. He’s 100 per cent fit and available for selection,” Strauss told a press conference on Saturday.
Steve Finn showed signs of fatigue as Australia claimed a series-levelling win in Perth last week in the third Ashes Test.
But Strauss has backed the 21-year-old quick to handle the rigours of a five-day MCG Test match starting on Sunday.
“The key before every Test match is to try and get the balance of a team that you think’s most likely to work on any given wicket, so we’ve had to think long and hard about that,” Strauss said.
“‘Finny’ has done some really good things on this tour, taken quite a few wickets.
“He was probably a bit expensive in Perth (2-86 off 15 overs and 3-97 off 21).
“But he’s young and he’s learning and I think he’s going to keep getting better.
“We’re going to have to think about what that best balance is before tomorrow and we’ll name the side at the toss.”
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