Root dropped as England debut 3

Despite widespread indications that England would make three changes to their line-up for the final Commonwealth Bank Ashes Test, the tourists surprised by axing No.3 batsman Joe Root.

The change of personnel prompted an immediate reversal of fortunes for England captain Alastair Cook who won his first toss of the series and opted to send the Australians into bat on a green-tinged pitch under thick cloud at the SCG.

By contrast, and in keeping with their dominant 4-0 lead in the series, Australia retained the same XI despite pre-match injury concerns surrounding pace bowler Ryan Harris and all-rounder Shane Watson.

Root’s omission became the morning’s talking point ahead of the inclusion of new caps Gary Ballance, Boyd Rankin and Scott Borthwick.

Ballance was expected to replace opener Michael Carberry in the starting XI, with Root elevated to the opening role that he filled with considerable success during the previous Ashes series in England last year.

But the selectors opted to retain Carberry even though he has struggled to perform much beyond occupation of the crease, and are expected to promote Ian Bell to number three so that Zimbabwe-born Balance can slot into the middle-order.

Borthwick, a promising 23-year-old leg spinner, was only added to the England squad prior to the Melbourne Test having played for the England performance team on its Australian tour and turned out in Sydney grade cricket.

He was named as a replacement for Monty Panesar who was suffering from calf soreness as well as the effects of an indifferent performance at the MCG.

Rankin, born in Northern Ireland, replaces all-rounder Tim Bresnan and his inclusion is doubtless prompted by the conditions at the MCG that are expected to favour pace bowlers, especially tall players such as Rankin who can generate additional bounce.

However, his debut got off to a shaky start when it was reported that he was not present at the team’s pre-match cap presentation for the new lads because he was in the team medical room receiving last-minute treatment.

The last time England selected three new caps in the same Test was in Nagpur in 2006, when current skipper Cook made his Test debut.

Teams – Australia: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke. Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner (12^th man)

England: Alastair Cook, Michael Carberry, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Gary Ballance,  Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Scott Borthwick, James Anderson, Boyd Rankin, (12^th man to be named)