While the Ashes have been lost, England's wicketkeeper-batsman insists the tourists need to select their best side at the SCG as pressure mounts on some players
Sydney no time for experimenting: Bairstow
Dead-rubber or not, England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow insists selectors must stick with the best available side for Thursday's final Magellan Ashes Test at the SCG.
Pressure is mounting on the likes of spinner Moeen Ali, who has taken just three wickets at 135 for the series after he failed to spin England to their victory of the series in Melbourne.
Batsmen Mark Stoneman and James Vince are yet to reach triple figures in the series - alongside captain Joe Root - and will be desperate for runs in Sydney.
The SCG Test could also allow for England to make some moves for the future, after three players were debuted by the visitors in the corresponding dead rubber four years ago.
But Bairstow scoffed at the suggestion 20-year-old legspinner Mason Crane could be given a debut at the SCG simply in order to give him Test match experience.
"You've got to play your best team. We're in it to win matches of cricket," Bairstow said.
"Whether that's Mason plays, whoever it is the XI that go out are going out to win the Test match.
"Yes the series is gone, but I'm sure you can see from the spirit the guys showed in this Test match, by no means is it an easy ride or foot off the gas."
Bairstow also backed veteran quicks Stuart Broad and James Anderson to be fit for Thursday after the pair toiled through a combined 54 overs in Australia's second innings at the MCG.
England's bowlers left Melbourne without any serious injuries after spending the final day in the field on an unresponsive pitch, and will benefit from the longer-than-norman four-day break between Australia's two showcase Tests of the holiday period.
"They've all played the warm-up games, they've all played every single Test match," Bairstow said of Broad and Anderson.
"There's no need for that to change and I don't see it changing.
"The performance that we put in this last game was really good and if we're really honest we could've won that Test match."
2017-18 International Fixtures
Magellan Ashes Series
Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.
England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.
First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard
Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard
Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard
Fourth Test Match drawn. Tickets
Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Scorecard
Gillette ODI Series v England
First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets
Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets
Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets
Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets
Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets
Prime Minister's XI
PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets
Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series
First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets
Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets
Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets
Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14
Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16
Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18
Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21