England captain Ben Stokes has conducted his final pre-match press conference ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), with the series already decided at 3-1 to the hosts.
Pitch Preparation Under the Microscope
The nature of the SCG pitch has become a talking point before a ball has been bowled. Stokes, with a smile, remarked on the pressure facing the ground's curator, Adam Lewis, who has defended the greenish tinge visible on the strip.
Lewis, who avoids social media to shut out "negative energy," stated he is happy with the pitch's colour and predicted a "nice even surface" with "good carry" for the seam bowlers. His comments come amid heightened Australian scrutiny over grass lengths following England's two-day victory in the previous Test in Melbourne.
Final Team Decision Pending
As of Saturday lunchtime, Stokes and the England tour selectors had not finalised their playing XI for the Test, which starts on Sunday morning. The decision is likely a straight choice between seamer Matthew Potts—a potential like-for-like replacement for the injured Gus Atkinson—and off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who has played little cricket since July.
Stokes offered a refreshingly honest assessment of trying to read the pitch, admitting, "We try and act like we know what we’re doing when we’re looking down at the pitch... but no one really has a clue, to be honest." He confirmed a final look would be taken during training before the team is settled.
A 'Big Game' Despite Series Loss
Despite the Ashes urn being lost, Stokes insisted the Sydney Test remains a significant occasion for his team. "This is a big game because we’re walking out there representing England," he stated, emphasising the desire to secure a victory to end the tour on a positive note.
The captain was forthright in his praise for the decisive factor in the series: the Australian seam attack. "There’s a big difference between what Australia are able to do with the ball compared to what we’ve been able to do," Stokes conceded, acknowledging that England's bowlers had not executed their plans as effectively under pressure.
As England's players prepare for one last effort on Australian soil, all eyes will be on the SCG pitch and the team sheet, as they aim to salvage pride and momentum from a challenging Ashes campaign.
