138-Year First: Australia Plays SCG Ashes Test Without Specialist Spinner

• Australia is playing a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) without a specialist spinner for the first time in 138 years.
• The decision was made for the fifth and final Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series against England.
• Batting all-rounder Beau Webster debuted, replacing fast bowler Jhye Richardson, while spinner Todd Murphy was surprisingly omitted.
• Despite SCG's reputation for assisting spinners, Australia opted for an all-pace attack, raising eyebrows.
• England also chose an all-pace attack, omitting specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir in favor of fast bowler Matthew Potts.

Why It Matters: Australia breaks a 138-year tradition, playing an Ashes Test at SCG without a specialist spinner.