Australia will not play a spinner in the Boxing Day Test on a Melbourne pitch stand-in captain Steve Smith described as "quite furry, quite green".

The home side have named a 12-man squad for the fourth Ashes Test against England, starting on Friday (23:30 GMT Thursday). The group includes only specialist pace bowlers, meaning off-spinner Todd Murphy misses out.

Smith, deputising as captain for Pat Cummins, said Australia will play four seamers, plus all-rounder Cameron Green. Michael Neser, Brendon Doggett and Jhye Richardson are vying for two places in the final XI.

Smith is returning after missing the third Test through illness. Usman Khawaja was initially left out of the third Test, then replaced Smith and made scores of 82 and 40 in Adelaide. Khawaja is retained in Melbourne at the expense of Josh Inglis. Khawaja will bat at number five, with all-rounder Green dropping to seven.

The previous Ashes Test in Melbourne, in 2021, was over inside three days as England were bowled out for 185 and 68. "I daresay it's going to offer quite a bit," said Smith in his Christmas Day news conference. "Tomorrow looks similar conditions today – quite cold and overcast. There's going to be quite a bit of movement in that surface."

Smith said there is 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to the furry and green description. Australia have already won the Ashes after moving 3-0 up in the first three Tests. The home side are now targeting a fourth 5-0 clean sweep, while England are looking to end an 18-match winless streak in this country.

Players from both sides trained side-by-side in the nets on Christmas morning, with many of the England players and staff in Father Christmas hats. Families arrived to spend time on the Melbourne Cricket Ground outfield, before the squads left to celebrate.

Australia are once again without captain Cummins, as he continues to manage a back problem, while fellow pace bowler Josh Hazlewood has missed the entire series. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon suffered a series-ending hamstring injury in the third Test in Adelaide, meaning Murphy was called into the squad. But the hosts will instead choose between Doggett, Neser and Richardson.

Doggett played the first two Tests of the series after making his debut in the opener in Perth. Neser played his first Test for three years in the second match of the series in Brisbane, and claimed five wickets in England's second innings. Richardson played the last of his three Tests in the second match of the last Ashes series in this country four years ago. The 29-year-old has only just returned from 10 months out of the game following shoulder surgery. "He's had a long lay-off, but we know the skills he can possess," said Smith. "It's exciting to have him back in the fold."

England named their XI on Wednesday. Jacob Bethell has replaced Ollie Pope at number three, while pace bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the series with a side strain. Smith and Archer have previously had a thrilling on-field rivalry. On Test debut at Lord's in 2019, Archer left Smith concussed by a blow to the head. In the closing stages of the second Test of this series in Brisbane, Archer bowled a rapid spell to Smith which resulted in words exchanged between the two men.

Smith has given no guarantees he will play in the next Ashes series in 2027, raising the prospect he will not again face Archer in Test cricket. "You never want to see good players missing games," said 36-year-old Smith. "Injuries happen for fast bowlers. It's a shame that he's not going to be around, but they still have some quality seamers."

England have come under fire following reports of excessive drinking during a break in Noosa between the second and third Tests. Director of cricket Rob Key has confirmed he will investigate the behaviour of players on the Queensland coast. On Thursday, captain Ben Stokes called for "empathy" towards his players.

Smith has experience of intense public scrutiny, following his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal of 2018 that resulted in him being sacked as Australia captain. "When you're losing, the spotlight is always on you," said Smith. "Things can get spoken about and blown-up pretty heavily. I feel for them, in a way. It can be tricky."