Australia vs England fourth test day 1 cricket scores, results, start time, wickets, teams, how to watch, Boxing Day Test, MCG

All eyes are on the shades of green of the MCG pitch (10mm grass) and bowler Michael Neser says the quick-hitters need to be adaptable.

England won the toss and elected to bowl.

“It’s definitely a lot more turf than I’ve seen in other Test matches. But you can’t judge a wicket without both teams bowling on it,” Neser told Fox Cricket this morning.

“He might giggle, but I think you have to be quick to adjust to your lengths… definitely look for that full length and find the edge.”

This is Neser’s fourth Test, but his first with the red ball, having played two pink-ball Tests in Adelaide and one pink-ball Test in Brisbane.

The Queenslander said he learned of his selection after stepping out of a hotel lift on Christmas Day and bumping into selector Tony Dodemaide.

“I was walking down to the lobby and the Dodds selected bumped into me and pulled me aside. And I thought, ‘where is this going?’ Luckily, it was a great Christmas present,” Neser said.

He also said he had become accustomed to wicketkeeper Alex Carey standing near the stumps to keep the England batsmen in their own half.

“Years ago, I hated being a fast bowler. I thought I couldn’t bowl with the wicketkeeper standing,” he said.

“Then Uzi (Usman Khawaja) pulled me aside and told me to get my ego out of it… it just brings more form of dismissal for me.”