Australia unchanged for final Ashes test

MELBOURNE, Dec 29 (Reuters) Australia have named an unchanged 12-man squad for the final Ashes test against England starting in Sydney on Tuesday.

The selectors kept faith with the party that secured a crushing innings and 99-run victory within three days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday to take a 4-0 lead in the series.

Australia need to win the final test at the Sydney Cricket Ground to be the first team to claim an Ashes whitewash since the 1920-21 English tourists were heavily beaten.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne.

Reuters SBA VP0632