Danger sign Australia made a huge Ashes selection blunder as Marnus Labuschagne tries to talk down chances tourists will struggle

Australia are hopeful their decision not to play a spinner at Manchester won’t backfire, believing the Old Trafford wicket may buck the trend and turn less later in the game.

The tourists’ decision to go into the fourth Ashes Test without a spinner continued to raise eyebrows on Wednesday, with Ricky Ponting among those surprised by the decision.

With Todd Murphy left out of the team and no frontline spinner picked for the first time since January 2011, Australia will be forced to rely on Travis Head as their main tweaker.

Adding to the challenge for Australia is the fact they will be bowling last in the match, at a time when spin is usually the most prodigious and the injured Nathan Lyon has been a go-to option.

Concern was heightened further when England spinner Moeen Ali was able to get some purchase out of the wicket, trapping Marnus Labuschagne lbw on 51.

Australia are hoping their decision to not choose a spinner at Old Trafford won’t backfire

England spinner Moeen Ali has had some success already, trapping Marnus Labuschagne

But Labuschagne said he believed that could have been a result of a thick grass cover left of the wicket, which will flatten out later in the game.

‘Because the wicket has been undercover for a few days, it didn’t have that really rock-hardness,’ Labuschagne said.

‘And the thatchy grass is spinning. So once that wears off, I think the middle of the week it’s going to actually not spin so much.

‘The ends will rough up, eventually, if the weather stays good. But I think it’s actually going to spin less as the game goes on from the good part of the wicket.’

Labuschagne was also adamant that Australia’s extra batting had not created any complacency, after six men got out between 20 and 51 in their score of 8-299.

England again questioned Australia’s decision not to play a spinner on Wednesday, with Stuart Broad pointing out Old Trafford is generally a place where spin is effective.

It came after Ponting also queried the decision in commentary.

‘I was still surprised they didn’t go in with one,’ Ponting said during Moeen’s second spell.

Stuart Broad has questioned the Aussie decision, saying Old Trafford is usually good for spin

Australian great Ricky Ponting also questioned the decision to leave out a spinner

‘Your preference is always to go in with a spinner – unless you are brilliant at reading weather forecasts and cricket pitches.

‘So if you haven’t got one, you can be found out very easy.’