Live updates: Ashes fifth test, Australia v England

Australia's Mitchell Starc will return for the final Ashes test. Photo / AP

Follow all the action from the fifth Ashes test between Australia and England, the opening day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Australia lead the series 3-0 following the fourth test draw at the MCG.

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Mitchell Starc has been cleared to play the Ashes series finale, with Australia confident their spearhead is fully fit and won't ruin his hopes of touring South Africa.

Starc missed the fourth Test because of a bruised heel but has since recovered, delivering a long spell in the SCG nets on Tuesday.

The left-armer has pulled up well and will replace Jackson Bird in the hosts' XI for the dead rubber.

Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who was added to Australia's squad after the dull draw in Melbourne, must continue to wait for his first Test on home soil.

"The wicket's got a fair bit of grass and looks to be a pretty good wicket," Steve Smith said, when asked about the prospect of playing two spinners.

England captain Joe Root, who confirmed legspinner Mason Crane would debut in place of injured paceman Chris Woakes, offered a different take on the pitch.

Root insisted it was a spin-friendly deck and he'd always planned on playing tweakers Crane and Moeen Ali in the same XI.

"Once we got here and we saw the surface, that was a clear indication of what team we wanted," Root said.

"It looks like it should give a bit of turn throughout, it generally does here."

Smith, who skipped Tuesday's training session because of a sore back, had a hit on Wednesday and confirmed he'll be right to play the fifth Test.

"A little bit stiff but nothing I haven't dealt with before," he said.

The world's best batsman is already the first Australian captain to score 600 or more runs in an Ashes series since Don Bradman.

Smith, expected to be named man of the series after producing man-of-the-match knocks in Brisbane and Perth, can soon become the only Australian apart from Bradman to post four tons in an Ashes series.

"I love batting out here," Smith said.

"It's my home ground. I've made a few good scores here before, so hopefully I can continue the run.

"I'm feeling really good at the crease.

"It's just ensuring I don't get too far ahead of myself. If you walk out there and expect you're going to get runs the game can bite you pretty quickly."

- AAP