Dane Elridge: Perfect time to trim some years from ageing Aussie Test cricket side

One glance at Australia’s ageing team proves the MCG pitch isn’t the only overgrown clump in this country that may soon struggle to last two days.

Despite its continuing excellence, the Pat Cummins/Andrew McDonald era is now officially old and shifting from superstardom to superannuation with every series.

But with Sunday’s fifth Test against England being the last until a mid-year series against Bangladesh, there’s a golden chance for one last day in the sun before its shaved back to the undergrowth.

While nobody is predicting an entire root-and-branch overhaul for McDonald’s crew, the SCG presents a perfect touch point for regeneration.

Not just because it’s easier to dump someone when you can disappear for seven months, but also because the selection panel could face the same embarrassment as the MCG curator if they don’t.

Obviously it’s a sin to interrupt an all-conquering side when it’s hoarding trophies like Australia has been, but it’s cardinal if you don’t when it’s carrying more guys in their 30s than a craft beer festival.

That’s because reaction times fade overnight at this stage of life and sometimes the last thing you see is the cliff.

Admittedly many will claim age is just a number after the severe rissoling the locals inflicted on England this series.

But let’s not forget the tourists have been so historically poor in Australia that Glenn McGrath’s 5-0 predictions were starting to look modest.

Even against a modular Aussie side that has switched from match-to-match, the only thing England conquered this summer other than Bay 13 has been an opposition in a dead rubber that had barely dried out following a long week on the tiles.

With Australia set to play a draining 21 tests in 14 months after Bangladesh including trips to India and England, selectors cannot risk a thicket of 30-somethings waking up the same day with macular degeneration.

Sydney is the hard-stop to avoid such calamity but it won’t be as seamless as it sounds.

While the Australian XI’s median age means there’s a plethora of options for an SCG swansong, it’s become like bin night at a share house where everybody’s hoping someone else will put their hand up.

With Steve Smith, Travis Head and Alex Carey the only guarantees, Usman Khawaja has become the obvious choice but only to everyone except the man himself.

Despite being age 39 and with the chance to sign off in the city he was raised, all whispers have indicated the stylish leftie will only be departing the international scene if it’s via a frogmarch.

Cam Green has been underwhelming but remains a selector’s project. Plus he’s one of the rare names in the team still in his 20’s, while Marnus Labuschagne has failed to emulate his pre-series form but continues to be a prodigious influence both spiritually and aurally.

With his energy and yapping in the field - and his popularity among teammates - dropping Labuschagne so quickly after the manner in which he regained his spot would be like leaving behind the family labrador, even though he’s the one right now who could do with a seeing eye dog.

Add their understudies are also north of 30 - Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis - and Australia’s post-Ashes revolution will require courage to pick a Campbell Kellaway, patience for a Nathan McSweeney or a tight leash for a Sam Konstas.

The picture is less clear for the bowlers- and not just because we desperately don’t want to let any of the current unit go.

Lance Morris was earmarked as our next tearaway but is enduring back issues, Xavier Bartlett is untested and Fergus O’Neill lacks the air speed we’ve revelled in with Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

Then there’s the issue of Nathan Lyon, whether he’ll return, and after some curious calls made this series, whether we even need a spinner anymore.

But whichever way the selectors opt, we must trust them to get it right even though it goes against our every instinct.

If the Australian captaincy is parallel to the prime ministership then Aussies have viewed the selection panel like the Palmer United Party because it’s had the same hit rate as the tycoon’s marketing campaigns.

And when George Bailey picked a side for Brisbane featuring two wicketkeepers, a makeshift opener and no spinner, we feared he’d helped England finally get something right this tour, albeit it was only Stuart Broad and his claim we had the worst Aussie team since 2010.

However, he’s pulled the right rein more often than not this series, even if batting Josh Inglis at No.7 seemed loco and dropping Lyon cost him a Christmas card.

So whenever the SCG Test ends next week - either at teatime on day two or amid a weeklong monsoon on day five - it’s time to let these decision-makers cook.

The end of this summer is the time to heed recent failures and usher in the next crop of green shoots, even if it’s just a little trim.