Australia's selectors have shown their faith in the side's incumbent bowling attack, overlooking legspinner Stuart MacGill for a Sydney Test for the first time in seven years.

MacGill was not part of the squad named on Friday for the fifth Ashes Test against England, selectors retaining the men who won the fourth Test at the MCG by an innings and 99 runs.

Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is again expected to be 12th man.

MacGill played in the past seven Tests at the SCG and has a great record at the ground, averaging almost seven wickets a Test there at an average of 24.47 runs compared to his overall average of 27.21.

But the selectors felt the attack of pacemen Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, legspinner Shane Warne and fifth option Andrew Symonds had been instrumental in regaining the Ashes this summer and saw no reason for a change.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said the panel had considered drafting MacGill into the squad as a second spinner on a wicket that usually turns, although showers are forecast for the first three days of the match.

"Stuart MacGill was carefully considered for that position and remains very much in the thoughts of the national selection panel," Hilditch said.

"However, to include two specialist spinners in Sydney would have meant changing the attack which has performed so well in the first four Ashes Tests and has been an integral part of Australia's successful regaining of the Ashes this year.

"Although Sydney will traditionally lend support for the spinners we consider a three-man pace bowling attack, with Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds to bowl spin, as a well-balanced attack and suited to the conditions we are likely to encounter in Sydney."

The last time MacGill was overlooked for a Test at his home ground was when India played there in the summer of 1999-2000.

Australia's front-line bowlers have all enjoyed good series. Clark has 21 wickets at 16.76, Warne 21 at 28.86, McGrath 15 at 26.47 and Lee 14 at 39.29, having taken six wickets in Melbourne after three lean Tests.

England is sure to play spinner Monty Panesar in Sydney, while offspinning allrounder Jamie Dalrymple could also feature in what would be his Test debut.

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

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