Cooper Connolly has received his first-ever Test call-up, and Nathan McSweeney is making a return for Australia’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Additionally, Sam Konstas and Beau Webster are also included, having made strong starts to their careers.
To strengthen the spin department, left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann and offspinner Todd Murphy will join Nathan Lyon, forming a trio of frontline spinners for the two Tests in Galle, where the conditions are expected to favor spin.
Mitchell Marsh, however, faces a uncertain future in Test cricket after being left out of the 16-player squad. His exclusion follows his absence from the final Test against India.
The squad will be led by Steven Smith in Pat Cummins’ absence, as Cummins will be on paternity leave and recovering from an ankle injury. Josh Hazlewood is also absent from the tour to focus on preparing for the Champions Trophy following a calf injury that cut his India series short.
Chair of selectors, George Bailey, expressed excitement about the tour, acknowledging the challenges posed by Sri Lanka’s conditions and the opportunity for young players to further develop in subcontinental conditions.
McSweeney was dropped after the third Test against India, which led to Konstas’ dramatic debut. However, Bailey emphasized their continued belief in McSweeney’s potential for Test cricket. Connolly, the 21-year-old Western Australia left-hander, offers an all-round option, diminishing Glenn Maxwell’s chances of a return to Test cricket.
Both Konstas and Webster made strong contributions in the final two Tests against India, with Konstas scoring 60 at the MCG and Webster contributing a half-century on debut in Sydney. These performances, coupled with the expected return of Cameron Green later in the year, have made it difficult for Marsh to reclaim a spot.
The touring squad includes three specialist quicks: Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Sean Abbott. The first Test will begin on January 29, with the team set to first travel to the UAE for a training camp.
Australia Squad for Sri Lanka Tour: Steven Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
