Last Updated on 1 week by Charbel Coorey
Australia named their 16-man squad for their two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, which begins on January 29 in Galle. There were a couple of surprises, most notably 21-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly, who has played just four Tests to date.
Australia squad for two Tests against Sri Lanka: Steve Smith (c), Travis Head (vc), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
In other squad news, Pat Cummins is unavailable due to the impending birth of his second child. Steve Smith will lead. Mitchell Marsh, who was dropped for the SCG Test against India, has been left out for Sri Lanka as well. Other notable omissions are Peter Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell as the selectors have opted for youth.
Predicted Australia XI for 1st Test vs Sri Lanka at Galle
1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Sam Konstas, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith (c), 5. Travis Head, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Mitchell Starc, 9. Nathan Lyon, 10. Todd Murphy, 11. Matt Kuhnemann
Opening conundrum
There are some big calls to make for Australia ahead of the first Test. Given Travis Head enjoyed the opening role in India in 2023 (223 runs at an average of 55.75 and strike rate of 71.47), will the selectors look to put him back at the top? If so, who misses out – 19-year-old Sam Konstas or 38-year-old Usman Khawaja?
“Trav’s an option (to open),” Bailey said in a press conference after the squad announcement, as quoted by cricket.com.au. “We’ve got a number of options and there’s been a few preliminary discussions around where that may land, and that may depend on the makeup of that first XI. I think Andrew (McDonald) and Steve (Smith) will settle on that in due course, once we hit Sri Lanka.”
If Head opens, one of Khawaja or Konstas will be left out. Khawaja’s experience, plus his improved batting against spin in recent years, are factors the selectors may wish to go with. But, with a World Test Championship (WTC) Final place sewn up, is it time Australia test new players, such as Nathan McSweeney or Josh Inglis in the middle order with Head and Konstas to open?
Because of WTC qualification, the selectors may be willing to try Konstas right away. If picked, he will certainly be tested against left-arm spin – a bowling type he has been dismissed by a few times in recent weeks, namely Ravindra Jadeja on Boxing Day and twice in the BBL before the fourth Test against India.
Should Australia go for the Konstas-Khawaja opening combination, it is difficult to see how Nathan McSweeney, Josh Inglis or Connolly force their way into the XI. However, there is pressure on Marnus Labuschagne to perform given there are other players knocking on the door and Cameron Green is nearing full recovery from a back injury.
Make up of the bowling attack
The make up of the bowling attack is another talking point ahead of the first Test. Conditions in Galle aid spin and you wouldn’t expect the Sri Lankans to produce a surface with any major assistance for the seam bowlers. So, do Australia still play both Boland and Starc?
Matt Kuhnemann is a must. Left-arm spin is so effective at Galle. The likes of Rangana Herath (102 wickets at 24.94) and Prabath Jayasuriya (71 wickets at 21.79) have enjoyed great success there.
However, if Australia opt for two frontline seamers, will they leave out exciting prospect Todd Murphy or take a risk by leaving out a left-arm spinner? In truth, all three of Murphy, Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon should play given the conditions, with Beau Webster another seam option should they need it.
If the three-spinner strategy is what Australia go with, they may opt for Starc in the first Test given his ability to reverse swing the ball. That being said, there is argument to leave Starc fresh for the second Test at the same venue, where ground conditions may be more abrasive.
Australia are seeking their first series win in Sri Lanka since 2011. They lost 3-0 in 2016 and drew 1-1 in 2022. In fact, Australia have won just one series in Asia since then – Pakistan in 2022.
