Promising all-rounder Cooper Connolly has earned a maiden Test call-up as Australia named a 16-member squad to tour Sri Lanka, sans several big names. Cricket Australia announced a new-look Test squad featuring more youngsters. The experienced Steve Smith will lead the team, with Pat Cummins expected to miss the tour due to the birth of his second child.
The 35-year-old Smith, with 9,999 Test runs, is set to reach the milestone of 10,000 Test runs during the Sri Lanka series at Galle.
Australia, already qualified for the ICC Test Championship final against South Africa, has decided to prioritise giving younger players exposure on subcontinental wickets. The team plans to hold special training sessions in Dubai ahead of the Test series, which begins on January 29. Both Test matches are scheduled to be played at Galle, where spinners are expected to play a key role. Cricket Australia has placed significant focus on introducing new spinners for this tour.
The 21-year-old all-rounder Cooper the former Australia under 19 skipper who has only played three Sheffield Shield matches earned his selection due to his impressive form with the bat in the Big Bash, while he also bowls left-arm orthodox spin. One of the country’s brightest young talents, Connolly, a left-arm spinner viewed primarily as a promising batsman, is set to gain invaluable experience touring Sri Lanka. His selection has come at the expense of veteran all-rounder Maxwell, who is still without a Test appearance since 2017 tour of Bangladesh. Maxwell has made no secret of his desire to return to the Test arena, but hasn’t played a first class match since July 2023.
Meanwhile all rounder Mitchell Marsh will not made the tour, kept out by Beau Webster who impressed on debut in Sydney in their last test against India.
Cricket Australia (CA) said in a statement that Marsh was “omitted, with both (March and Maxwell ) focusing on the Champion’s Trophy which immediately follows the Sri Lanka tour.”
Spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy , were picked while Nathan McSweeney has been recalled for the test squad. Todd Murphy the right arm off spinner having 21 wickets in six test matches while leg spinner Kuhnemann played three tests bagging nine wickets.
The experienced off spinner Nathan Lyon is expected to play a major role in Sri Lanka, having bowled a marathon 64 overs in the only innings of Australia’s last Test in Galle three years ago. He played his debut test at Galle in 2011 having five wickets haul in his first test innings.
The 37-year-old, who took nine wickets against India across five Tests, has been dealing with a hip complaint and had it looked at on Monday, a day after Australia’s series win at the SCG.
Both Murphy and Kuhnemann played with experience Nathan Lyon in three Tests during the tour of India in 2023.Murphy sensationally look 7-124 in his debut innings while he was also part of that year’s Ashes series, taking his Test wickets to 21 wickets at 25.42.
Meanwhile, the return of Nathan McSweeney alongside Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja adds extra intrigue around Australia’s opener dilemma heading into the series. McSweeney was dropped after three Tests against India this summer with Konstas taking his place.
In the absence of Pat Cummins the squad has three front-line pace bowlers Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Sean Abbott.
Australia will meet Sri Lanka in the first test from January 29 to February 2 while second test between the two teams will be played from February 6-10.
Australia’s squad for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka: Steve Smith (captain), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Cooper Connolly, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Sean Abbott, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Josh Inglis.
Dhammika Ratnaweera