Australia Announces Squad for Sri Lanka Test Series

Cricket Australia has announced its 16-man squad for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, with Steve Smith set to lead the team.

Cricket Australia has announced its team for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, with some notable inclusions. Opener Nathan McSweeney has been recalled to the squad, while all-rounder Cooper Connolly has earned his maiden call-up. The team will be led by Steve Smith, who takes over as captain in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins.

The squad has been selected with a focus on spin bowling, given the conditions expected in Sri Lanka. Cummins will miss the tour due to the upcoming birth of his second child, while fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been rested after suffering a calf injury.

Mitch Marsh, who was previously dropped from the Australian team, has not been included in the 16-man squad for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Nathan McSweeney, who was axed after just three matches in the fourth India Test, has earned a recall. McSweeney struggled to justify his inclusion at the top of the order, but will get another chance to prove himself in Sri Lanka.

The Australian squad for the two Tests against Sri Lanka, starting on January 29 in Galle, features a mix of experienced players and young talent. Sam Konstas, the fearless 19-year-old who replaced McSweeney in the Indian Test series, has also been included in the squad. In terms of spin bowling, the Australians have opted for a three-pronged attack, with Matt Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy joining Test regular Nathan Lyon as specialist spinners.

Twenty-one-year-old Cooper Connolly is on the verge of making his Test debut for Australia, thanks to his ability to bowl left-arm offspin, a valuable asset on Sri Lanka's spin-friendly pitches. The Australian selectors have high hopes for Connolly, who could play a crucial role in the team's success in Sri Lanka.

Selector George Bailey emphasized the challenges and excitement of touring Sri Lanka, where players must adapt to different conditions. “Sri Lanka is a challenging and exciting place to tour given the different conditions players may be presented with,” Bailey said. He also highlighted the squad's versatility, which will allow the team to structure their XI according to the conditions they encounter. “This squad provides several ways to structure the XI depending on what type of wickets we may encounter in each match.”

Following an impressive debut in the final Test against India in Sydney, all-rounder Beau Webster has retained his place in the squad, ahead of the out-of-favor Mitch Marsh. The selectors have opted for a younger lineup, with Bailey expressing his excitement about the opportunities ahead for the squad's younger members. “We are excited about the opportunity ahead for the squad members who are at the start of their Test careers to continue to grow their games in subcontinent conditions, where we have a number of important tours in coming years,” Bailey said. The Australian team will be looking to build on their recent success, having beaten India 3-1 in their home series.

Australia's Test Squad for Sri Lanka Series

Squad Members

1. Steve Smith (capt)

2. Travis Head

3. Sean Abbott

4. Scott Boland

5. Alex Carey

6. Cooper Connolly

7. Josh Inglis

8. Usman Khawaja

9. Sam Konstas

10. Matt Kuhnemann

11. Marnus Labuschagne

12. Nathan Lyon

13. Nathan McSweeney

14. Todd Murphy

15. Mitchell Starc

16. Beau Webster