Steve Smith To Lead The Series In Absence Of Pat Cummins
Steve Smith has been appointed as the captain of Australia for their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Pat Cummins is unavailable due to paternity leave and is also dealing with a previously managed ankle injury, as stated by Cricket Australia. Josh Hazlewood remains sidelined with the injury that prevented him from participating in the latter stages of the series against India, while Mitchell Marsh has been omitted from the squad.
The team features only three main fast bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Sean Abbott, while the spin department has been strengthened with the selection of Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann to assist Nathan Lyon.
Despite being out of favor by the conclusion of the India series, batter Nathan McSweeney has retained a place in the 16-member squad announced for the two-Test series set to take place in Galle. Cooper Connolly, a left-handed batter who also bowls orthodox spin, has received his first call-up.
“Sri Lanka presents a unique and exciting challenge for touring teams due to the varying conditions players will face. This squad offers multiple options for structuring the XI based on the type of pitches we might encounter during the matches. We are eager to provide the squad members, particularly those at the beginning of their Test careers, the opportunity to develop their skills in subcontinent conditions, as we have several significant tours lined up in the coming years,” chief selector George Bailey was quoted as stating.
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Australia has already secured a spot in the World Test Championship final scheduled for June, and this will be their final Test assignment before that event.
SQUAD: Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Nathan McSweeney, Beau Webster, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Cooper Connolly, Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhneman, Sean Abbott, Scott Boland
