Australia has announced their squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Full-time skipper Pat Cummins is out of the tour due to the birth of his second child and also an ankle injury. Steven Smith will lead the side for the two games.
“Sri Lanka is a challenging and exciting place to tour given the different conditions players may be presented with. This squad provides several ways to structure the XI depending on what type of wickets we may encounter in each match,” chief selector George Bailey was quoted as saying.
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,” he added.
Nathan McSweeney who was dropped from the Australian squad in the middle of the series against India has been recalled. However, Sam Konstas who made a blistering half-century on debut has been axed.
In the absence of Pat Cummins the squad has three front-line pace bowlers Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Sean Abbott. The spin department will be taken care of by off-spinner Nathan Lyon and left-arm spinner Matt Kuhneman.
Australia 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
No WTC relevance
The series in terms of the World Test Championship final is irrelevant as Australia and South Africa have reached the final and play at Lords in June later this year.
South Africa coach Shukri Conrad has hinted that the Proteas are looking for an opponent to play a Test match in England before their World Test Championship (WTC) final face-off against Australia at Lord’s on June 11.
South Africa does not have any five-day matches scheduled before the WTC final.
“We’re going to try and get a Test match, possibly in the UK, against Ireland or Afghanistan, whoever is free,” coach Shukri Conrad said on SuperSport.
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