WA youngster Connolly bolts into Test squad for Sri Lanka tour
McSweeney and Kuhnemann also recalled in 16-man squad to be led by Steve Smith
WA youngster Connolly bolts into Test squad for Sri Lanka tour
AUS_SL_main
Andrew Ramsey,
McSweeney and Kuhnemann also recalled in 16-man squad to be led by Steve Smith
Australia's selectors have loaded-up on spin for this month's two-Test tour to Sri Lanka, with uncapped 21-year-old Cooper Connolly among the seven full or part-time slow bowling options in the 16-man squad.
connolly, an allrounder who bowls left-arm orthodox, has represented Australia in limited-overs cricket and has been called up for his maiden Test campaign along with Test-capped specialist spinners Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann.
Uncapped duo Sean Abbott and Josh Inglis – who were members of Australia's squad throughout the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India – have also been named along with recalled batter Nathan McSweeney who lost his place during the home summer.
Australia squad for Sri Lanka Tests: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
but selectors have overlooked veteran allrounders Mitchell Marsh (omitted for the final Test against India at Sydney) and Glenn Maxwell who had retained hope of a return despite not playing a first-class game since 2023 and with his most recent Test appearance in Bangladesh more than seven yearsBefor,
to Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is also not among the touring party, having been sidelined with a side strain and then a calf injury which forced him to sit out three of the five Tests against India including the final two at Melbourne and Sydney.
Hazlewood and Marsh will focus their preparation on the ICC Champions Trophy ODI tournament in Pakistan and the UAE which immediately follows the Sri Lanka Tests.
that ensures the pace-bowling duties will be shared by Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, with allrounder Beau Webster to provide crucial seam-bowling back-up and Abbott as the auxiliary quick.
