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Mitchell Marsh struggled for returns before being replaced by Beau Webster in the BGT. Webster is now set to travel to Sri Lanka.
Mitchell Marsh. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Steve Smith will lead Australia’s 16-member squad for the upcoming two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in Pat Cummins’ absence. Travis Head will be his deputy for the rubber.
Cummins and his wife, Becky Boston, are expecting the birth of their second child and the fast bowler had said he’d likely won’t travel to the sub-continent after winning the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against India.
Out-of-form all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who was dropped from the fifth Test of the BGT, hasn’t found a place in the team. Beau Webster’s impressive knocks of 57 and 39* and a wicket in Marsh’s absence have allowed him a ticket for his first away Test series.
Australia have also called up young spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly. The 21-year-old left-hander has played just six matches in First-Class cricket (309 runs at an average of over 60) but is considered one of the most promising talents in the country, thanks to his consistent showing for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League.
Nathan McSweeney, who was dropped from the BGT after the third Test, is also back in the squad while Sam Konstas, who replaced him in the 11 and did well, will travel too. Despite being ruled out of the latter part of the BGT with injury, wicketkeeper Josh Inglis is also back.
“Sri Lanka is a challenging and exciting place to tour given the different conditions players may be presented with,” selection panel chair George Bailey said in a statement. “This squad provides several ways to structure the XI depending on what type of wickets we may encounter in each match.”
“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 added.
The two Tests will begin on January 29 and February 6.
Australia’s Squad For 2 Tests Against Sri Lanka
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
