McSweeney recalled, Connolly picked as Steve Smith named captain for Sri Lanka Tests

Less than a month after being axed mid-way through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, Nathan McSweeney is back in Australia’s Test squad again after being picked for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting later this month. 

It was being heavily speculated that the selectors were looking at recalling veteran Peter Handscomb, who was with the senior squad for the fifth Test against India in Sydney, but McSweeney has ended up getting the nod with the Australian selectors and the management looking into the future, particularly having sealed World Test Championship (WTC) Final qualification.

The biggest giveaway that the Kangaroos are seriously looking well into the future is the selection of 21-year-old Cooper Connolly, who has bolted into the Test squad having played all of just four first-class matches. Left-handed Connolly is the highest run-getter in the ongoing edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) but he’s been picked not only because of his batting but also because of his left-arm spin. 

Connolly has, in effect, taken the place of Glenn Maxwell, who was believed to have had an outside chance of making it to Sri Lanka. But with a new cycle starting in five months, this development indicates that Maxwell's Test career is all but over. 

Young Sam Konstas has retained his spot in the squad, as has all-rounder Beau Webster, who impressed on debut in the fifth Test in Sydney. Josh Inglis has been picked as a backup batter and wicketkeeper, while Sean Abbott has also been called up, with him serving as a backup for both Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. Josh Hazlewood misses out due to the calf injury he picked up last month in Brisbane. 

Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy are the two primary spinners in the squad, while left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann, who last played against India two years ago, has been recalled. 

The side will be led by Steve Smith, who will captain in the absence of Pat Cummins, who will stay back in Australia for the birth of his second child. This will be the first time since 2018 that Smith will begin a fresh tour as a skipper right from the beginning. He is currently on 9,999 Test runs and has the chance to get to the iconic 10,000-run mark as skipper of Australia.

The two-Test series will begin from January 29. Both the games, dead-rubbers in effect, will be played in Galle. 

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