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Connolly, McSweeney, and Kuhnemann named for Sri Lanka trip
Connolly, McSweeney, and Kuhnemann named for Sri Lanka trip
Steven Smith will captain in the two Tests with Pat Cummins remaining at home for the birth of his second child and to manage an ankle injury.
Copper Connolly has been called up for the first time in the test series and Nathan McSweeney has been invited for Australia; 's tour of Sri Lanka along with Sam Kontas and Beau Webster has also been summoned for the career starts.
For the three frontline spinners, Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann and offspinner Todd Murphy are all set to join Nathan Lyon that is why it is expected that in Galle the conditions must be favourable.
Mitchell Marsh's test career is now uncertain as he was left out of the 16 players selected for the final test against India.
Steven Smith will be leading the team in this test series as Pat Cummins is not available as he is on paternity leave along with that he needs to recover from his ankle injury. Along with that Josh Hazelwood is not been included because he needs to focus on preparing for the Champions Trophy as due to his calf injury his India series was curtailed.
"Sri Lanka is a tough and exciting place to tour because of the different conditions players face," said chair of selectors George Bailey. "This squad gives us the flexibility to pick the XI based on the type of pitches we encounter in each match.
"We're looking forward to seeing the younger players at the start of their Test careers continue to develop in subcontinent conditions, which will be crucial for future tours."
McSweeney was left out after the third Test against India when the selectors decided to try something new, leading to Konstas' memorable debut. However, Bailey had said at the time that they still believed McSweeney had the skills for Test cricket.
Connolly, a 21-year-old left-handed batter and left-arm spinner from Western Australia, adds another all-round option to the squad for the two Tests. His selection likely ends Glenn Maxwell's chances of returning to Test cricket.
Maxwell had been hopeful of making the squad for the tour, especially after coming close to playing in the XI during the 2022 tour of Sri Lanka.
Konstas and Webster had a strong impact in the final two Tests against India. Konstas scored 60 runs off 65 balls at the MCG, while Webster made a half-century on debut in Sydney and contributed with the ball.
Webster's success, along with Cameron Green's expected return later this year after back surgery, led former captain Aaron Finch to suggest that Marsh's chances of returning to Test cricket are slim.
"I think it’ll be really hard for Mitch to get back in the side now," Finch said on ESPN’s *Around the Wicket.* "There’s not much cricket left this summer to make a case, and with Cameron Green returning in early March, I think it’s unlikely."
The squad includes just three specialist fast bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Sean Abbott.
The first Test begins on January 29, with the team heading to the UAE for a training camp beforehand.
Australia squad vs Sri Lanka
Beau Webster, Sean Abbott, Steven Smith, Alex Carey, Scott Boland, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Nathan McSweeney, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
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