Australia tour of Sri Lanka 2025

[GVGjr]

Konstas
Usman
Marnus
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey
Starc
Lyon
Kuhneman
Boland

My tip with how they’ll line up for the first test
they also might not go with Boland and add Murphy but with Head and Lyon both bowling offies I think they’ll go Kuhneman

That's very likely how they will line-up for the first test. There is some talk that Head might open but this seems a better line-up.

[Countrydog5]

I do hope foxtel pick up the broadcasting rights for the 2 tests and ODIs. The summer of cricket has felt short this year, and the fantastic BGT series has people keen for more i'd imagine.

[Axe Man]

I do hope foxtel pick up the broadcasting rights for the 2 tests and ODIs. The summer of cricket has felt short this year, and the fantastic BGT series has people keen for more i'd imagine.

Surely they will reach a deal. Recently they have broadcast SA v Pakistan and NZ v England tests that would have much less appeal to viewers in Australia.

[GVGjr]

Connolly's a good pick - he strikes the ball beautifully and is a very good fielder but the left-arm door knobs are pretty innocuous.

It feels like the selectors are going to pick on talent and eye with these young guys. There's an onus on states to get and board and start investing in youngsters because the selectors will pick them regardless of if they're in their Shield team or not.

I'm intrigued by the selection of Connolly. He just can't play if a Test at the moment as he's played just 6 FC games.
It's good for him to get around the squad and we need an influx of younger guys but he has to be a couple of years at least away from being a genuine chance doesn't he?

[FrediKanoute]

To me the selection of Connolly and Kontas signal a clear changing of the guard and the criteria of what Australia is looking for. The selectors are tacitly accepting that Bazzball and the variants played by other nations is here to stay and that whilst occupying the crease is important, scoring quickly is equally as important. As Head has shown and Wanrer before him the ability to take the game away from the opposition with quick scoring is a powerful weapon in test cricket, as it is in the shorter forms.

[Countrydog5]

Surely they will reach a deal. Recently they have broadcast SA v Pakistan and NZ v England tests that would have much less appeal to viewers in Australia.

Even better, channel 7 has just announced the rights so it will be on free to air!

[Axe Man]

Matt Kuhnemann suffered a compound fracture of the thumb (non bowling hand at least) in the BBL last night. If he's not right for the tour and the selectors want a spinner that turns the ball away from the right handers do they take a punt on Connolly who hasn't taken a first class wicket, or look to previous test players like Agar or Swepson?

[GVGjr]

Matt Kuhnemann suffered a compound fracture of the thumb (non bowling hand at least) in the BBL last night. If he's not right for the tour and the selectors want a spinner that turns the ball away from the right handers do they take a punt on Connolly who hasn't taken a first class wicket, or look to previous test players like Agar or Swepson?

You would have to think Swepson could be in the mix but Zampa might tempt the selectors.
I don't mind Agar on those conditions but that's based on past performances more than anything recently.

[FrediKanoute]

Apparently Ch 7 will have the rights to the game so it will be free to air in Aust.

[GVGjr]

Stand-in captain Steve Smith is not certain to join the Australian Test team for their preparatory camp in Dubai after sustaining an elbow injury during BBL|14

Steve Smith's preparation for the upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka has suffered a setback after the interim Australia skipper sustained an elbow injury during his fleeting stint with BBL club Sydney Sixers last week.

Smith, who will fill-in for regular Test captain Pat Cummins for the two-match campaign in Galle starting January 29, incurred the injury when throwing in last Friday's rain-ruined match against Sydney Thunder at the SCG.

While it is the same elbow Smith had surgery upon in 2019 and has endured recurrent issues with over recent years, it is understood the latest problem is not the same as the one that has plagued him in the past.

The 35-year-old, who lit up the BBL in his two innings between Test commitments with scores of 121no and 52, is believed to be visiting a specialist in Sydney on Tuesday with the results of that consultation to dictate when he joins the Test squad.

[Axe Man]

Stand-in captain Steve Smith is not certain to join the Australian Test team for their preparatory camp in Dubai after sustaining an elbow injury during BBL|14

Steve Smith's preparation for the upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka has suffered a setback after the interim Australia skipper sustained an elbow injury during his fleeting stint with BBL club Sydney Sixers last week.

Smith, who will fill-in for regular Test captain Pat Cummins for the two-match campaign in Galle starting January 29, incurred the injury when throwing in last Friday's rain-ruined match against Sydney Thunder at the SCG.

While it is the same elbow Smith had surgery upon in 2019 and has endured recurrent issues with over recent years, it is understood the latest problem is not the same as the one that has plagued him in the past.

The 35-year-old, who lit up the BBL in his two innings between Test commitments with scores of 121no and 52, is believed to be visiting a specialist in Sydney on Tuesday with the results of that consultation to dictate when he joins the Test squad.

Smith cleared to join the squad in Dubai.

[GVGjr]

Smith cleared to join the squad in Dubai.

That's a positive.

[Axe Man]

Matt Kuhnemann's thumb injury isn't going to stop him, he's going to join the squad in Sri Lanka and is available for the first test. Good for the selectors to have options.

[Axe Man]

Head confirmed to be opening the batting with Khawaja. The makeup of the XI still to be advised.

[BontlowSzn]

Assume Inglis probably gets the nod to replace Head in the middle order?