**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka Jan - Feb 2025

[Prince EWS]

No sorry, not opening with Smith, I just added brackets to seperate I meant Smith and McDonald to decide if Head opens

Ah that makes more sense.

They still shouldn't have picked two specialist openers plus a utility bat whose only Test appearances have been opening if they were thinking about Head doing it too though.

Handscomb should sue.

 

[Kraken]

If they're considering Head opening with Smith they shouldn't have picked two other specialist openers ffs.

This is what makes me think they are going to bat Head at #5 - there's more upside to this and Konstas opening, as opposed to Head opening and whoever else bats 5

 

[the big bambino]

Apart from Neser for Abbott and Connolly for Handscomb its the side that should've been picked. From the all the talk about who will open and who'll bat at 5 it seems Konstas is going to miss out.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Head Selector Bailey had his say on the squad. Said they're discussing Head opening (with Smith and McDonald to decide once they get there). He said #5 would then be between McSweeney, Connolly or Inglis.

Should be McSweeney no doubt, if they want to get Inglis in have him replace Carey. As for Connolly, I'm very doubtful any middle order bat has ever debuted for Australia without a FC century? They can't be serious?

If that's the case it means Konstas is out of the XI

 

[honestbharani]

I am wondering if they will just push Konstas to 5 in that case? As his aggressive game might work there as well?

 

[Spark]

I am wondering if they will just push Konstas to 5 in that case? As his aggressive game might work there as well?

It'd be really weird if, having made McSweeney a makeshift opener, they then overlooked him as a middle order batsman.

 

[Prince EWS]

I am wondering if they will just push Konstas to 5 in that case? As his aggressive game might work there as well?

Nah they won't open with Head and bat Konstas at 5.

 

[the big bambino]

I am wondering if they will just push Konstas to 5 in that case? As his aggressive game might work there as well?

You'd get the SLA bowler onto him asap though that could happen even if he opened. All up I'd like him in the test team.

 

[honestbharani]

It'd be really weird if, having made McSweeney a makeshift opener, they then overlooked him as a middle order batsman.

Nah they won't open with Head and bat Konstas at 5.

Agree but these guys can be that stupid, I think.

Anyways, the simplest and wisest thing to do would be to play the same top 7, bring in Kuhnemann for Cummins and see how it goes. Every other move sounds either like experimentation or desperation at this point. You have a settled side, let it be so.

 

[Gnske]

Konstas should only go as a mere reserve if he spends every moment in the nets learning what the **** spin is and how you use your bat to score off it.