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

[TheJediBrah]

Murphy probably the 2nd best (at least) spinner in the country but might not get picked with Lyon + Head already bowling offies. Especially if Maxwell is in consideration as well. Might be Kuhnemann by default by being a lefty. Rocciciolli unfortunate for the same reason, he's a better bowler than Kuhnemann IMO

 

[Spark]

Sounds like Connolly will indeed make it. Has felt on the cards for a good six months now.

Abbott is in the squad which is... just bizarre, really, but will hardly matter

EDIT: All the usual journos have definitely been briefed, yeah he's in.

 

[Spark]

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

.

 

[social]

If they pick Connolly for the tests then it’s a joke

If they don’t pick him when he could be playing shield then it’s a joke

 

[morgieb]

The only area in which Abbott is better than Richardson is batting (and fielding I suppose). Which I suppose actually could matter in a series like this, but I do fear he might be ahead for the West Indies tour, which is a tour when picking the right bowling attack might matter.

 

[morgieb]

If they pick Connolly for the tests then it’s a joke

If they don’t pick him when he could be playing shield then it’s a joke

In fairness, unless they pick him for the Champions Trophy (which they probably will) he'll only miss one Shield game.

Didn't expect McSweeney over Handscomb given all the talk.

 

[Nintendo]

IDM collony in the test squad. He's averaged 60 in his 3 shield games so far including a 90 on debut in the final for WA. Who would have even gone if it wasn't him anyway? Mcsweeney is clearly the first choice backup, and I prefer connoly to the corpse of maxwell or handscomb. Davies could have gone instead if he haden't had a horrible season across format's but he's clearly not really in contention atm.

Jhye or neser missing out for abbott is the weirder call IMO.

 

[Spark]

No Neser I get but Abbott over Jhye is truly bizarre and makes me a little worried down the line

 

[Spark]

Re: Connolly, tbf we can't spend all summer whining that they never pick anyone new, then turn around and complain that they've picked someone too new and too risky.

 

[Burgey]

No Neser I get but Abbott over Jhye is truly bizarre and makes me a little worried down the line

The only thing I can think of is he's considered as some sort of cover for Webster and could bat seven or so at a pinch, rather than as a front line bowler. I like Sabba because he's a Parra lad, and his past few seasons with the red ball have looked better than what's preceded them, but I don't think his MO as a fronltine bowler is suited to SL conditions at all really.

I'm a bit surprised they didn't give the captaincy to Head, given we're in the WTC final. Would have been a good opportunity for him to get some experience at the top level. I low key reckon he would be a good skipper.

 

[Qlder]

Cooper Connolly picked as a spinning allrounder. I get the batting part as he's done okay in his 4 FC matches, only problem is he's never taken a FC wicket (or an ODI or T20I wkt when playing as a bowler batting #8)

 

[Kraken]

this squad suggests to me they're probably keeping the top 7 the same, at least for the 1st test

 

[Shady Slim]

The only thing I can think of is he's considered as some sort of cover for Webster and could bat seven or so at a pinch, rather than as a front line bowler. I like Sabba because he's a Parra lad, and his past few seasons with the red ball have looked better than what's preceded them, but I don't think his MO as a fronltine bowler is suited to SL conditions at all really.

I'm a bit surprised they didn't give the captaincy to Head, given we're in the WTC final. Would have been a good opportunity for him to get some experience at the top level. I low key reckon he would be a good skipper.

yeah even though my thoughts on head as a player are widely known, i really do highly rate the bloke as a captain and think he should be the one who gets the armband if cummins isn't in the team. still bonkers to me that it defaults to someone who had the captaincy stripped, for cheating, when we have travis head in the team who is now established

 

[Qlder]

this squad suggests to me they're probably keeping the top 7 the same, at least for the 1st test

I think the only change in the XI will be Murphy (or Kuhnemann) in for Cummins

 

[Prince EWS]

Cooper Connolly picked as a spinning allrounder. I get the batting part as he's done okay in his 4 FC matches, only problem is he's never taken a FC wicket (or an ODI or T20I wkt when playing as a bowler batting #8)

He has the same amount of international and FC wickets as he does tons, tbf.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Oh well, bit of a boring and predictable squad other than Connolly. GAS will love it. I'm a bit disappointed that funky choices like Maxwell and Zampa were (rightfully, tbf) ignored. Would have been fun to see what they did. McSweeney and Webster over Handscomb are the right choices for the future as well. Only error with the squad for mine was Abbott. Don't see why he's there, he's never going to be a Test player. I guess better him being there carrying the drinks than a younger player who could be playing in the Shield instead

 

[Prince EWS]

Oh well, bit of a boring and predictable squad other than Connolly. GAS will love it. I'm a bit disappointed that funky choices like Maxwell and Zampa were (rightfully, tbf) ignored. Would have been fun to see what they did. McSweeney and Webster over Handscomb are the right choices for the future as well. Only error with the squad for mine was Abbott. Don't see why he's there, he's never going to be a Test player. I guess better him being there carrying the drinks than a younger player who could be playing in the Shield instead

If they're serious about making sure they win the series then Handscomb and Maxwell should be in it (not Zampa though, please stop with that).

But I don't think they really care that much so they're planning for the future.

 

[social]

I just see Abbott’s inclusion as a token gesture where he’s highly unlikely to play & will be around for the Champions Trophy anyway

There’s obviously better bowlers but every one of them is coming back from injury and no more likely to play anyway

IF they pick him for the WI and those guys are healthy then that’s a worry

 

[TheJediBrah]

They should have picked Zampa

 

[GotSpin]

Came into this thread to talk about zampa. Anyone mentioned him?