Australia go into their three-day tour match against a Sri Lanka Board XI with their line-up for the first Test in the island nation still up in the air, according to captain Michael Clarke.
The tour match presents players such as spin duo Nathan Lyon and Michael Beer, quicks Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle and opening batsman Phillip Hughes with their only chance for match practice before the opening Test in Galle on August 31.
But while Clarke says Hughes will definitely get a run alongside all-rounder Shane Watson as the team’s openers, he’s uncertain whether Shaun Marsh or Usman Khawaja will take the No.6 batting position or the make-up of his bowling attack for the game.
“I can say Hughesy will open the batting for us and then it would be between Marshy and Uzzie to bat No.6 I would say,” Clarke told reporters in Colombo.
“Then we’ve got to work out do we pick two spinners? Do we pick three quicks?
“Conditions in Galle will determine that one and it’s a hard one for selection for (Thursday’s) game as well. Are we sure which three quicks? Do we go for the three who we think are going to play, is it our best attack? There’s a lot of questions we need to answer.”
At least one question has been answered by Clarke, Watson will remain an opener even though Australia choosing two spinners in their Test line-up would mean he’d have a significant bowling role as the team’s third seamer.
“There’s some concern if we decided to go with two spinners, with how heavy his workload would be,” Clarke said.
“There’s so much speculation but it really is determined by conditions and then picking the best bowling unit.
“When we’re picking this team it’s all about who we think are going to take 20 wickets and what is the best combination to do that. Not necessarily who are the best four individual bowlers.
“He’s (Watson) been so good at the top of the order. I don’t think it’d be smart to move him right now.”
The tour match at the P Sara Oval in Colombo begins at 10am local time (1430 AEST) although rain in the Sri Lankan capital disrupted Australia’s training on Wednesday and could play havoc with the fixture throughout the week.
Squads
Australia: Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Michael Clarke (capt), Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Beer, Peter Siddle, Trent Copeland, Usman Khawaja, James Pattinson, Ryan Harris.Sri Lanka Board XI: Angelo Mathews (capt), Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Bhanuke Rajapakse, Kaushal Silva, Tilan Samaraweera, Jeevan Mendis, Kosala Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga, Dhammika Prasad, Dilruwan Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Kanishka Elvitigala, Sachitra Serasinghe.
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