Australia have announced their squad for the Test matches during their tour of Sri Lanka coming up in June.
The full fixtures for the three-Test and limited overs tour of Sri Lanka can be found here.
Mitchell Starc will make his return to Test cricket for Australia, having sat out games towards the end of the summer due to injury. However, his arrival comes at the cost of a few other key pace bowlers.
The full squad is:
Australian squad for Tour of Sri Lanka
Steve Smith (c)
David Warner (v-c)
Jackson Bird
Joe Burns
Nathan Coulter-Nile
Josh Hazlewood
Moises Henriques
Usman Khawaja
Nathan Lyon
Mitchell Marsh
Shaun Marsh
Peter Nevill
Stephen O’Keefe
Mitchell Starc
Adam Voges
Among the big outs is big quick James Pattinson, who is still recovering from a back injury he picked up during the Australian summer. Australian physiotherapist David Beakley said that Pattinson would sit out the foreseeable future.
“James experienced lower back pain during the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch and was given some time to rest. Unfortunately, his back pain continued during this time and after further investigation, it confirmed that he has had a recurrence of a back stress fracture.
“James will continue to spend the winter recovering from this injury, at which point we hope to have a clearer view of timelines for his return to play.”
Peter Siddle is also missing along with Chadd Sayers, and they’ve added in bowling cover in the form of Moises Henriques and Steve O’Keefe, who is likely to play if Australia choose to run with two spinners in conducive conditions. Nathan Coulter-Nile is also in the team, but whether he can win a spot over Starc and Jackson Bird will be an interesting one.
Henriques thrived last time he was in subcontinental conditions, so you have to wonder whether his selection is as much due to the conditions as it is the player, who has been out with injury since the Big Bash League.
Rod Marsh was pleased with the troops available to him, and was confident they could cover the loss of key pace bowlers.
“Henriques comes into the squad to give the flexibility of an additional all-rounder option, having already shown he plays and adapts well to spin-friendly conditions. He has been working hard on his fitness and we believe he is in prime condition to serve us well should he be selected to play.
“Jackson Bird and Nathan Coulter-Nile join the squad and will give us good control and pace. Jackson had an impressive Sheffield Shield season and showed skill with reverse swing in the last Test match in New Zealand earlier this year. He’s playing in England at the moment and we’re confident this will build his skills to assist the squad if he is selected in Sri Lanka.
“Stephen O’Keefe will complement Nathan Lyon and plays an important role in the subcontinent if he’s selected in the final XI. We know his ability, he takes wickets continually in first class cricket and he impresses when we select him to play Test cricket.”
The limited overs squads are still to be announced, with the team to play three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s.
ak
Roar Guru
Rangana Herath is the man to watch out for.
Johnno
Guest
I've always enjoyed OZ cricket tours of Sri Lanka. The matches are always close affairs. OZ has played sri lanka 28 times in total, OZ won 17, Sri Lanka just 1 test in 1999(remember steve waugh's broken nose game), and drawn about 8. But in Sri Lanka the test matches are always tight and enjoyable. But in OZ Tests vs sri lanka are usually very boring, with the SCG test where it spins the exception. I'd like to see aussies tour Bangladesh for a 2-test series, that would be good too. Heck be good if they could go to Zims for a 2-Test series too.
craig swanson
Guest
Gotta say I am pleased that our bowlers, at least our spinners, are getting the best preparation for Sri Lanka and later on India with this newly laid baked red clay deck at the academy. CA says the track closely replicates those you may find in Kandy, Mumbai or Chennai. No excuses Australia should Lyon and SOK fail on the Sub Continent in July and next February. Hats off to you CA.
craig swanson
Guest
Joe has to be content with an A gig instead.
craig swanson
Guest
Nudge you are pointing out the leggies with the worst av/sr. Boyce, Zampa and even Agar are still developing. I was thinking of the Aussie/Pak Fawad Ahmed who has a perfectly respectable 31 av. The reason why I am opting for a leggie is that they should be more effective on sub cont pitches as they turn the ball both ways. More ways to get wickets imho. SOK does deserve the nod but will he be as effective as a leg spinner would have been? Don't laugh but my second choice would have been the old timer Brad Hogg. CA should call him out of retirement. I would like for CA to take Mitchell Swepson over for the experience and to play the warm ups.
jameswm
Roar Guru
So XI like this: David Warner (v-c) Joe Burns Usman Khawaja Steve Smith (c) Adam Voges Mitchell Marsh Peter Nevill Stephen O’Keefe or Jackson Bird Mitchell Starc Josh Hazlewood Nathan Lyon OTHER Nathan Coulter-Nile Moises Henriques Shaun Marsh With no spinning all rounder like Maxwell in the team, it looks like Mitch Marsh will play as the 3rd seamer, with SOK playing.
JoM
Roar Rookie
Joe Mennie is the one that should have been picked. He is getting better and better with every year he plays now and proved that last season.
ols
Roar Pro
I swore it's his dream to play test cricket in Sri Lanka :D
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Surely Jarryd Hayne has done enough to be selected....
Annoyedofit
Guest
Faulkner is a green track bully and couldn't buy a run.
Nudge
Guest
Which legspinner would you prefer Craig? The one with the first class average of 50 or the one with the first class average of 48? Or would it be better just to play the left arm finger spinner who has a first class average of 25 over a 10 year career. You can't pick spin bowlers to play for Australia just because their called legspinners
JohnB
Guest
And that will also cover Henriques ahead of Faulkner and others?!
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Selecting Henriques ahead of Maxwell makes sense. Read why on The Roar tomorrow...
The Bush
Roar Guru
But you have to admit, purely based on statistics, Faulkner's much maligned batting average at FC level is not any different to Henriques and he's a far better bowler and has far more international experience to call upon.
The Bush
Roar Guru
What? You must be kidding? Maxi's average is just as good as any of the young players coming through, except he's demonstrated it over a longer period and also proven his talent in ODI cricket as well. There is no way there is currently a middle order batsman who is "far and away" ahead of him and at 28, as a batsman (note not allrounder), he's simply coming into his own right now. Also, he's been given absolutely now chances at test level. How you can compare him to Shaun Marsh who is 33 and has had plenty of chances to build a FC average up to 40+ (but hasn't), is beyond me.
Bosk_
Guest
The selection of NCN is a joke. Makes an absolute mockery of all the decent Shield bowlers who toiled through last year. NCN once again proves to be the golden boy of the selectors - picked on the basis of nothing
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
Bizarre decision not pick maxwell, the selectors wanted him to go back to the Sheild runs, and considering he averaged 56 last season not picking him is rediculous. NCN and Henriques haven't played enough fc cricket to justify their selection and Jackson Birds bowling style won't suit the subcontinent. Sayers and mennie are very unlucky to miss out. Shaun Marsh will be the reserve batsman so it'll be unlikely he'll play anyway. Barring injuries the likely xi will be Warner Burns Khawaja Smith Voges M.Marsh Nevill O'Keefe Starc Hazlewood Lyon Even though this is the squad given it doesn't mean it's the final squad, for the 2013 ashes smith and agar weren't a part of the initial squad but were added to it later on. So I wouldn't be surprised to see maxwell or someone else added to the squad later on
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Marsh has been good lately. For a change he is just being kept out by better players.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
As much as I like Faulkner, his batting has been horrible over the last year or so.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Disagree. He has time. Who is waiting to replace Maxwell?