Australia destroy Sri Lanka to wrap up 2-0 series victory

The selectors can always fly a replacement over from Australia or county cricket to replace injured players - I've seen it happen before where a fly in takes preference to an existing squad member. I just don't rate Agar as a spinner at test level - maybe one of the leggies or O'Keefe can show something in the remaining shield games

it wasn't "flat". both teams had top order debacles. players got sconned. two of the hundreds were less important than the other two. put simply, I think Head and Burns batted better than Starc bowled. there it is.

Starc get's 10-for on a flat pitch where four Aussie batsmen racked up hundreds. It's an easy man of the match decision.

It might seem a waste of a spot having a backup spinner, but I still think you need one. Let's face it, there are always going to be players in the squad who are really only going to get a game if someone gets injured. But you don't want to go into a game without a spinner because Lyon gets injured and you didn't bring a backup, even banking on the fact that he's never missed a game because of injury to this point.

Definitely need a backup spinner, even if Lyon's never missed a test because of injury, don't want to risk going into a game with no spinner because he gets injured for the first time and you have no backup. I'm not sure Behrendorff is up to 5-day cricket yet. He hasn't played any Shield cricket this season. If he comes out in the second-half of the Shield season, plays all the matches and bowls well, then maybe he's a chance.

Agar has barely played this summer, after being in the white ball squads at the start of the season without playing a game, but forcing him to miss all the Shield matches. Hopefully he can have a good second-half of the Shield season. He's definitely in the mix. I'm sure they'd like to take a leggie, but we just don't have any performing in Shield cricket at the moment. Warner will definitely go and play. I don't believe there is any issue with team harmony. I think you will find Warner actually gets on very well with them. Has trained with and spent time with many during his suspension. And numerous players have commented on multiple occasions in very positive terms about how it will be good to have them back. While people on the outside like to make up that people in the team hate Warner, I've not seen any evidence to suggest that's the case.

Not sure how Khawaja is still in the frame for the Ashes. Notwithstanding his efforts in the UAE last year, he's a shadow of the batter he's been and IMO has not stepped up since Smith and Warner were suspended. Our best test batter 'by a street'? No wonder we're in stride. Too many low scores for a top order batter, too many disappointing soft dismissals followed by a singular 'big' innings (like yesterday's century and that of the previous Ashes) that typically have little match significance. As to the off-field issues, it would have been better if he opted to step down from the squad and give himself the time and space to cope with these weighty family concerns outside of the high profile attention that comes with being an active national rep. Like it or not, the particular nature of his family issues don't make for comfortable reading and could well result in more bad news being associated with the Khawaja name. He will not be able to escape the media spotlight if the worst case scenario transpires for his brother. I doubt this will conducive to Usman being a strong contributor in an away Ashes series.

Imagine if he has a ripper series next time considering he averaged in the 20’s last time

Haha classic. And would you believe it old mate qwetzen at the top of the list. Can you believe it. Lol

Why is Hazelwood an automatic inclusion in the squad, he has bowled rubbish the past few series and was poor last time in England. He can't swing the bowl, does little with the seam for sideways movement. Essentially he is good on a hard deck getting bounce, and England will not serve a pitch to suit him. Give a bowler who can swing the ball the gig.

Burns and Head set the game up. One of them. Probably Head. Starc wasn't even the best of our bowlers. Cummins was, to the eye. And I love it when bowlers get rewarded. A bowler, I was.

Time to move on from Wade. He was a failure in Tests, dropped catches and averaged 28. In the Marshes category.

Throwback to 2 years ago: www.theroar.com.au/2017/03/30/cummins-might-australias-version-akram-ambrose/ A few very triggered Roarers in that comment section too!

Swing bowler Worrall a smokey (Greg Campbell).

2-0 expected, I don’t think many are surprised at this, but for Sri Lanka, it will be the gravity of the defeats which hurt most, and the non-competitiveness with the bat. They may have been a little undermanned, and not resembling any of the class they have possessed in previous tours here, but there was still enough quality in their line-up to compete better. Still lots of uncertainty on the Ashes side, but we more or less have an understanding on the make-up of the squad. Right now, it’s hard for mine to see the top six differing from Warner, Burns, Khawaja, Smith, Head and Patterson – however with many pivotal questions still remaining, it might be almost pointless speculating yet. Importantly – whether or not Warner will be automatically welcomed back to the setup – obviously from a pure cricket perspective he should be instantly. The back end of the Shield season and tour matches will reveal a bit more too, and finalize the conundrum.

The selectors usually go for a 17 man squad so you could add one more. I like the choice of Carey as the reserve wicket keeper - I think Harris or Renshaw should go as an additional opener which would increase the squad to 17. I'm not a massive fan of Agar - I can only see Lyon playing in the eleven as a spinner so Agar's selection would be a waste of a spot. Personally I would replace Agar with Stoinis as I can see a future for him at test level - and I'm starting to go off Siddle as he has been terrible in the field in matches I have watched him in recently and has lacked penetration when bowling. But the selectors could take a punt on him comning good in English conditions - hisAustralian form certainly doesn't demand his eslection. Khawaja was lucky to score a 100 against a pretty inoccuous Sri Lankan attack but can understand that he has been distracted by off field events. But he really needs to spend some time doing slip catching practice if he is going to field there - I can forgive the sharp chance off Labuschagne today but the dolly he dropped off Starc yesterday was terrible. When Smith returns I can see him going to first slip and Burns at second - I think you need your best catchers in the slip cordon

Hard to split 4 batsmen, but Starc gets 5-for each innings. Had to be Starc or Head.

Yeah but with Agar it's the old story of what happens if Lyon steps on a ball in warm up, or comes down with the flu the day before the game? That's the only reason to take him. I don't disagree on Richardson, he'd have to pressuring them. And Behrendorff could be a handful, but has he shown he's durable yet? A few Shield games to prove that I guess. Not sure how big the squad will be.

Carey is a much better keeper. Wade is a better bat. Putting personalities aside, Carey is the next long term keeper, and a very good player. I'd pick him for sure. I guess Wade is a better option for no.12 than Hadscomb (if you take someone as backup keeper/batsman), because he's a better keeper and possibly a better bat right now. Agar is more of a holding bowler, but I think a more reliable option than any of our leggies at the moment. Yeah Stoinis could go I guess, depending on how many we take. If you go the Handscomb/Wade option at no.12 then you may have a spare spot for him. Tremain/Siddle/Boland - I doubt Boland, but not a huge amount between them. I feel Tremain's been dudded a bit, having been the top or close to top Shield quick for 2-3 seasons.

Sure