Australia previously played in Sri Lanka in 2022 and last toured the subcontinent in early 2023, when they visited India. There are echoes of that tour coming up in Sri Lanka with captain Pat Cummins unavailable and Steven Smith standing in again. Australia’s selectors showed a willingness to pick an unconventional XI in India in a bid to select the best team for the conditions after learning some lessons from the 1-1 series draw in Sri Lanka. The selectors have some intriguing decisions to make ahead of the first Test in Galle with the shape of the XI potentially looking very different to the recent Border-Gavaskar series.
Will Travis Head open and how will the top-order shape up?
Head was being discussed as an option to open in this series from a long way out, given he made 23 runs in three innings batting at Nos. 5 and 6 in Sri Lanka in 2022, and averages 18.90 in 11 innings on the subcontinent in the middle-order. He was dropped at the start of the India series in 2023, such were the selectors fears about his ability to start against spin. He was recalled as an opener when David Warner was injured in the second Test and made 223 runs at 55.75 in five innings.
Who partners Lyon and how many spinners play?
While the selectors would prefer to have Kuhnemann partner Lyon for match-up purposes, there is a case to be made that Murphy is the better option full stop. The want for a left-arm orthodox, as was the case with Ashton Agar in India in 2023, comes from a belief that having two right-arm offspinners, plus a third part-timer, against a right-hand heavy batting line-up is too one-dimensional. But Murphy’s record against right-handers is excellent. He’s taken 13 wickets at 27.61 in Tests against right-handers, having knocked over Virat Kohli four times, Cheteshwar Pujara twice, Joe Root and KL Rahul once each among others. In first-class cricket, his strike-rate against right-handers is better than Kuhnemann’s.
Is the allrounder needed?
If significant spin is expected, Australia might not need an allrounder. Or they could bat the allrounder at No. 8 to lengthen the order and back the two main spinners, Head and one quick to take 20 wickets. If Kuhnemann is unavailable, such a scenario would open the door for Connolly to play at No. 8.
If the wicket is flatter, as it was in the second Test in Galle in 2022, then Webster’s bowling will make him a more attractive option at No. 6. On top of his medium pace, he can bowl offspin and could provide a different trajectory from 200cm even if he would potentially be fourth choice behind Lyon, Murphy and Head. He can also swing the new ball and bowl stump-to-stump medium pace with the keeper up, if the bounce gets inconsistent.
Which quicks and how many?
Starc does not get nearly enough credit for his durability and his skill across a variety of different conditions. With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood unavailable, Starc will lead the pace attack and might do it on his own. He did so in the final two Tests in India and could do so again if conditions allow it.