Australia has named a 16-player squad ahead of the upcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka, with Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann earning a recall and Cooper Connolly the shock bolter.

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Having already secured their place in the World Test Championship final against South Africa, Australia will play two Tests in Sri Lanka to defend the Warne–Muralitharan Trophy.

With captain Pat Cummins unavailable due to the birth of his second child, Steve Smith will lead the Australians in his absence, while Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green are missed out due to injury.

The first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia gets underway at Galle International Stadium on January 29.

WINNERS

COOPER CONNOLLY

With only three Sheffield Shield matches under his belt, Connolly is the shock bolter in Australia’s squad for the Test tour of Sri Lanka. His selection is a big look to the future from selectors.

The 21-year-old West Australian, who made his international debut during last year’s white-ball tour of the United Kingdom, only made his first-class debut ten months ago, scoring 90 in the Sheffield Shield final against Tasmania at the WACA.

Despite only having three first-class wickets to his name, Connolly’s left-arm tweakers could be a handy weapon on Sri Lanka’s turning decks should Australia need a spinning all-rounder.

NATHAN MCSWEENEY

Despite a challenging start to his Test career, McSweeney has been recalled for the Sri Lanka tour to serve as a reserve batting option.

The South Australian made his Test debut as an opener at Perth Stadium in November, but was axed from the national side ahead of the Boxing Day contest after failing to tame Indian weapon Jasprit Bumrah.

However, national selectors still believe McSweeney has a promising future in the Test side, hopefully down in the middle order where he’s best suited.

SEAN ABBOTT

With captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood unavailable for the Sri Lanka tour due to paternity leave and injury respectively, Abbott has been selected as Australia’s reserve quick.

The uncapped 32-year-old, who carried drinks for the second half of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has been picked ahead of West Australian fast bowler Jhye Richardson, who would perhaps be less effective on docile wickets.

In two Sheffield Shield matches this season, Abbott has taken 13 scalps at 19.84 including a five-wicket haul against Victoria at the MCG.

MATTHEW KUHNEMANN

Kuhnemann couldn’t even crack into Queensland’s starting XI last summer, but the left-armed spinner has earned a Test recall for the Sri Lanka tour.

The 28-year-old was rushed across to India for the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, controversially picked ahead of Ashton Agar and taking a maiden Test five-wicket haul in Indore.

Having since migrated to Tasmania in search of more red-ball cricket, Kuhnemann is the Tigers’ leading wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield this summer with 18 scalps at 38.00.

LOSERS

MITCHELL MARSH

Marsh’s Test career appears to be over.

In a dramatic fall from grace, the reigning Allan Border Medallist has been omitted from the Test side in favour of fellow all-rounder Beau Webster.

The decision comes after an underwhelming Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign against India, with the West Australian notching 73 runs at 10.42 and losing his place in the starting XI for the New Year’s Test.

With Cameron Green approaching his return from injury, it’s difficult to see a path back to the Test side for Marsh.

GLENN MAXWELL

The Big Show’s Test dream has finally come to an end.

Since being dropped from the Test side in 2017, there has been lingering conjecture on whether Maxwell could feature in the Australian squad for a tour of the subcontinent. He narrowly missed selection for the 2022 Sri Lanka tour, while a leg injury put him out of contention for the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India.

However, having celebrated his 36th birthday, the Victorian may have finally run out of chances to add to his seven Test caps.

COREY ROCCHICCIOLI

No spinner took more wickets in the Sheffield Shield last summer, but Rocchiccioli hasn’t done enough to usurp Victorian tweaker Todd Murphy in the Test pecking order.

The 27-year-old claimed 46 wickets at 27.60 to help West Australia win a third-consecutive Sheffield Shield final last season, putting him on the Test radar.

Picked for the recent Australia A series against India A, Rocchiccioli snared five wickets as the hosts secured a six-wicket win at the MCG, but the performance couldn’t get him on the plane to Sri Lanka.

PETER HANDSCOMB

Handscomb, the subcontinent specialist, has missed selection for the Sri Lanka tour despite a prolific 12 months in red-ball cricket.

The Victorian, having not played Test cricket since 2019, was a surprise selection for the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, accumulating 145 runs at 29.00 across the four-match series.

Handscomb, regarded as an excellent player of spin, was the fifth-leading run-scorer in first-class cricket last year with 1572 runs at 54.2. He also recorded the most 50+ scores at first-class level in 2024 with 16, even more than England superstar Joe Root.