Stand-in captain Steve Smith has suggested that multiple strategies are being examined based on the unpredictable weather, but he underscored that Head, usually a consistent performer in the middle order, has previously excelled when taking on the role of opener in Asian tournaments.
“Travis will lead off,” remarked Smith during a press conference. “The selectors were impressed with his performance opening in India. He was aggressive against the new ball, scored runs swiftly, and applied pressure on the opposition right away. We anticipate a similar impact in these conditions.”
Head’s ascent to the top of the order raises questions about the fate of young Sam Konstas, who had a remarkable debut in the Boxing Day Test versus India last month. He might find himself dropping down the batting order or not making the final team selection at all. Smith hinted that Konstas could be at risk, with Josh Inglis poised to make his Test debut.
“Josh has been part of the squad for some time and has played a significant amount of cricket. He possesses great adeptness against spin, can score runs throughout the ground, and has a sturdy defense. If he gets an opportunity, I have confidence he will perform successfully,” Smith stated.
The Australian side is also looking to feature left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who is set to team up with Nathan Lyon, marking his first Test appearance in two years.
“Conditions have varied notably in recent days, and due to the rain, we’ll wait until tomorrow morning to finalize our team selection,” Smith explained. “It would be ideal to confirm our XI a couple of days ahead, but circumstances can change quickly here, so we will make our decision at the last moment.”
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has announced that opener Pathum Nissanka will miss the initial Test due to a groin injury, paving the way for Oshada Fernando to step in.
“Pathum is unavailable for the first Test, but we are hopeful for his return in the second match,” said Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva.
Although the contenders for the World Test Championship have already been determined, de Silva affirmed that his team remains highly motivated.
“We are eager to regain the Warne-Murali Trophy,” he expressed. “I recall winning it during my first series in 2016, but we lost it in 2019 and could not reclaim it when Australia visited in 2022. Additionally, our overall performance in the World Test Championship has been strong; winning both Tests could secure us a third-place finish in the table, which serves as a significant motivator for us.”
Squads:
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (captain), Josh Inglis, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy.
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Kusal Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lahiru Udara, Milan Rathnayake, Sonal Dinusha.
Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Adrian Holdstock (South Africa)
Third Umpire: Joel Wilson (West Indies)
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand)
