Mitchell Marsh will be dropped for tour of Sri Lanka. Glenn Maxwell in line for Test recall
Mitchell Marsh is set to withdraw from Australia’s Test squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, which is part of the 2023-25 World Test Championship. Cooper Connolly and Glenn Maxwell are in contention to make the squad as all-rounders, along with Beau Webster, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Australia are set to announce their squad for the Test series in Sri Lanka, starting on January 29 at the Galle International Stadium. Given the expected spin-friendly conditions, the men in yellow may rely on as many as three frontline spinners, with Travis Head also providing part-time off-spin options for the team.
Mitchell Marsh will be dropped from the squad for the upcoming Test series
The selectors are expected to include batsman Pete Handscomb in the squad, while 21-year-old all-rounder Cooper Connolly is also being considered. Connolly, who has already represented Australia in white-ball cricket and has played just four first-class matches so far, is seen as a future Test prospect.
Beau Webster is likely to remain in the squad, which could spell the end of Mitchell Marsh’s Test career. Glenn Maxwell is also an outsider for selection because of his experience in the subcontinent. The squad is expected to be announced soon and will give Maxwell a clearer picture of his Test future.
It will be really tough for Mitchell Marsh to get back into the side now – Aaron Finch
Former Australian opener Aaron Finch believes Mitchell Marsh may have played his last Test. Finch said that with some cricket left in the current summer and Cameron Greene returning in March, it will be difficult for Marsh to reclaim his place. Finch believes Marsh is unlikely to play Test cricket again.
“I think it will be very difficult for Mitch (Mitchell Marsh) to come back into the side now,” Finch told ESPN’s Around the Wicket. “There’s not a huge amount of cricket this summer to force the case, with Cameron Green coming back in early March. For me, it will be unlikely (he will play again).
Cooper Connolly has played four first-class matches for Western Australia but averages an impressive 61.8 from six innings. He bowls left orthodox spin in white ball cricket but is yet to take a wicket in 16 overs. He is the leading scorer in the Big Bash with 272 runs at an average of 54.4.
Nathan McSweeney, Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy likely to be recalled for Sri Lanka tour
Nathan Lyon is guaranteed a place in Australia’s squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, while Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann are both in contention for recalls. Kuhnemann is a particularly interesting choice as it offers a different spin variation. He was part of the Australia squad during the India 2023 series.
Kuhnemann has not played since, with the selectors preferring Murphy as back-up. Kuhnemann took nine wickets in his three Test appearances. Murphy is also expected to be included. Both spinners are likely to feature in the squad to be announced, but Kuhnemann could find a place in the line-up.
Nathan McSweeney is also set to receive a recall for the Sri Lanka tour after being dropped from the Test squad midway through the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy following his failures with the bat in the opening matches.
2025-01-08 18:07:00
