Webster, Boland get nod

The National Selection Panel (NSP) has named a 16-player men’s squad for the Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka. Australia plays two Test matches against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Australia:
Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) (c)
Sean Abbott (NSW/Parramatta District Cricket Club)
Scott Boland (VIC/Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club)
Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)
Cooper Connolly (WA/Scarborough Cricket Club)
Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club) (vc)
Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club)
Usman Khawaja (QLD/Valley District Cricket Club)
Sam Konstas (NSW/Sutherland District Cricket Club)
Matt Kuhnemann (TAS/Clarence Cricket Club)
Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club)
Nathan Lyon (NSW/Northern District Cricket Club)
Nathan McSweeney (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)
Todd Murphy (VIC/St Kilda Cricket Club)
Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club)
Beau Webster (TAS/Kingborough Cricket Club)

Steve Smith will lead the squad to Sri Lanka while Pat Cummins is on paternity leave and focusing on an ankle issue which was managed through the Test summer.

Josh Hazlewood is continuing his recovery from a calf injury while Mitchell Marsh was omitted, with both focussing on the Champion’s Trophy which immediately follows the Sri Lanka tour.

Chair of Selectors George Bailey said:

“Sri Lanka is a challenging and exciting place to tour given the different conditions players may be presented with. This squad provides several ways to structure the XI depending on what type of wickets we may encounter in each match.

“We are excited about the opportunity ahead for the squad members who are at the start of their Test careers to continue to grow their games in subcontinent conditions where we have a number of important tours in coming years.”