Test (Early) Sri Lanka tour squad predictions

[THE A5]

We've got 4 inexperienced batters over there, 2 of them will play - potentially 3 if we only play 1 seamer and Connolly at 7.

They'll be getting experience into young bats who might have a big role in our future, regardless of which combination of Konstas, Webster, McSweeney or Connolly we go with. I hope we're going all out to win and go with the ones who look the most likely in the conditions.

If Connolly plays he needs to bat at 6

 

[sr36]

You usually pick your best team which Konstas was in.

You don't throw a young kid in to face Bumrah and then say "we're going to drop you because you're looking poor at training."

Horses for courses. The best team varies by conditions. What applies to the bowlers does to the batters too. Boland probably wouldn't even be in the squad if Cummings was available - definitely not if Cummings and Hazlewood were both available - and he was just man of the match in our last test.

 

[Westend]

I was impressed with Webster but reckon he’s just warning Cam Green’s seat. He will make way the moment Green is fit.

I disagree and reckon both can play in the same team

Webbie so far looks a natural number six I prefer greenie in the top four

Going forward to the ashes next year I can’t see ussie marnus and smith all in the same side .. pace of England will cause issues for them

I don’t see ussie playing past the wtc final and he should’ve been retired after the Indian series

Labs I have seen enough of 1 ton in his last 50 test innings has major issues outside off stump that is not improving

Smudge to bat three for me come England next summer or greenie

 

[Tugga27]

Horses for courses. The best team varies by conditions. What applies to the bowlers does to the batters too. Boland probably wouldn't even be in the squad if Cummings was available - definitely not if Cummings and Hazlewood were both available - and he was just man of the match in our last test.

That a totally different scenario.

Boland isn't in our best 11 when we're at full strength.
At this stage, Konstas is.

 

[MJG14]

Not sure if it's been posted here, but Seven reported that Smith may be dealing with an elbow issue sustained while fielding in the washed out Big Bash match.

 

[sr36]

That a totally different scenario.

Boland isn't in our best 11 when we're at full strength.
At this stage, Konstas is.

Change the name with Hazlewood then. Like bowlers, batters are also more suited to different conditions. We just don't know yet how well a few of these guys will be suited to Asia. Webster handled bounce beautifully - does that help him when Jaysariya is getting some to skid and some to grip.

 

[cricketnut14]

One thing I don't like about the test championship is that a series like this is viewed by some as a dead rubber.

it wouldn't be considered a dead rubber if this series was an ashes series and india series.

its just the way the average punter sees it.

i mean back in 2023, all people were talking about were the ashes, when we still had the WTC final to play. the way it was fixtured also didn't help as it was basically a week before the ashes and effectively a warm up match.

 

[Cleavy]

Not sure if it's been posted here, but Seven reported that Smith may be dealing with an elbow issue sustained while fielding in the washed out Big Bash match.

Smith injured but cleared to join teammates in camp ahead of Sri Lanka tour

Smith injured but cleared to join teammates in camp ahead of Sri Lanka tour

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Tugga27]

Change the name with Hazlewood then. Like bowlers, batters are also more suited to different conditions. We just don't know yet how well a few of these guys will be suited to Asia. Webster handled bounce beautifully - does that help him when Jaysariya is getting some to skid and some to grip.

That's why you give them a chance first.

You don't drop them, especially after 2 tests because they haven't looked good at training.

That's absurd.

 

[western royboy]

I was impressed with Webster but reckon he’s just warning Cam Green’s seat. He will make way the moment Green is fit.

Green going forward I’m told is going to be as a batsman if he wants to have a long career

 

[cats_09]

Basic updates on 3 injury concerns

 

[freo_leo29]

We have picked Connolly at 8 in an ODI before (and 9 twice in T20s)

So we aren't 100% against picking him as a bowler in other formats, if Kuhnemann doesn't get up then I reckon we go with Coops for the 3rd spinner

 

[sr36]

That's why you give them a chance first.

You don't drop them, especially after 2 tests because they haven't looked good at training.

That's absurd.

Yeah we're not going to agree. I wouldn't even view it as being dropped. It's just not being selected due to the conditions - like what happens to a seamer or two every time we go to Asia.

I hope he bats well in the lead up and this conversation is irrelevant, but we picked Handscomb over Head last tour of India, so don't rule it out

 

[hugecannon]

Yeah we're not going to agree. I wouldn't even view it as being dropped. It's just not being selected due to the conditions - like what happens to a seamer or two every time we go to Asia.

I hope he bats well in the lead up and this conversation is irrelevant, but we picked Handscomb over Head last tour of India, so don't rule it out

And Renshaw

 

[Bedi]

Smith injured but cleared to join teammates in camp ahead of Sri Lanka tour

Smith injured but cleared to join teammates in camp ahead of Sri Lanka tour

www.foxsports.com.au

Handscomb might get a call up yet

 

[toml]

What even would be the point of picking Handscomb for 2 tests when he will never play any again considering we don't go to the sub-continent again till 2027. Back the young fellas. Handscomb's sub-continent record is hardly incredible enough to bother using him as a 2 test stop gap when he's never going to play again.

 

[Snake Charmer]

Kandy gets hit by both of Sr Lanka's monsoon periods, so they miss a lot of afternoon sessions due to rain. But removing the covers quickly isn't that big a consideration as it's afternoon session rain bucketing down and light is no good, so they're not going back out.

Sri Lanka were in a tough spot when the covers went on. They wanted no part of getting back on. Later on in the game when there spinners were all over us, the covers came off very quick… lol

 

[Borisdog]

Green going forward I’m told is going to be as a batsman if he wants to have a long career

And I don’t doubt that, it’s now 2 bouts of back surgery for a bloke that’s still pretty young.

I’m not convinced he’s a #4 yet. But if he’s unable to bowl then he’s able to dedicate more time to train his batting.
Which I believe will improve him enough to be a top order batsman.

The man has the makings of a very good batsman, patience and technique are slightly lacking atm. More the former than the latter.

 

[sr36]

And I don’t doubt that, it’s now 2 bouts of back surgery for a bloke that’s still pretty young.

I’m not convinced he’s a #4 yet. But if he’s unable to bowl then he’s able to dedicate more time to train his batting.
Which I believe will improve him enough to be a top order batsman.

The man has the makings of a very good batsman, patience and technique are slightly lacking atm. More the former than the latter.

I don't think it's patience. He can grind. But he does fall into being too defensive and then overcompensates by being too attacking in other innings. Hasn't mastered tempo batting yet.

 

[sr36]

I disagree and reckon both can play in the same team

Webbie so far looks a natural number six I prefer greenie in the top four

Going forward to the ashes next year I can’t see ussie marnus and smith all in the same side .. pace of England will cause issues for them

I don’t see ussie playing past the wtc final and he should’ve been retired after the Indian series

Labs I have seen enough of 1 ton in his last 50 test innings has major issues outside off stump that is not improving

Smudge to bat three for me come England next summer or greenie

It's pretty straight forward. If they're both considered to be in the 6 best test match batters they both play. If only one of them is then that one plays and the other is left out.

 

[sr36]

What even would be the point of picking Handscomb for 2 tests when he will never play any again considering we don't go to the sub-continent again till 2027. Back the young fellas. Handscomb's sub-continent record is hardly incredible enough to bother using him as a 2 test stop gap when he's never going to play again.

I think he was Sri Lanka bound if our spot in the WTC was still in doubt, but agree that it seems pointless now.

I don't think they'd add a batter if Smith pulled out. Already have McSweeney, Connolly and the other 5 who played in Sydney.

 

[pugsville]

We have picked Connolly at 8 in an ODI before (and 9 twice in T20s)

So we aren't 100% against picking him as a bowler in other formats, if Kuhnemann doesn't get up then I reckon we go with Coops for the 3rd spinner

Yeah but formats were bowlers don't bowl many overs.
He has bowled 96 balls in First class cricket never taken a first class wicket.
He has bowed 54 balls in ODI and intentional T20 Cricket and never taken a wicket.

Playing Cooper a part of the front line bowlers i massive gamble.

 

[freo_leo29]

Bit of inside Goss from a certain WA cricket club

Xi has apparently been picked

It's been hinted strongly that a WA players parents should fly to Sri Lanka.

 

[sr36]

Yeah but formats were bowlers don't bowl many overs.
He has bowled 96 balls in First class cricket never taken a first class wicket.
He has bowed 54 balls in ODI and intentional T20 Cricket and never taken a wicket.

Playing Cooper a part of the front line bowlers i massive gamble.

Being third spinner is different though due to the main spinners being able to take on a big load.

He wouldn't have to be heavily relied on with Starc and Webster opening the bowling. Murphy and Lyon doing a heap of the work. Him next in line, with Head and Marnus also as change up options. I think it's a definite chance we go that way if it looks like a turner that offers nothing to the quicks - which will most likely be the case. Particularly as there's no other spinner that you'd want to rely on.

If they think it's a 3 spinner deck - there's noone you'd particularly want as that third spinner so might as well strengthen the batting with the only bloke who can offer a spinning style that is seen as the most dangerous in Sri Lanka.

 

[nobbyiscool]

Bit of inside Goss from a certain WA cricket club

Xi has apparently been picked

It's been hinted strongly that a WA players parents should fly to Sri Lanka.

Yup, they'd absolutely know who is playing the first test before they've seen the pitch, trained for 7 days... or even gotten on the friggen plane

I don't understand the benefit of people posting so obviously made up shit.