Test (Early) Sri Lanka tour squad predictions

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Not tempted to stick in an extra batter, Inglis or McSweeney (who can bowl), and use Head as the third spinner? Our fragile batting remains a real concern for me. Won't have Cummins to save the day this tour.
Yeah, if we go without Boland due to the conditions, I'd be strengthening the batting with Connolly who also gives you another spin option.
 
Not tempted to stick in an extra batter, Inglis or McSweeney (who can bowl), and use Head as the third spinner? Our fragile batting remains a real concern for me. Won't have Cummins to save the day this tour.
Maybe, but not for the first test (obviously need to see the strip first).

What I’ve gone for here is;

2 openers who should be able to get us off to a good start while the ball is hard. Head struggles with Asian conditions when he starts in the middle order, but (small sample size) dominates when opening.

Our best players of spin coming in once the ball has softened in Ussie, Smith and Labs.

Webster should with his technique do well. Good reach, nice footwork. He also gives us another pace option.

Starc has an absurd record in SL.

Murphy Lyon and Kuhnemann for specialist spin options with Kuhnemann the left arm point of difference.

If I were to play a specialist bat (McSweeney or Inglis for mine), I’d drop Kuhnemann - madness you say, we need the left arm point of difference for the lefthanders. I’d normally agree, but interestingly Murphy has a better average vs lefties in all conditions compared to Kuhnemann, including some big scalps. On top of that, in the 2nd test the NZ lefties got hammered - small sample size I’ll admit.
 

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The same applies for Connolly, Webster and Inglis.

Whichever way we go, 2 or 3 bats with limited experience will get some test match experience in Asian conditions.
Agreed, I’d add McSweeney to that list, and I’d be more than happy if he got a run either at the expense of a bowler or instead of one of the other bats
 
No Konstas is just madness IMO.
Ditto. Sure pick him for sub cont conditions to continue his education and not play him. May as well have left him in Dubai. Imo the kid wont be overawed facing quality spin in unfamiliar conditions, not sure I can say same thing about all our experienced top order.

Not that I am against Inglis making his debut as is well deserved. More confident tho if it was in England or Sth Africa as, like Konstas his spin play on Asian dust bowls is untried?
 
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I wouldn't be picking him as a front line bowler. He be a Nitish Kumar Reddy style selection. Stiffen the lower order and chip in some overs.
What I’m getting at, is in my opinion, you pick him as a pure bat or nothing. If he rolls the arm over then great - but that shouldn’t be a reason for his selection.

With that, does he offer more with bat than Inglis, McSweeney? At this stage I don’t think so.
 
Not that I am against Inglis making his debut, well deserved. How is his spin play on dust bowls, he and Webster too? Konstas wont be overawed facing quality spin in unfamiliar conditions, not sure I can say same thing about all our experienced top order.
In terms of they play against spin in Asian conditions, no one really knows for Konstas, Inglis, Connolly, McSweeney, Webster.

Personally, I'd pick the ones who look to have established the clearest plans that are working in Dubai and Galle nets. I just think it's the best thing the selectors have to go on.
 
What I’m getting at, is in my opinion, you pick him as a pure bat or nothing. If he rolls the arm over then great - but that shouldn’t be a reason for his selection.

With that, does he offer more with bat than Inglis, McSweeney? At this stage I don’t think so.
I think his bowling is relevant, as his best chance of selection is if we only go with 3 front line bowlers as we think Connolly, Webster and Head will provide a good enough range of support for the front line bowlers. It won't be a surprise if that's the way we go on a turner.
 
I think his bowling is relevant, as his best chance of selection is if we only go with 3 front line bowlers as we think he, Webster and Head will provide a good enough range of support for the front line bowlers
His bowling isn’t relevant, in fact so far it’s been utterly irrelevant. Now, he’s young, that can certainly change. But a handful of first class wickets would be something I’d be wanting to see first.
 
His bowling isn’t relevant, in fact so far it’s been utterly irrelevant. Now, he’s young, that can certainly change. But a handful of first class wickets would be something I’d be wanting to see first.
Do you think he's on tour solely due to his batting?
 

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Test (Early) Sri Lanka tour squad predictions

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