Australia Announce Squad For Sri Lanka Tour: Nathan McSweeney, Matt Kuhnemann Included, Cooper Connolly To Debut In Test

Australia recalls McSweeney after the third Test against India, Kuhnemann to join him, and allrounder Cooper Connolly to make his Test debut against Sri Lanka.

Nathan McSweeney returns to the Australian Test Cricket Team for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka after being dropped from the top order in the MCG Test against India. On Thursday, Australia’s selector announced the squad for the two-test tour of Sri Lanka, introducing a few new faces. 

Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann, and offspinners Todd Murphy and Nathan Lyon will form the spin bowling attack of Australia which is expected to play a significant role in the series’ outcome.  The 21-year-old Cooper Connolly will join the team after selectors dropped Mitch Marsh from the test squad to focus on the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan. 

Captain Pat Cummins will be absent from the team as he is on paternity leave to welcome his second child, in his absence Steven Smith will take the command. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss the tour after catching a calf injury during the 3rd Test against India in Brisbane.

Beau Webster and Sam Konstas, who debuted in the SCG and MCG Test match against India respectively, will be playing their career’s second Test series against Sri Lanka. On the contrary, Mitchell Marsh is dropped from the squad after being dropped from the final Test against India in Sydney. Marsh is given rest to prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE which immediately follows the Sri Lanka Tests.

Selector George Bailey said, “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.”

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Australia Test Squad for Sri Lanka Tour 2025

Steve Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster