Test (Early) Sri Lanka tour squad predictions

[eth-dog]

So two tests, 29th Jan-2nd Feb, 6th-10th Feb. Both at Galle, which is historically a venue dominated by spin. Depending on the result of Sydney the WTC might still need confirming. Anyway, what I think we should do:

Batters: Konstas, Head, Labuschagne, Smith, Handscomb, Webster
Keepers: Carey, Inglis (if fit), Philippe (if not)
Seamers: Boland, Cummins (if he flies out), Starc (if Cummins stays home for the birth of his kid)
Spinners: Lyon, Murphy, Kuhnemann, Swepson/Tanveer Sangha

Debating whether or not another bat is required, if so I'd bring Henry Hunt over as a reserve opener. If Cummins doesn't go I'm guessing Smith will be captain but wouldn't mind seeing Head take it. Side I'd play:

Konstas
Head
Labuschagne
Smith
Handscomb
Webster
Carey (+)
Cummins/Starc
Lyon
Murphy
Kuhnemann

 

[cats_09]

All but confirmed Smith will captain at least the first test in Sri Lanka

 

[cricketnut14]

a bit of a guide on how they may structure the 2 test series in sri lanka

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

1st Test, assuming no Cummins

1 Konstas
2 Head (c)
3 Labuschagne
4 Smith
5 McSweeney
6 Carey
7 Webster
8 Starc
9 Lyon
10 Hazelwood
11 Kuhnemann

12 Inglis
13 Maxwell
14 Cummins
15 Agar

Boland - Cummins cover for 1st Test.

 

[It Just Is]

Handscomb’s averaged sub-30 from 2 tours of India. No reason to pick him here. Inglis and McSweeney are both also good players of spin.

Can Webster bat at 6 on spinning decks? He’d be a handy 5th bowling option.

Cooper Connelly must be tempting for the selectors to put on a plane, get in the nets and see how he goes. Plays spin well but more importantly turns the ball the other way from Nathan Lyon. This tour has probably come around a season too soon for him.

 

[cricketnut14]

are we all retiring khawaja or is he making an announcement in the next few days ?

 

[eth-dog]

1st Test, assuming no Cummins

1 Konstas
2 Head (c)
3 Labuschagne
4 Smith
5 McSweeney
6 Carey
7 Webster
8 Starc
9 Hazelwood
10 Lyon
11 Kuhnemann

12 Inglis
13 Maxwell
14 Cummins
15 Agar

Boland - Cummins cover for 1st Test.

So the second spinner for literally every tour of the past 3/4 in Murphy drops behind a bloke who is the second spinner in his state in Agar? Maxwell isn't even getting picked for Victoria and you have him ahead of Handscomb, who had more 50+ scores than any other player in FC cricket last year, and is also one of our better players of spin.

Honestly don't see the need to take 3/4 quicks over for two tests at Galle. Taking two is plenty, we actually have good spin depth in the country now with Kuhnemann, Murphy, Rocchiccioli (who I don't think tours), Swepson and Tanveer Sangha being good FC spinners at a minimum

Handscomb’s averaged sub-30 from 2 tours of India. No reason to pick him here. Inglis and McSweeney are both also good players of spin.

Can Webster bat at 6 on spinning decks? He’d be a handy 5th bowling option.

Cooper Connelly must be tempting for the selectors to put on a plane, get in the nets and see how he goes. Plays spin well but more importantly turns the ball the other way from Nathan Lyon. This tour has probably come around a season too soon for him.

... He also had the 3rd and 4th most runs of each tour respectively. Inglis injured himself and may not be fit to tour Sri Lanka, McSweeney got dropped from the side and really should play Shield cricket before he returns.

Connolly is a talent but he hasn't got a FC ton yet, let him play the season out with WA. You can play 2/3 spinners and just use Cummins/Starc and Webster with the new ball.

are we all retiring khawaja or is he making an announcement in the next few days ?

He's not a great player of spin, not in great form, and with Sri Lanka tending to play 2/3 spinners at the venue, is there a point in playing him?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

So the second spinner for literally every tour of the past 3/4 in Murphy drops behind a bloke who is the second spinner in his state in Agar? Maxwell isn't even getting picked for Victoria and you have him ahead of Handscomb, who had more 50+ scores than any other player in FC cricket last year, and is also one of our better players of spin.

Honestly don't see the need to take 3/4 quicks over for two tests at Galle. Taking two is plenty, we actually have good spin depth in the country now with Kuhnemann, Murphy, Rocchiccioli (who I don't think tours), Swepson and Tanveer Sangha being good FC spinners at a minimum

... He also had the 3rd and 4th most runs of each tour respectively. Inglis injured himself and may not be fit to tour Sri Lanka, McSweeney got dropped from the side and really should play Shield cricket before he returns.

Connolly is a talent but he hasn't got a FC ton yet, let him play the season out with WA. You can play 2/3 spinners and just use Cummins/Starc and Webster with the new ball.

He's not a great player of spin, not in great form, and with Sri Lanka tending to play 2/3 spinners at the venue, is there a point in playing him?

My XI has as spinning options...
1 Lyon
2 Kuhnemann
3 Webster
4 Head
5 McSweeney
6 Labuschagne

Picked Kuhnemann ahead of Murphy as need the variation imo. Murphy should have played some of the Indian 5 test series for Lyon.

Again, picked Agar as a spare as offers more variation, including allrounder option.

Feel free to pick your squad.

 

[Freezin]

How about TSangha for some leg spin?....he would be my roughie for selection to SL.

 

[eth-dog]

My XI has as spinning options...
1 Lyon
2 Kuhnemann
3 Webster
4 Head
5 Labuschagne

Picked Kuhnemann ahead of Murphy as need the variation imo. Murphy should have played some of the Indian 5 test series for Lyon.

Again, picked Agar as a spare as offers more variation, including allrounder option.

Feel free to pick your squad.

I was literally the first to pick a squad.

Comparing Head and Labuschagne to Murphy is, something. Certainly.

 

[SSwans2011]

I figured his name would come up, but I can't see the point in taking Handscomb. Even with the 4th most runs (tied 4th with Smith to be exact) of our last tour of India, an average of 29 doesn't exactly scream "pick me" as a spinning deck specialist. Greeny also would have scored more than him if he'd batted more than twice that tour, which means that at best you can say he was on par with Smith and outbatted Carey that series. All of our other best XI batters performed better than him.

I reckon there's far more to be gained taking McSweeney and having him bat down the order if we were to bring another batter in.

I'm assuming Khawaja plays on given we haven't heard anything, which I don't have an issue with given he was our best batter in India.

Konstas
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Carey
Webster
Cummins/Starc
Lyon
Murphy
Hazlewood

McSweeney, Hunt, Patterson, Boland, Richo, Kuhnemann probably the other names I'd have in the mix.

 

[toml]

He's not a great player of spin, not in great form, and with Sri Lanka tending to play 2/3 spinners at the venue, is there a point in playing him?

Usman has averaged between 45 and 165 in every subcontinent tour we have played in since 2018. I'm a lot more confident in him playing spin than pace at this stage of his career.

 

[SSwans2011]

Usman has averaged between 45 and 165 in every subcontinent tour we have played in since 2018. I'm a lot more confident in him playing spin than pace at this stage of his career.

This is my view. He's been our best batter on subcontinent tours for several years now.

Wouldn't mind if he retired beforehand because we need to start looking at another opener eventually, but he's 100% in our best XI for the tour if he doesn't.

 

[dogs105]

I figured his name would come up, but I can't see the point in taking Handscomb. Even with the 4th most runs (tied 4th with Smith to be exact) of our last tour of India, an average of 29 doesn't exactly scream "pick me" as a spinning deck specialist. Greeny also would have scored more than him if he'd batted more than twice that tour, which means that at best you can say he was on par with Smith and outbatted Carey that series. All of our other best XI batters performed better than him.

I reckon there's far more to be gained taking McSweeney and having him bat down the order if we were to bring another batter in.

I'm assuming Khawaja plays on given we haven't heard anything, which I don't have an issue with given he was our best batter in India.

Konstas
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Carey
Webster
Cummins/Starc
Lyon
Murphy
Hazlewood

McSweeney, Hunt, Patterson, Boland, Richo, Kuhnemann probably the other names I'd have in the mix.

This looks good. McSweeney has a big future

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I was literally the first to pick a squad.

Comparing Head and Labuschagne to Murphy is, something. Certainly.

Whoops my bad.

Where did I compare Head & Labuschagne to Murphy?

Never made that claim at all!

 

[hugecannon]

My squad (assuming they take 15 initially and Cummins joins after the first test):-

Konstas
Khwaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey
Starc
Lyon
Kuhnemann
Hazelwood

Inglis
Murphy
Boland
Richardson

If they plan to open with Head and Kwahja then I hope they leave Konstas at home to play for NSW rather than carry drinks and McSweeney possibly comes in the side at 5 instead.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Usman has averaged between 45 and 165 in every subcontinent tour we have played in since 2018. I'm a lot more confident in him playing spin than pace at this stage of his career.

He has been in better form leading into those series than he seems right now, but tend to agree he will be picked for the SL series. It isn't like there are openers demanding a spot and Konstas is not exactly nailed on yet as a mid-to-long-term starter either.
Form is a concern, but I expect Khawaja will get the SL series. And only be looked at for replacing in WTC/WI if Konstas does well enough in SL to secure a spot until the start of next home summer.

 

[PAFCsince1870]

Unless Khawaja retires out of the blue his skillset means his ticket to Sri Lanka has already been purchased.

 

[Cudi]

Looks like Handscomb will be on the plane

Handscomb a strong chance for a Test recall on Sri Lanka tour

Victoria batter has joined Australia's squad in Sydney to train and sub field and is in the mix for a recall on the upcoming Sri Lanka tour

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[big_e]

Handscomb and Murphy have been brought to Sydney and will be substitute fielders, with Matthew Kuhnemann to join later in the test.

You'd think that's a huge hint as to who will be heading to Sri Lanka.

 

[yabsy]

If Inglis can't get fit in time for the tour, Handscomb can also double as the backup keeper (being it's only 2 tests close together)

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[eth-dog]

If Inglis can't get fit in time for the tour, Handscomb can also double as the backup keeper (being it's only 2 tests close together)

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

Only in the immediate test. You'd fly Peirson/Philippe over for the second test if Carey gets injured.

 

[Torz]

How about TSangha for some leg spin?....he would be my roughie for selection to SL.

Currently injured.

 

[yabsy]

Only in the immediate test. You'd fly Peirson/Philippe over for the second test if Carey gets injured.

Agreed, if there's time

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[foxdog50]

What is the number of the squad? Is it always a traditional squad of 16 ?