Australia's Test Squad for Sri Lanka: Steve Smith to Lead, McSweeney and Connolly In, Marsh and Hazlewood Out

Australia has named a 16-man Test squad for their tour of Sri Lanka, featuring Nathan McSweeney and Cooper Connolly. Mitch Marsh has been left out and Pat Cummins will miss the tour to welcome the birth of his second child. Steve Smith will lead the side in Cummins' absence.

McSweeney and Connolly are the new additions; McSweeney opened his debut series for Australia though he is likely to play in the middle order. Connolly, a spin bowling all-rounder, is one of Australia’s brightest young talents. The squad also includes spinners Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann alongside Nathan Lyon.

 Australia is lacking the services of key players like Josh Hazlewood who is recovering from a calf injury and Glenn Maxwell whose Test career seems to be over after being left out.

The squad has enough flexibility for the first Test in Galle to be able to select the batting order and the bowling lineup. Australia may either stick with the same top seven used in the Sydney Test or Travis Head could move up the order. If needed, three frontline spinners are possible from the squad.

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (C), 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.