Whilst a door Jhye might want to walk through DD with open arms…SL is a place where traditionally more spinners play in your first XI than your fast bowlers…think Jhye would get more game time, playing in the SS…but yes it would be great seeing Richo playing test cricket again.
I can see Cummins (2nd baby due), Hazlewood (injury), Starc (rested) all voluntarily putting their hand up to miss the Sri Lanka tour and give the likes of Boland, Richardson, Neser etc their time to shine in the sun.
All out of the goodness in their hearts of course and nothing to do with being very spin friendly wickets and back breaking for the quickies!!
In all likelihood though Boland would probably play as the only fast bowling option, with Webster to open the bowling with his medium pacers and then the spinners from Lyon, Murphy, Kuhnemann, Swepson & Webster turning to his offies with help from part timers Head, Labuschagne, Smith etc will do the vast majority of the bowling over there…dont be surprised if Zampa is also in the squad to tour there too.
Wouldnt mind seeing Rocchichioli get a go over there as I reckon he is a better off spin bowler than Murphy and also has Kuhnemann & Swepson covered as well.
Cooper Connelly has been added to the test squad.For the two test tour of Sri Lanka.
The squad to tour Sri Lanka has been named-
S.Smith (C)
S.Abbott
S.Boland
A.Carey
C.Connolly
T.Head (VC)
J.Inglis
U.Khawaja
S.Konstas
M.Kuhnemann
M.Labuschagne
N.Lyon
N.McSweeney
T.Murphy
M.Starc
B.Webster
Cummins (child) & Hazlewood (injury) to miss.
Marsh, Maxwell, Swepson all not picked.
Good to see Connolly get a spot but likely to only be a tourist.
Also good to see Richardson was not picked, as hopefully he can have a good run of games in the SS to get his body right and accustomed to the bowling workload of red ball cricket again.
Milky Bar kid. Right arm runs. Lol
Todd Murphy ???
wow
been pretty harmless this year
and Kuhnemann ???
looks like the selectors have put their cue into the rack
a long way into the rack
Starc will be pretty useless up there looks like Scotty Boland is in for a few 12th man drinks runs
Rather Starc looking useless in SL then Richo or Morris I guess…as BH said, allows Richo atleast to play some red ball cricket for WA…which could help WA push for a SS top 2 spot, and maybe a spot for the WI tour later this year.
Great to see Connolly get a crack, and also McSweeney get another crack…hopefully this time in his preferred middle order slot.
As for the spinners, considering Murphy has 14 wickets @ 31, Kuhnemann 18 wickets @ 38, Swepson 17 wickets @ 42 and Rocchiccioli 14 wickets @ 44…I can see why the first 2 got SL gigs and the last 2 didn’t…more of a wow if it was the other way round TBH, but who’s fact checking eh?
So glad (and somewhat surprised) the selectors didnt pick any of Handscomb, Maxwell, Swepson & Marsh.
All have had their time, its time to introduce some new blood into the Test team.
A good start with picking Connolly, as I have posted elsewhere this kid has something with the bat, plays proper cricket shots but looks so elegant has the power as well, seems to handle pressure quite well too judging from his exploits in last years Shield Final, the BBL final a few years back as well as Captaining the Australian u/19 team at the WC.
it’s a shame our state sides don’t produce wicket taking spinners anymore mate - look at how many games it’s taken Murphy to get less than 15 wickets
what is it 6 shield games or something
same with the Kuhnemann 6 games for not many more than that
that isn’t good
as you say Connolly is showing good signs and deserves a look in and he can bat
funny I had a thought they might pluck Agar yet again you know
One has to only look at the recent BGT series and current shield stats, to see where all the wickets are going…agree with BH re Swepson, tried and tested on the test arena with limited success…at 30 something thank fudge the selectors have shown an ounce of nous and looked past him…speaks volumes considering Aust are in desperate need of a decent wrist spinner.
It’s a pity with it being a relative dead series WTC qualification wise, that Lyon didnt miss out and Rocchiccioli got a go…as Murphy and Rocchiccioli are Aust future spinner wise.
Im not convinced about Murphy Freeze.
He bowls too flat and quick for Australian conditions.
Murphy is only 24 mate, not too many Aust spinners have an average of 30, after 25 FC games…usually it sits in the 40’s TBH. Everytime I have seen Murphy bowl he has looked composed, especially for his age…plus he is a handy bat too.
I didn’t realize Rocchiccioli was 27, thought he was younger, and like Murphy, has a bowling average of 30 after 25 something FC games…I just wish Lyon was moved on, enabling these two boys a decent crack at test cricket…can see an Ashes home series swansong for Garry next summer…then tap him to say thanks, now fudge off…especially if Eng win.
CA have told Cooper Connellys parents.To fly to Sri Lanka for the first test.
As a minimum the milky bar kid is playing or 12 man.
appearing likely now that Webster will stay in & bowl both his varieties and that Connolly will come in to replace eco-warrior hypocrite Cummins
Labuschane & Head will roll their arms over too
Head may open in Sri Lanka and depending on the pitch, they may go in with 3 spinners and Webster to bowl his mediums
Would mean Kontas missing out but Head does struggle against spin when he starts his innings and there will be plenty of other opportunities for the 19yo
Possible team
Head
Ussie
Labuschagne
Smith
Connelly
Webster
Carey
Starc
Murphy
Lyon
Boland.
The other option would be to slot Inglis in at 5, then replace Boland with Kuenemann to make up the 3 spinners. This would mean Webster would take the new ball
seeing Abbott in the squad gives me the uneasy thought Boland will make way for that move
and that would not surprise me one bit given recent selections
a lot could depend on exactly who opens the batting
and as know , there are commentators openly stating who would want to bother being an opener
but they are right on the mark though
seeing Abbott in the squad gives me the uneasy thought that Boland will make way for that move
given recent selections it would not be a total surprise either
hell of a lot hinges on just who opens the batting
as we know several commentators are openly stating who would want to bother being an opener in this regime
right on the money though
The selectors would have to be dumber than I thought if they pick both Lyon & Murphy in the same Test team as that would then mean there are 4 right arm off spinners in the side including Webster & Head.
Kuhnemann (and or Connolly) with his left arm orthodox would offer far greater variety and differential turning the ball away from the right handers of which SL have mostly in their top order or did vs SA recently.
If as we are lead to believe Head will open I hope they pick Inglis to play as a specialist batsman coming in at 5 or 6 as he plays spin quite well.
Konstas after that ridiculous slog he played in Sydney should sit the 1st Test out at least but this is Bailey, Dodemaide & McDonald we are talking about…
Depending on the wicket at Galle which is well renowned for spin Starc and or Boland may miss out and we open the bowling with Webster to support one of the former.
BH, not sure Webster will be bowling his spin, unless it’s a last resort…can see him bowling his medium pace like you said, with either Boland or Starc. Considering McDonald et al have overseen 11 Aust test series with one loss…not sure they are as dumb as you think mate…the results speak for themselves…but agree they have factored in little of a succession plan, until this series…time will tell if it will bite them in the arse.
After all the speculation Australia may end up making just one change to the team that beat India in Sydney. If Kuhnemann is fit, he will probably come in as a replacement for Cummins. Otherwise Connelly could get a debut and bat at 8. Good to see a test series exclusively on free to air for a change.