
Former captain Steve Smith will lead Australia in the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka as regular skipper Pat Cummins is on paternity leave for the birth of his second child.
Smith, 35, returns to captaincy after his two-year leadership ban following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will also miss the series due to a calf injury, while all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been omitted after a poor showing against India.
Spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly earns his first Test call-up, joining Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann, and Todd Murphy in Australia’s spin attack.
Nathan McSweeney retains his spot in the squad after scoring 72 runs in six innings against India, alongside 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who debuted in the final Test of that series.
Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Sean Abbott round out the seam attack.
Beau Webster, who replaced Marsh in the final Test against India, keeps his place in the squad.
The first Test begins on 29th of January in Galle. Australia, fresh off their series win over India, has already secured a spot in the World Test Championship final against South Africa, scheduled for 11th-15th of June at Lord’s.
Australia Test Squad for Sri Lanka:
Steve Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.