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GALLE: Travis Head will replace Sam Konstas as Usman Khawaja’s opening partner in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle on Wednesday, Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith said on the eve of the match.Konstas, who impressed as opener in his debut series against India, could be accommodated in the middle order following Head’s promotion, Smith said.
Head impressed in Australia’s 2023 tour of India showing his proficiency against spin, which could come in handy in the two-Test series against a spin-heavy Sri Lanka, reckoned Smith.
“Trav will go to the top, outside of that I think it will be pretty stable,” Smith told reporters on Tuesday.
“I don’t see it being a great deal of change from that. The selectors liked what they saw in India when he [Head] had that opportunity.
“He got after the new ball, scored quickly and put the pressure on them straight away so I guess similar thinking here.”
Head was the leading scorer as Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade following their 3-1 series victory earlier this month.
Teenage opener Konstas played the last two Tests against India and impressed immediately but Australia preferred Head’s experience above his nonchalant aggression.
Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has been declared fit.
With both the Tests scheduled in Galle, it will be trial by spin for Australia, who have already qualified for the World Test Championship final against South Africa.
Smith was coy on whether wicket-keeper Josh Inglis, 29, was in line for his Test debut.
“He has solid defence, plays spin well, and scores all around the wicket,” Smith said. “If he gets his chance, I’m confident he’ll grab it with both hands.”
Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya will lead Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy attack at a venue where the ball tends to turn from the first session itself.
Home captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who is recovering from a side strain, is certain to play but Pathum Nissanka has been ruled out with a groin strain.
“Pathum is a key player and we’re hopeful he’ll be fit for the second Test. Whoever steps in will have a golden opportunity to make a mark,” de Silva said.
Oshada Fernando, a seasoned campaigner with a knack for piling up runs in domestic cricket, is the frontrunner to replace Nissanka.
Sri Lanka will be looking to reclaim the Warne-Murali trophy, named after late Australia hero Shane Warne and Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.
Sri Lanka hammered the visiting Australians 3-0 in 2016 but the last series in 2022 ended 1-1, with both matches played in Galle.
“The last time we won the Warne-Murali Trophy was in 2016, which was also my debut series. A lot of players from that campaign are still in the mix and we believe we have what it takes to repeat history,” de Silva told reporters.
“Another incentive for us is the chance to finish third in the WTC standings if we win 2-0. That would be a tremendous achievement.”
Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2025
