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