Australian squad announced for Test series against Sri Lanka: Smith to captain, Cummins on break; The first match will be played from January 29

The Australian squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka has been announced. Cricket Australia announced the 16-member squad on Thursday. Steve Smith will lead the team in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins. Cummins is about to become a father for the second time, so he's on a break. He is also recovering from an ankle injury.

Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood did not get a place in the team. He was injured in the Test series against India, due to which he could not even play the last match. A 2-Test series will be played on the Sri Lanka tour, starting from January 29.

Connolly got his first chance Cooper Connolly gets his chance in the Test team for the first time. Opener Nathan McSweeney will return from this tour. Due to his poor performance in the last two matches against India, he did not get a place in the team. Sam Konstas and Beau Webster have been included in the squad after impressive starts to their careers. Both of them made their debut in the Test series against India.

All-rounder Beau Webster made his debut in the fifth Test against India. He scored 96 runs and took one wicket in both innings of that match.

3 expert spinners and 3 pacers involved Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhneman, off-spinner Todd Murphy and Nathan Lyon are three spinners in the team. Players like Head, McSweeney, Webster also have excellent spin options in the team. At the same time, three expert fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Sean Abbott will accompany the team on this tour.

Steve Smith (captain), Travis Head (vice-captain), Australia's team against Sri Lanka Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Usman Khawaja, Sam Constas, Matt Kuhneman, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc and Beau Webster.

The final of the WTC will be played between Australia and South Africa The final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 ​​will be played between Australia and South Africa. The final match will be played at Lord's from June 11. Australia have reached the final for the second time in a row, but South Africa will play the final for the first time. In the final match played in 2023, Australia defeated India by 209 runs.