Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka is already upon us after such a thrilling Border-Gavaskar series. Qualification for the World Test Championship final is already secured and Australia hold every bilateral trophy they compete in. Winning is a priority for this side of course but just as important is the necessity to secure the future. Nathan Lyon at the time of writing has taken 539 Test wickets and is one of the best players we have produced to play the game. But Father Time stops us all and Lyon’s career is coming to a close. With that in mind, the spinners taken to Sri Lanka can see this as an opportunity to impress the selectors and get a foot in the door no matter their age, as proven by Beau Webster.
Matthew Kuhnemann
Kuhnemann has played three Test matches so far for Australia, all of them on the 2023 tour of India. Kuhnemann has also played in Sri Lankan conditions debuting for the One Day International side in 2022. 5/16 against India demonstrates his potential on spinning pitches but slow left-arm orthodox spells trouble on a batting paradise.
Conditions therefore could play a part in his performances. A five-for in his most recent Sheffield Shield game shows he can be impactful, and pitches such as Galle could work in his favour. I’d put him on the plane but in my opinion, he doesn’t beat the man next in line.
Todd Murphy
Murphy at just 24 years old stands out as potentially the biggest prospect for Australia’s long-term spin future. The Victorian has already played six Test matches both in India and England, replacing the injured Nathan Lyon at the time. His debut brought figures of 7/124, an outstanding record, and he is a guarantee to be on the plane to Sri Lanka as his right-arm spin could be critical to restricting any opposition total. I think he’s Australia’s most competitive option in the domestic circuit to make the full-time leap to international Test matches.
Todd Murphy and Nathan Lyon during the India tour. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Adam Zampa
Zampa I predict will miss the plane. The Australian selectors urged New South Wales to pick the T20 specialist but backlash and public comments saw a certain resentment grow towards the leg spinner. His inability to train or be a part of the system in New South Wales has meant he hasn’t played a Sheffield Shield game for nearly two years. Zampa wanted to take on Sri Lanka but it’s a fair consensus that his lack of long-format experience has seen him viewed as a potential outsider.
Mitchell Swepson
Almost certain to miss the boat is Mitchell Swepson, who failed to be invited as a part of Australia’s squad in Sydney and to realign himself with the coaching staff. His leg breaks have been effective in domestic cricket, taking four wickets in an innings during each of his last three games for Queensland. Swepson last played a Test match in Sri Lanka in 2022, something neither Murphy nor Kuhnemann were a part of. I would’ve liked to see Swepson make the trip but it seems Australian selectors have chosen to look the other way. Hard done, but you can’t always take everyone on tour.
Cooper Connolly
Cooper Connolly has been in stellar Big Bash form, leading the competition in runs. (Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images)
A bolter in terms of selections, there now seems to be a serious push for the West Australian to find himself on the plane. More included for his batting, Connolly still bowls left-arm orthodox the same as Kuhnemann. George Bailey and his team very well may decide a spinning all-rounder could fit in the team. His bowling statistics aren’t particularly attractive but if the pitch in Galle turns a mile, expect even something to be in it for Connolly.
If I was George Bailey and I had to pick a team to play tomorrow, Nathan Lyon obviously is the headline spinner. Joining him is Todd Murphy and Cooper Connolly as a spinning all-rounder. Kuhnemann misses out on the playing 11 for me unless the pitch prompts the need for only one pace bowler or Webster misses out despite his spin abilities.
Zampa stays at home, as does Swepson despite the Queenslander’s potential in a series such as this.
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