Despite not revealing Australia playing 11 for the upcoming opener test against Sri Lanka, Smith has confirmed Travis Head will partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.
Steve Smith confirmed the news on January 28 after speculations had been raised on Travis Head replacing teenage Sam Konstas at the top of the order after the former impressed when filling in for retired opener David Warner in the final two tests of Australia’s most recent subcontinent sojourn to India in 2023.
Smith confirmed that the line-up would be delayed because of the ever-changing nature of the Galle pitch.
“Trav will go to the top, outside of that I think it will be pretty stable,” told Smith. “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.”
JUST IN: Travis Head will open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja in Galle. @ARamseyCricket with the latest selection news from Galle #SLvAUS https://t.co/ITPmQkbR1V
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 28, 2025
Smith said regardless of whether regardless Konstas, who impressed everyone with an brilliant half-century against India on Boxing Day will re-cast as a middle order player, the Sri Lanka tour will prove an invaluable learn experience for him.
“He’s going to have a lot of practice if he doesn’t play, which in itself is great for development,” Smith said of Konstas.
“I only have to think back to 2013 (in India) where I didn’t play the first two Tests, and just the amount of balls I was hitting in the nets and the skills I was able to develop from facing loads of net bowlers and things like that.
“So whether he plays or not, I think it’s going to be a wonderful experience for him. He’s going to learn a lot.”
Meanwhile Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis will be contendors for the middle order vacancy created by Travis Head‘s promotion.
Inglis is uncapped at test level but has averaged 72.60 across three matches for Western Australia this summer and would bring a similar positive intent to Head.
“We’ll have another look at the wicket and from there we’ll name the team at the toss,” Smith said. “We’ve got all the options available to us. We’ll see how we go.”
Australia will be probably taking two front-line quicks and two spinners rather than three spinners, despite expectations of a turning wicket. Scott Boland and Sean Abbott are both pace options but Smith is equally confident in medium pace all-rounder Beau Webster taking the new ball.
“He stands the seam up really nicely, hits good areas. Whether it’s him opening the bowling with Mitchell Starc or a spinner opening, there’s always plenty of options there,” Smith said.
“There’s lots of considerations: Two fast-bowlers, one fast-bowler. Couple of spinners, three spinners, two spinners, allrounders.”
Meanwhile off-spinner Matthew Kuhnemann will be available for selection only two weeks after dislocating his thumb of his non-bowling hand in the Big Bash League.
“We’re kind of a bit gobsmacked,” Smith said. “Either he’s a tremendous actor or he’s got great pain tolerance.”
“Fortunately, this part of the world I’ll be parked in the slips for the entire time,” Smith said. “If I have to chase one to the boundary, hopefully one of my mates comes with me.”
The Sri Lanka-Australia tests will begin on January 29 at Galle International Stadium.
