Steve Smith steps in as captain as Australia reshuffle for Galle

Australia will head to Sri Lanka without Pat Cummins, handing the captaincy to Steve Smith for a two-Test series that doubles as their last red-ball outing before the World Test Championship 2024-25 final. The selectors named a 16-player group for the tour, which runs entirely in Galle from January 29 to February 10. Cummins is on paternity leave after the birth of his child and is also managing a minor ankle issue that surfaced during the recent home summer. His return timeline for the ICC Champions Trophy remains open as he prioritizes recovery and family time.

Smith’s appointment is a familiar hand on the tiller. He filled in during the 2023 India Tests when Cummins returned home for family reasons and has regularly led white-ball line-ups in recent years. The move gives Australia continuity in tactics and selection while their regular skipper sits out. It also keeps the leadership group steady during a tour that often challenges visiting teams with abrasive surfaces, sharp turn, and shifting winds off the ocean.

The headline from the squad sheet is a break for younger players. Former Australia Under-19 World Cup captain Cooper Connolly is in line for a maiden Test squad appearance after turning heads as a left-handed batting all-rounder who also bowls left-arm spin. Nathan McSweeney returns after missing the Melbourne and Sydney Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Series, while wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis and seamer Sean Abbott have been included and could wear the baggy green for the first time.

Spin will be central in Galle, and Australia have prepared for that. Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann, both exposed to the subcontinent during the 2023 India tour, are back to provide options alongside the pace core. Their roles will be defined by the surface each morning—Galle can start slow and grippy and then break up rapidly, which rewards control, stamina, and the ability to work with the breeze. Australia’s think tank will want flexibility to bowl long spells and defend fields while still attacking the stumps.

Not everything went to plan for the fast-bowling group. Josh Hazlewood is out with a calf injury, and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will sit out as he builds towards the Champions Trophy. Both are key in white-ball cricket and were not risked for a two-match Test hit-out. Their absences open the door for other quicks to bank overs in heat and humidity—valuable learning, even if this tour is short.

Several names floated as possibilities did not make the cut. Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, and Peter Handscomb were among the notable omissions despite chatter about their fit for the conditions. Chief selector George Bailey flagged the tour as a chance to test specialist red-ball skills in the subcontinent rather than load up purely on white-ball spin options.

• First-time call-up: Cooper Connolly (left-handed batting all-rounder, left-arm orthodox)
• Potential debutants: Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper-batter), Sean Abbott (fast bowler)
• Recalled: Nathan McSweeney (batter)
• Spin options strengthened: Todd Murphy (off-spin), Matt Kuhnemann (left-arm orthodox)
• Unavailable: Pat Cummins (paternity leave/ankle), Josh Hazlewood (calf), Mitchell Marsh (Champions Trophy preparation)
• Not selected: Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, Peter Handscomb

The calendar is tight. The first Test runs from January 29 to February 2, followed by the second from February 6 to 10. Both are in Galle, a venue known for early scruffs on the surface, footmarks that grow as the game ages, and constant cat-and-mouse between spinners and batters trying to sweep, reverse, and use the crease. Australia drew 1-1 in Sri Lanka in 2022, a reminder of how quickly a game can swing once the pitch wears.

Smith’s presence steadies the batting order. He reads conditions in the subcontinent well and tends to move fielders and bowlers in short, targeted bursts. His last stint as Test stand-in in India saw Australia sharpen their tempo—more sweeps, more patience against the quicks with the old ball—and that template could return in Galle. The leadership handover should be smooth; the core group has lived this rotation across formats for two seasons now.

What do the selectors want to learn? First, whether the next tier of batters can absorb spin for long periods without losing momentum. Second, how a backup keeper like Inglis manages long days, low bounce, and deviations off the rough—skills that matter in Asia and later in England when wickets go slow. Third, whether a pace-bowling all-round option such as Abbott can combine control with reverse swing late in the day.

Connolly’s inclusion is especially interesting. He offers a dual role that suits the subcontinent—solid middle-order batting with the ability to bowl left-arm orthodox in supportive conditions. Australia have invested in multi-skill cricketers across formats; this selection fits that plan while also respecting the Test demands of batting time and protecting your off stump when the ball keeps low.

Murphy and Kuhnemann carry useful scars from India. Murphy is a neat fit for long spells at one end, drilling a consistent line to off stump and nudging batters into mistakes. Kuhnemann’s angle can trouble right-handers on pitches that grip. If Galle breaks up fast, Australia could run twin-spin for large chunks and rotate the quicks in three- or four-over bites around the new ball.

There’s also the bigger picture: this is the team’s last Test series before the World Test Championship final window. Results matter, but so does clarity. Australia will want to leave Sri Lanka with answers on bench strength, spin combinations, and a settled top six with a backup plan if a senior player is unavailable. That’s why squad rotation here is deliberate, not experimental for the sake of it.

For Sri Lanka, Galle is home turf in the truest sense. Expect them to build a plan around accurate spin, close-in catchers, and batting that disciplines itself for the long haul. For Australia, the key is to keep first-innings totals high enough to control the tempo and avoid chasing on a fifth day when cracks widen and bat-pad chances fly.

Timelines help frame the stakes. The first Test will show whether Australia’s batters have adjusted to the pace of the surface. By the second, selection tweaks are likely—perhaps an extra spinner, or a different balance in the middle order if scoring speeds lag. The coaches will review how batters handle sweep selections, how the keeper copes with variable bounce, and whether the quicks can create lbw chances with straight fields and full lengths.

The carrot at the end is clear: sharpen now, so the World Test Championship run-in feels like a continuation, not a reset. With Smith in charge, a sprinkle of new faces, and a venue that rewards discipline more than flair, Australia know exactly what this tour is: short, specific, and crucial.

Series details and selection talking points

Two-Test series, both in Galle: Jan 29–Feb 2; Feb 6–Feb 10.

• Leadership: Steve Smith captains with Pat Cummins unavailable.
• Spin focus: Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann return for subcontinental conditions.
• Debut watch: Josh Inglis (wk), Sean Abbott (seam), Cooper Connolly (bat/all-rounder).
• Injury/availability: Josh Hazlewood (calf), Mitchell Marsh (white-ball prep) out; Cummins balancing paternity leave and ankle recovery ahead of the Champions Trophy.
• Omissions: Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, Peter Handscomb miss out as selectors back red-ball specialists.

Australia have called this series a final check-in before the WTC final window. Expect conservative plans with bat and ball, heavy emphasis on first-innings runs, and a deep look at how the next tier handles pressure in Asian conditions. If they get those answers, the bigger stage later in the year will feel a lot less daunting.