A third member of Australia’s current testing team has been injured during Sri Lanka’s limited matches with Travis Head giving a hamstring blow that has put his availability for the climax of the tour under a cloud.
With Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc still out of the game, Head will be out of the final game of the tour on Friday after suffering a minor injury to his right hamstring while playing in the fourth ODI in Colombo.
The head has been used in the gardens for a day, traveling 26 km on the heavy ground of the R. Premadasa stadium during the last two matches, which has contributed to the injury.
The voltage is at the lower end, but test no. 5 now appears with some hesitation for the opening of Wednesday’s series in Galle, which is less than a week away.
“It’s a little more caution, especially with the place where he plays,” White Ball captain Aaron Finch said of Head’s omission for the fifth dead rubber player of a day. “It rains in the field and the ground is quite heavy and makes a lot of Ks.
“I’m not sure what it will be like for testing, but it’s definitely not available for tomorrow.”
Australia falls short when Sri Lanka claim victory in the series
It is the latest in a series of headaches due to injuries for the Australians, who appear willing to keep Matthew Kuhnemann or Jon Holland as the orthodox left arm option for the Test series, as Ashton Agar is also out of action. action with a lateral tension.
The Australians do not have a reserve hitter on the test team, with versatile Mitch Marsh and goalkeeper Josh Inglis the mid-order options outside the XI they presented to Pakistan earlier this year.
Neither Starc, whose left index finger is still recovering after stitches have been removed, nor Smith, who has had a notebook, will return for the fifth ODI with Sri Lanka 3-1 in the series.
The fact that they both trained with the red ball on Tuesday in the nets – Starc bowed at full speed, albeit with a ribbon on his finger, while Smith had an extended bat – suggested that his attention has been shifted. moved directly to the tests.
Smith builds on lessons from previous tours in Sri Lanka
Head injury could open the door for one of the Australian A teams, currently in Hambantota to play a final four-day match against Sri Lanka A, to remain on the cover for testing, with Marcus Harris, Matthew Renshaw and Nic Maddinson the main aspirants.
White ball star Glenn Maxwell would be a left-back option, with Australia head coach George Bailey recently saying the door is not closed to his career in the tests despite not playing any games. first class in almost three years.
Maxwell has not given up wearing the Baggy Green again and has a century of testing in the subcontinent (against India at Ranchi in 2017) in his name.
Maxwell beats 80 no while Australians get a tense ODI victory
Josh Inglis could be in line to make his ODI debut as a replacement for Head, or Australia could readjust the balance of his XI and throw in an extra bowling alley.
Kuhnemann has remained in the ODI series after an eleven-hour call-up and a debut last week, and has been keeping his Queensland teammate Mitchell Swepson out of the 50-plus team.
The 25-year-old almost achieved a miraculous last-breath victory in the fourth ODI when he hit three limits in the final and came to once again win the match.
Kuhnemann reflects on his “crazy” international debut.
“The way he thinks about the game, the plans he has and the confidence in his own ability are really impressive,” Finch said of Kuhnemann.
“I didn’t know he had a lap until the other day he took it out with a few runs to win. He’s a lovely guy who tests his heart, he’s brilliant on the field.
“With Queensland you don’t play in a lot of revolving wickets, so he keeps playing in wickets that offer a little bit of assistance. That will continue to seem to grow.”
Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022
June 7: Australia won the first T20 by 10 ports
June 8: Australia won the second T20 by three ports
June 11: Sri Lanka won the third T20 by four ports
Sri Lanka ODI Team: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Niroshan Dickwella, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushman Mahthaes Mendis Dushman, Bhanuka Rajapaksa Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Madushanka, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan
Australian ODI Team: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson , Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
June 14: Australia wins first ODI for two wickets (DLS)
June 16 – Sri Lanka win second ODI for 26 races (DLS)
June 19 – Sri Lanka wins third ODI for six ports
June 21 – Sri Lanka win fourth ODI for four races
June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo, 7pm EAST
Sri Lanka Test Team (Provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan
Australian Test Team: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
June 29 – July 3: First test, Galle, 2.30 pm AEST
July 8-12: Second test, Galle, 2.30 pm AEST
All international matches in Sri Lanka and Australia will be broadcast live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports
Australian matches A
Australia National Team A: Scott Boland, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee
Sri Lanka One day squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Udara, Lasith Croospulle, Oshada Fernando, Pabasara Waduge, Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Janitha Liyanage, Sahan Arachchi, Pulina Tharanga, Dunith Wellalage, Danan , Shiran Fernando (Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Nishan Madushka, Ashen Daniel, Nisala Tharaka)
June 8: Australia A won by seven ports
June 10: Sri Lanka A wins by four ports
June 14-17: Australia A won by 68 races
June 21-24: Four-day match against Sri Lanka A, Hambantota