With the Galle pitch expected to favor spin even more than in the first Test, Australia stand-in captain Steve Smith and head coach Andrew McDonald have kept the door open for a possible change that could see allrounder Cooper Connolly at least partially reprising in the bowling lineup in case he is included.
If Connolly gets picked, it would mean a fourth consecutive debutant for Australia after Sam Konstas (Boxing Day Test vs India), Beau Webster (New Year’s Test at SCG), and Josh Inglis (first Test at Galle).
“I can’t see the top six changing; I guess that will be the same, and from there, we will see what happens. All options are on the table; we have the resources here if we need them,” Smith told cricket.com.au.
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Connolly’s offer of left-arm orthodox spin combined with reinforcement of the batting lineup could be weighty in the ballots. “From what I’ve seen in the nets, he bowls some really good balls. He was pretty consistent where he was bowling in Dubai-training camp before the Test-and in the nets here, that’s kind of all you got to do in these conditions,” Smith said of Connolly.
“There is another catcher who bowls more than handy spin and turns the same way that (fellow left-arm spinner) Matthew Kuhnemann does. So we’ve got a few that spin both ways-Nathan (Lyon) and Todd (Murphy), and I only used Heady for two overs and he has been quite good in these conditions as well,” Smith said.
“Australia has generally received left-arm spin help in Galle, and if the pitch were to continue to dry out, Connolly’s inclusion could make sense,” added Smith.
