Picture Credit: X

Picture Credit: X

After outplaying India in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series, Australia will next take on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series, starting from Wednesday, January 29. While the first Test will be played at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, Steven Smith will be leading the side in absence of Pat Cummins, with Travis Head serving in the role of his deputy.

But ahead of the opening Test, the stand-in skipper shared a big update on the Australian batting lne-up. Speaking on the eve of the first Test, Smith confirmed the openers. He stated that Travis Head will open the innings with experienced Usman Khawaja. This comes after Sam Konstas partnered with Khawaja in the BGT after they decided to drop Nathan McSweeney.

Travis Head - Usman Khawaja to open for Australia, confirms Steven Smith

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Smith said, "Travis will go to the top. Outside of that, I think, it will be pretty stable.” Moreover, the change implies that Sam Konstas might miss out from the XI in the subcontinental conditions. The middle-order batter further said, “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."

Steven Smith further addressed, "He (Konstas) is going to have a lot of practice if he doesn't play, which in itself is great for development. 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,” Smith concluded.

Australia squad for two-match Test series against Sri Lanka

Steven Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster