Cricket Australia selectors have announced a 15-man squad for their tour of Sri Lanka. A number of interesting names have been included in the squad for this tour.
All-rounder Moises Henriques, seamer Nathan Coulter-Nile and spinner Stephen O'Keefe have made their way into the squad for the tour, which is scheduled to start from July 26.
Coulter-Nile will want to get hold of his first 'Baggy Green' cap during this tour, as he is yet to play a Test for his nation.
Henriques has been added to the squad as a backup for Mitchell Marsh. The last time Henriques played a Test for Australia was back in 2013, against India.
Stephen O'Keefe last featured in the Australian Test playing XI against the West Indies last year. However, he was overlooked for the Frank-Worrell series against New Zealand. But now he has been recalled again to share the spinning duties with Nathan Lyon.
Peter Siddle and James Pattinson were not available for selection, as the former underwent ankle surgery and the latter has been nursing an injury.
The seaming department will be bolstered with the return of Mitchell Starc. Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird will also add to that seaming lineup. Looking at the seamers in this squad, Coulter-Nile may have to wait for some more time to make his Test debut for Australia.
"This squad has proven experience in sub-continental conditions. Henriques comes into the squad to give the flexibility of an additional all-rounder option, having already shown he plays and adapts well to spin-friendly conditions," chairman of the National Selection Panel Rod Marsh was quoted as saying by the official website of Cricket Australia.
"He has been working hard with his fitness and we believe he is in prime condition to serve us well should he be selected to play. Jackson Bird and Nathan Coulter-Nile join the squad and will give us good control and pace."
"Stephen O'Keefe will complement Nathan Lyon and plays an important role in the subcontinent if he's selected in the final XI. We know his ability, he takes wickets continually in first class cricket and he impresses when we select him to play Test cricket."
Australia Test squad for Sri Lanka tour: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Moises Henriques, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Nathan Lyon Steve O'Keefe.
