Australia vs Sri Lanka: Glenn Maxwell’s hopes of Test recall in limbo, McSweeney recalled, Murphy and Kuhnemann in wings

Nathan McSweeney has been recalled to a spin-heavy Australian Test side for Sri Lanka, though Glenn Maxwell’s dream of a Test return remains in limbo. See the latest team news.

Nathan McSweeney has been recalled to the Australian Test squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, with the Aussies also set to go heavy on finger spin by naming Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann.

Glenn Maxwell’s dream of a Test return will be all but extinguished if he misses the cut on Thursday as national selectors were urged to strike a balance between youth and experience for the tour.

Whether Maxwell would be recalled shaped as the biggest source of intrigue for when the panel of George Bailey, Tony Dodemaide and coach Andrew McDonald unveil their squad for the two-Test series beginning in Galle on January 29, with fellow spinning all-rounder Cooper Connolly - 15 years Maxwell’s junior - having burst into the frame in recent months.

Steve Smith is expected to return to the captaincy with Pat Cummins set to miss the series for the birth of his second child.

McSweeney was dropped for the Boxing Day Test after slim returns during to start his career against India but remains highly-rated and is set to return for the Asian tour.

Nathan McSweeney has been recalled to Australia’s Test squad. Picture:Getty Images

Having both been summoned to Sydney to spend time with the Australian team during the fifth Test against India, finger-spinners Murphy and Kuhnemann have been recalled to the squad to work with Nathan Lyon.

Murphy, Kuhnemann and Lyon combined in three Tests two years ago in India.

Without Cummins most likely Josh Hazlewood - who will be treated conservatively following his recent calf injury - Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland will lead Australia’s pace battery. At least one of Sean Abbott and Jhye Richardson was also likely to be included.

Backup wicketkeeper and batter Josh Inglis is on the mend from his own calf concern and if fit will be given the nod behind Alex Carey.

Glenn Maxwell’s hopes of a Test recall will be all but extinguished if he misses the cut on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

Veteran Victorian Peter Handscomb has also firmed to be included after joining the Aussies in Sydney.

A 15-man squad for the one-day Champions Trophy is also due to be announced, with tyro Jake Fraser-McGurk at risk of being dropped following poor performances against Pakistan late last year and continuing struggles in the Big Bash League with the Melbourne Renegades.

Maxwell, 36, played the most recent of his seven Tests - all of which have come in Asia - in 2017.

He was part of Australia’s squad for the Aussies’ two Tests in Sri Lanka in mid-2022 but was squeezed out of the XI.

Steve Smith is expected to return to the captaincy, with Pat Cummins set to miss the series. Picture: Michael Klein

Maxwell had been seriously in the mix for the tour of India the following year only to break his leg in a freak accident at a party in late 2022.

The three-time World Cup winner is competing for a spot with West Australian Connolly, the young left-armer who has played for Australia in the white-ball formats and has starred for the Perth Scorchers this summer.

Two-Test all-rounder Hilton Cartwright, who plays with Maxwell at the Melbourne Stars and Connolly in WA, conceded it was a difficult call.

“That’s tough. I think you’ve actually got to go in with a fair bit of a mix,” Cartwright said on Wednesday ahead of Stars training at the MCG.

“You’ve got to obviously have some youth in there for to provide for the future of Australian cricket in sort of five, six, seven, years’ time, with someone like Cooper, whether it’s him or McSweeney or one of those younger guys to be able to go on that tour, get that exposure, get that experience.

Todd Murphy is set for a Test recall. Picture: Getty Images

As is Matt Kuhnemann. Picture: Getty Images

“In the same light, you still need those guys, like a Pete Hansdcomb, Steve Smith, Marnus (Labuschagne), those guys, to be able to share their knowledge, go to all the different venues, understand how they play, understand how Test matches unfold in those circumstances.

“So it’s a very fine balance. You don’t (want to) tip too much one way and neglect the youth, but you also don’t want to tip too far the other way and have too much youth and those guys get exposed to some pretty uncomfortable conditions, which might actually not benefit them in the long run.

“Having those guys like Steve Smith your mas to teach them and educate them as quickly as possible, to upskill them for future tours.”

Originally published as Australia vs Sri Lanka: Glenn Maxwell’s hopes of Test recall in limbo, McSweeney recalled, Murphy and Kuhnemann in wings