Cricket fans slam Cooper Connolly selection for second Test

Australia’s decision to pick a raw 21-year-old for the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka has been met with blistering criticism.

Australia’s Test cricketers are in a rich vein of form and on track for a series sweep of Sri Lanka, but one selection has come in for instense criticism from fans of the sport.

Australia has blooded Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis in recent times, generating mixed results as selectors try to gradually turn over an ageing side.

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But the decision to hand Cooper Connolly a baggy green cap for the second Test in Galle – and his subsequent performance on debut – has not gone down well with many.

Australia ended up with 414 runs in its first innings, an overall lead of 157 runs, led by centuries to Alex Carey (156) and Steve Smith (131).

Sri Lanka reached 8/211 in its second dig at stumps on day three, a lead of just 54 runs, with Smith taking a sensational slips catch for the fifth wicket.

Matthew Kuhnemann (4/52) came back on for the final over of the day and immediately dismissed Prabath Jayasuriya, caught at first slip by that man Smith, who took his 199th Test match catch.

Connolly didn’t make much of a contribution to Australia’s total, lasting just six balls and making four runs before he was dismissed by Sri Lankan spinner Nishan Peiris.

Watch Cooper Connolly’s dismissal in the video player above

Cooper Connolly was all smiles when presented with his baggy green. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The 21-year-old narrowly avoided a golden duck when Nishan beat his outside edge before the blond youngster got a shaky top edge to the deep backward square boundary to get off the mark.

Two balls later, he advanced down the pitch and attempted a wild shot that flew straight to Ramesh Mendis at backward point.

Prior to the Test getting underway, author Brydon Coverdale quipped on X: “I currently have as many first-class wickets and centuries as Australian Test cricketer Cooper Connolly.”

That, of course, would be zero.

A star for the Perth Scorchers in the BBL competition, Connolly is yet to take a wicket in four first-class appearances, but was apparently picked for this match ahead of Todd Murphy as a bowling all-rounder.

Connolly walks off after he was dismissed on day three. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“From what I’ve seen in the nets he bowls some really good balls,” captain Smith said pre-match.

“He was pretty consistent where he was bowling in Dubai and in the nets here and that’s kind of all you’ve got to do in these conditions.”

Yet Connolly bowled a total of three overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings, finishing with 0/12, and has so far bowled two overs for nine runs in the second dig.

CODE Sports cricket writer Daniel Cherny was preaching patience with Connolly, who shared BBL 14 player of the tournament honours with Glenn Maxwell, using Konstas as a comparison.

“Like with Konstas in Melbourne, there would have been method to the madness,” Cherny tweeted of Connolly’s debut with the bat.

“The execution was poor, but don’t put a line through the kid just yet.”

Connolly starred for the Scorchers in this season’s BBL tournament. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Yet others seemed keen to do just that, with some stinging comments dropping on X after the left-field selection.

One wrote rather cruelly: “Cooper Connolly should hand back his baggy green, absolute fraud.”

Another pondered: “Just out of interest considering he batted at number 8. Only made a few runs and isn’t bowling, just 3 overs in total so far, and still has not taken a first class wicket. Is there any reason why Cooper Connolly is in the team at the moment? I can’t see any.”

A third wrote: “Cooper Connolly is one of the wildest Test selections ever. No first class wickets or tons. I’m shocked more hasn’t been made of it. Less shocked that he never looked comfortable once in the 6 deliveries he faced.”

Connolly bowls a rare over during Sri Lanka’s first innings. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Other cricket fans were quick to point out players that could have been given a chance ahead of Connolly, who is only just getting started in his promising career.

“Cooper Connolly great young player, and it probably won’t matter, but a bizarre selection in my opinion when there’s specialist batsmen who play spin well like McSweeney on tour. He bowled 3 overs, so don’t give me the all-rounder spiel,” was one comment.

“Terrible innings from Cooper Connolly. How was he picked over Maxwell. Sri Lanka back in the game,” came another assessment.

“Too early to write him off after 1 innings but Cooper Connolly’s debut innings did not show that he’s got the judgement to play Test cricket yet,” stated another.

A fourth pointed to his record to date and tweeted: “Serious question, has a player ever done less to deserve a Baggy Green than Cooper Connolly?

“Wish the kid well but man, it’s a punt. 4 First class games. No hundreds. Hasn’t taken a wicket. Remember when 10,000 (first-class) runs didn’t guarantee you a cap?”

Fellow spinner Todd Murphy was dropped in favour of Connolly. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

There was a smattering of support online, with one questioning why Connolly wasn’t getting more of a chance with the ball.

“I’m a big Cooper Connolly fan but can not understand having him bat at 8 and only bowling 3 overs whilst Travis Head got 8 overs and opens. Aussies performing well but still lots of questionable calls this series with selection (don’t get me started with Marnus still being in the side),” they wrote.

An account called Bec declared: “If any of you have anything bad to say about my goats Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly you’re gonna have to go through me first.”

Sorry Bec, but that ship has well and truly sailed.

Connolly may still have an impact with the bat or ball in this Test match, although time is fast running out.

It also may prove a one-Test cameo for now until the talented youngster gets far more first-class cricket under his belt.

Originally published as Cricket fans slam Cooper Connolly selection for second Test