Kurtis Patterson rushed into squad for day night Sri Lanka Test

Australia’s new-look Test line-up is starting to take shape as the selection changes are revealed for the Sri Lanka series.

Kurtis Patterson bats during day three of the International Tour match between Australia and Sri Lanka. Picture: Getty Images.

Kurtis Patterson has been rushed into the squad for this week’s day-night Test match against Sri Lanka.

The 25-year-old NSW batsman looks set to make his debut alongside Victoria’s Will Pucovski.

Patterson scored 157no and 102no against Sri Lanka in a practice match under lights in Hobart last week.

Queensland’s Joe Burns and Matthew Renshaw had also been included in the squad, but both failed to make an impression in the tour game.

“The national selection panel has added Kurtis Patterson to the squad for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka,” head selector Trevor Hohns said.

“Kurtis has been pushing his case for selection for some time. He has been a consistent top-order player for NSW, was a member of the Australian A tour of India prior to the commencement of our summer, and was most recently selected to compete in the day-night tour match against Sri Lanka in Hobart.

“We have been asking batters around the country to score hundreds if they want to be considered for selection, and given Kurtis’ consistent performances for NSW and his two unbeaten centuries in last week’s tour match against our upcoming opponent, Sri Lanka, we believe he deserves to be added to the Test squad.

“Kurtis has joined the squad in Brisbane today to commence our preparations for the first Test starting on Thursday.”

Burns, a veteran of 14 Tests, had looked set to open alongside Marcus Harris, but Patterson could have pushed past him.

Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the Test series on Saturday with a stress fracture,

Jhye Richardson has been called in to replace the NSW quick who also missed the series against Pakistan in October.

Cricket Australia physiotherapist David Beakley said Hazlewood was expected to be fit for the World Cup.

“Josh has reported some back soreness over the last few days and scans have revealed a very early stage stress fracture in the same lower back area as his previous injury from last summer,’ he said,

“He will now begin a rehabilitation program and we are confident he will be available for selection ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in the UK later this year.”

David Warner and Steve Smith have had their returns from 12 month bans interrupted with both suffering elbow injuries that require surgery.

Richardson is one of the leading Sheffield Shield bowlers this year with 27 wickets at an average of 19 in five matches, behind Victorian pair Scott Boland (36) and Chris Tremain (28).

“Jhye has had an impressive first half in his Sheffield Shield season and no one could deny he has now continued that form in ODI matches for Australia,” selection chairman Trevor Hohns said.

“We consider Jhye to be an ideal replacement in the squad for Josh.”