‘Really difficult’: Sad truths in huge Aussie Test squad shake up

The final nail in the coffin of the Test careers of popular stars will reportedly be among several huge changes to the Aussie Test squad.

The Test squad announced on Thursday will reportedly be the end of the line for some of Australia’s most popular players.

The Aussie red ball side is expected to undergo a massive shake-up for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, beginning January 29.

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Aussie selectors will reportedly announce a 15-man squad for the tour — with some big names to be left out.

Code Sports first reported details of the squad that was discussed by the Aussie selection panel on Wednesday with dumped opener Nathan McSweeney earning a re-call.

Spinners Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann will be called into the squad to play on the spin-friendly pitches, while forgotten Victorian batsman Peter Handscomb is also expected to be selected.

All three were called in to join the Aussie squad during the New Year’s Test in Sydney.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports the most notable name that will be missing from the squad list will be struggling allrounder Mitchell Marsh, whose Test career appears over at the age of 33.

“I think it’ll be really difficult for Mitch to get back into the side now,” former Aussie ODI captain Aaron Finch said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket.

This may be the end of an era.

“There is not a huge amount of cricket left in this summer to force a case, with Cameron Green coming back in early March. For me, it’ll be unlikely [he ever plays again].”

Selectors have also reportedly been discussing the option of using West Australian rising star Cooper Connolly as a spin-bowling allrounder — a selection that would likely be at the expense of Glenn Maxwell.

The mercurial cricketer has held out hope of a return to play Test cricket, but the final nail in the coffin would be hammered home if Connolly, 21, gets the nod.

Maxwell has not played a Test since 2017.

Connolly, who is 15 years younger than Maxwell, has played just four first-class matches for WA.

With Beau Webster making it impossible for selectors to drop him after his impressive debut at the SCG, Connolly would give selectors plenty of options as they weigh up the balance of the XI for the First Test in Galle.

Aussie Test great Brad Haddin said on the Willow Talk Podcast he can see Connolly getting selected if conditions suit his left arm off-spin.

“You might play a Cooper Connolly, only [based] on conditions,” Haddin said.

“You might need a few left-arm orthodox [deliveries]. You need options, and he bats well to spin also.

“I know it’s a bit left field … I think Cooper Connolly could be a dark horse on that tour.”

With Pat Cummins expected to confirm his decision to skip the tour to be with his family for the birth of his second child, Steve Smith will lead the new-look side.

Twelve months is a long time in cricket. Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images for Cricket Australia.

With McSweeney and Handscomb getting called up, rising star Sam Konstas’ position could be under pressure if selectors make the call to put Travis Head at the top of the order with Usman Jhawaja.

The other interesting call will be the make-up of Australia’s fast-bowling unit with Cummins and Josh Hazlewood both unavailable.

According to Code Sports, it means at least one of Sean Abbott and Jhye Richardson will be called in to join Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.

Selectors could also make a call to go with two front-line spinners if conditions demand it.

Murphy is reportedly viewed as the most likely option to partner Nathan Lyon if selectors decide on two spinners.

Despite Australia’s 3-1 series win over India this summer, it is clear that turbulence lies ahead for the Aussie squad as it heads towards a generational change.

Former Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris even suggested recently Lyon could be the odd-man out if selectors go down a path of refreshing the squad of veterans.

“Scotty, as we know him, is the guy that comes in when someone gets injured,” Harris told 2GB’s Wide World of Sports.

“That’s his role in the past … but he took 21 wickets at 13, so that’s definitely something the selectors are gonna have to think about with Josh Hazlewood not being in there.

“Josh is a very good bowler and his record speaks for itself. It’s definitely a question that has got to be asked and we are going to completely different conditions in Sri Lanka.”

Australia’s bowlers in the SCG dressing room with the Border Gavaskar Trophy. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Harris also floated the bold idea of Australia selecting four quicks for next summer’s Ashes. Pitches in Australia have become increasingly pace friendly and England are expected to bring a strong squad of quick bowlers next summer.

“Questions will be there for next summer and whether we play four quicks and leave out, dare I say it, maybe the GOAT (Nathan Lyon),” Harris said.

“I think they will try and keep it as stable as possible.

“The conversations are no doubt being had behind closed doors … but we can’t afford to lose three or four players at a time. Everyone is screaming that ‘this has got to happen’, but in the inner sanctum, there would be a plan in place.

“There’s two Tests in Sri Lanka, there’s a World Test Championship and even a West Indies tour, so there’s gonna be a little bit of cricket between now and then.

“They (selectors) have copped a bit of criticism - but ultimately they have come through again and showed what the team can do. They are making good decisions, even if from the outside it might not always look like it.”

Australia could further tinker with their line-up during three Tests in the West Indies in June-July this year.

Originally published as ‘Really difficult’: Sad truths in huge Aussie Test squad shake up