Cooper Connolly in line for shock Test debut as Mitch Marsh misses out on Sri Lanka tour

Australia has wrung the changes for its Sri Lanka Test tour with Mitch Marsh axed and Cooper Connolly in line for a shock debut.

Marsh is a casualty of the spin friendly conditions and his poor form which led to him being dropped for the SCG Test.

Connolly's left-arm orthodox bowling has shot him ahead of the queue and he'll be joined by fellow spin bowlers Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann in Sri Lanka, as well as returning batter Nathan McSweeney. Steve Smith will captain the side.

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Connolly has only played four first class games for Western Australia but averages 61.80 with the bat. His highest score is 90. He's yet to take a wicket.

The 21-year-old has represented Australia in short form cricket, with two appearances each in ODIs and T20Is.

The preference of Connolly and all-rounder Beau Webster appears to spell the end of Marsh's Test career with Cameron Green also set to return from injury later in the year.

Aaron Finch believes it's "unlikely" Marsh will wear the baggy green again.

"I think it'll be really difficult for Mitch to get back into the side now," he said on ESPN's Around the Wicket show.

"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."

Glenn Maxwell's Test career also looks unlikely to be resurrected with the preference of spinning all-rounder Connolly. Peter Handscomb has also missed out.

The first Test begins on Januray 29 at Galle.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster