Sam Konstas dropped, Josh Inglis to debut as three spinners picked for Australia
Updated . First published
Sam Konstas has been dropped two Tests into his career, Josh Inglis has received his Test debut and three spinners will be unleashed in Galle.
Australia's selectors made those major decisions for the first Test against Sri Lanka, beginning on Wednesday afternoon.
A day after it was confirmed Travis Head would take Konstas' spot at the top of the order alongside Usman Khawaja, it's turned out, as expected, that Konstas has been dropped altogether and Inglis is slotting into the middle order.
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Sam Konstas has missed out on selection. Cricket Australia via Getty Imag
Inglis will play as a specialist batter with Alex Carey keeping the gloves.
Smith hinted at the prospect of Konstas missing out on match eve.
"He's going to have a lot of practice over here if he doesn't play, which in itself is great for development," Smith said.
"I only have to think back to 2013, I think, where I didn't play the first few Tests [in India] and just the amount of balls I was hitting in the nets and the skills I was able to develop from facing loads of net bowlers.
"So whether he plays or not, it'll be a wonderful experience for him."
Inglis will become Australia's 470th male Test cricketer in the first match of the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy series.
The aggressive right-hander has been a member of Australia's white-ball teams for several years and was included in the Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar series that wrapped up this month.
Josh Inglis dives for a catch during a training session in Galle. Getty
Head last opened the batting at Test level during the 2023 tour of India, where he compiled 223 runs at an average of 55.75 from five innings after David Warner flew home with a fractured elbow.
"Selectors liked what they saw in India when he had that opportunity; he got after the new ball, scored quickly and put the pressure on them straight away," Smith said.
"So similar thinking here. He did really nicely in India against the new ball.
"He put spinners under pressure immediately and we know how well he hits the seam, as well, if they come with that. It's going to be good fun watching him."
