BCCI opt for 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy ahead of Ranji Trophy.



The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced that they will look for Vijay Hazare Trophy instead of Ranji Trophy for the season 2020-21. In addition to Vijay Hazare Trophy, BCCI also plans for the conduction of Senior Women?s One-day Tournaments.



BCCI secretary Jay Shah in the letter to various state association said, ?It is important for us to conduct the Women?s cricket this year. The last year due to time loss, we could not do that. I am extremely happy to announce Senior Women?s One Day tournaments along with the Vijaya Hazare Trophy 2020-21 and Vinod Mandak Trophy Under 19. All these steps have been taken after your feedbacks on the domestic season 2020-21.?



The board is known of the situation right now and is ready to compensate for the match fees they would have earned while playing Ranji Trophy games, 45,000 per day.



According to the sources, Vijay Hazare Trophy will be played in a similar manner to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. All the teams will bind themselves in bio-bubble and follow all the protocols. The venues and full fixtures will be decided next week. And all the teams will have to enter the bubble at the starting of February and the tournament will proceed for a month.



<h2>State Associations were in favour of VHT 2020-21: Jay Shah</h2>



The BCCI is running short of time due to Indian Premier League 2021. It is expected that the T20 League will begin from late March and the domestic players will have to make themselves available for the T20 extravaganza.



The board took the consent from all the state associations before finalising the Vijay Hazare trophy. It is learnt that majority of the association were in the favour of the short 50-over tournament over Ranji Trophy games.



In the letter to the state associations, Shah wrote, ?The pandemic has tested each and every one of us and there is no life that has remained untouched by it, and while it has been difficult, your support has meant that we have been able to resume both domestic and international cricket in the men?s category. As you are aware, we have lost a lot of time and consequently, it has been difficult to plan the cricket calendar??



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BCCI opt for 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy ahead of Ranji Trophy

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Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 Full Schedule, Teams, Groups and Venues.



Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 Schedule: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to go for the shorter format instead of Ranji Trophy due to time complexity. After the successful completion of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), BCCI took the consent from all the associated associations and it was finally decided that Vijay Hazare Trophy will be conducted this year. This was the first time in 87 years that the Ranji Trophy games have been dropped.



The BCCI has confirmed that the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 will be conducted from February 20 to March 14. Karnataka who couldn?t perform well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is the defending champion of the tournament and Tamil Nadu emerged as the runner up last time. Tamil Nadu has won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21.



<h5>Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 Dates/Schedules: 20 February to March 14.</h5>



<h2>Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 Teams, Groups and Squads:</h2>



A total of 38 teams across India will take part in the tournament and all the teams have been divided into six groups. The first five groups (A, B, C, D, and E) are the Elite groups while the last one is the Plate Group.&nbsp;



All the Elite group teams will play their games in Surat, Indore, Bangalore, Jaipur, and Kolkata while the Plate Group will have their games in different locations of Tamil Nadu.



All the teams will have to follow the covid-19 protocols strictly and the game procedure which was used in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will be used. All the players are asked to reach the locations a week before the tournament i.e., February 13.&nbsp;



All the players will undergo three covid-19 tests that will be conducted on 13,15 and 17th February. The players practice session will be on 18th and 19th after players are tested negative.



The league phase of the tournament will be from February 20 until March 1.



The knockout games will begin with pre-quarterfinal on March 7, quarterfinals on March 8 and March 9. The semifinals will be taking place on March 11 and the final will be held on March 14.&nbsp;



<h2>Vijay Hazare Trophy Teams, Groups and their venues:</h2>



Elite A: Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Hyderabad, Tripura, Baroda, Goa.&nbsp;



Venue: Surat.



Elite B: Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Andhra Pradesh.&nbsp;



Venue: Indore.



Elite C: Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Railways, Bihar.&nbsp;



Venue: Bangalore



Elite D: Delhi, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Pondicherry.&nbsp;



Venue: Jaipur.



Elite E: Bengal, Services, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Saurashtra, Haryana, Chandigarh.&nbsp;



Venue: Kolkata.



Plate Group: Uttarakhand, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim.&nbsp;



Venue: Tamil Nadu.



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Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 Full Schedule, Teams, Groups, Players and Venues

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Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead Maharashtra on Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21.



Chennai Super Kings batsman and young opener, Ruturaj Gaikwad is all set to lead his home side Maharashtra in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21, the state association confirmed the news on Saturday.



The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) had announced a strong 20 member squad for the domestic ODI tournament on the Twitter handle.



The young opener, stole the limelight during the last IPL season when he smashed back to back half-centuries at the later end of the tournament for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).



To support Gaikwad, Kedar Jadhav, Ankeet Bawane, Naushad Shaikh and Rahul Tripathi have also been named in the squad. The 20 members squad also comprises two wicketkeepers in Vishant More and Nikhil Naik.



The bowling contingent will be led by slow left-arm orthodox spinners Satyajeet Bachhav, Jagdish Zope, the pacers include Ashay Palkar, Monoj Ingle, Pradeep Dadhe and Mukesh Choudhary.



Maharashtra is placed in Elite Group D along with Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Pondicherry and all the games of the Elite Group D will be held in Jaipur.



Maharashtra will play its opener on 21st February while the tournament will begin on 20th February.



The knockout games will begin on March 07 while the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy will be played on 14th march Sunday.



<h2>Maharashtra Squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21:?</h2>



Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Rahul Tripathi, Ankeet Bawane, Naushad Shaikh, Kedar Jadhav, Azim Kazi, Nikhil Naik (WK), Vishant More (WK), Satyajeet Bachhav, Ashay Palkar, Taranjeet Singh Dhillon, Shamshuzma Kazi, Pradeep Dadhe, Mukesh Choudhary, Manoj Ingle, Rajyavardhan Hangargekar, Jagdish Zope, Yash Nahar, Yash Kshirsagar, Ranjeet Nikam. Head coach: Santosh Jedhe.



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Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead Maharashtra on Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21

ruturaj-gaikwad-to-lead-maharashtra-on-vijay-hazare-trophy-2020-21

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021: Mumbai wins Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021 thrashing Uttar Pradesh.



Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021: Skipper Prithvi Shaw produced a sensational 73 off 39 balls post which Aditya Tare smacked an unbeaten hundred to reach the total in 41.3 overs. Mumbai won the title by six wickets against Uttar Pradesh in the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.



Uttar Pradesh posted 312 runs total after Madhav Kaushik amassed unbeaten 158 runs for his side against Mumbai.



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Mumbai bags their fourth Vijay Hazare Trophy title. The trophy will be special for the Mumbai skipper as he broke all previous records and scored 827 runs, which is the most by any Indian cricketer in the tournament in a single edition.



Both Mumbai openers chasing 312 gave a blistering start and reached 89 runs in 9.1 overs. Shaw reached his half-century in mere 30 balls after getting a life as he was dropped by Karan Sharma when he was in 5.



Post Prithvi Shaw, Aditya Tare and Yashaswi Jaiswal produced a good 38 runs stand before Jaiswal was caught by Mavi.



Aditya Tare continued his good run and produced a match-winning century. He scored 118 not-out off 107 balls with the help of 18 boundaries.&nbsp;



Earlier, for UP, Madhav Kaushik remained not-out on 158 runs off 156 balls. He took the help of 15 boundaries and 4 towering sixes to score 158 runs. Samarth Singh and Aksdeep Nath both scored 55 runs however this was not enough to keep Mumbai out of the total.



Kaushik recorded the best score in the final of Vijay Hazare Trophy surpassing Mayank Agarwal?s 125 against Punjab in 2014.



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Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021: Mumbai wins Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021 thrashing Uttar Pradesh

mumbai-wins-vijay-hazare-trophy-2021-thrashing-uttar-pradesh

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is the next designation of all top teams and their fans. The tournament is all set to kick off in Pakistan on February 19. India are part of Group A, which also has Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Team India will play their first match on February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai.
The provisional squad for the ICC event is likely to be announced on or before January 12. There are a number of names that have been considered, and some players might get a nod in the squad. However, there will be some unlucky players who will not be able to make the cut. In this article, we will talk about three big names who might not be picked for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
<h2>Three big stars who might be dropped from rh ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad </h2>
3. Arshdeep Singh 
Indian fans can't forget the performance that Arshdeep Singh delivered in the T20 World Cup 2024. He finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker and helped India win the long-awaited ICC title. Though Arshdeep has only played 8 ODIs so far. But with his ability to swing the new ball and then contain batters in the end, it makes him a complete white-ball bowler. However, India will already have the option of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Hardik Pandya in a 15-member squad.
2. Sanju Samson 
Sanju Samson finished 2024 as India's top scorer in T20Is. He slammed three centuries in just 12 innings and is someone who can bat anywhere and also is a keeper. But despite his batting form, Samson might not be able to make the cut. India will go with Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul as wicketkeepers, and the top order is already packed. Hence, Samson might not be able to make it into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad.
1. Suryakumar Yadav 
India's T20I captain and one of the key members of the team in the shortest format has been in and out of the ODI squad. He played an important role in India winning the T20 World Cup 2024. He is also in good form as compared to some other Indian seniors. But he won't get a chance as India might back Rahul, Pant, and Shreyas Iyer in the middle order.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-to-miss-jasprit-bumrah-in-icc-champions-trophy-2025-ace-pacer-to-travel-to-new-zealand-to-undergo-scans-reports/">India to miss Jasprit Bumrah in ICC Champions Trophy 2025? Ace pacer to travel to New Zealand to undergo scans - Reports</a>

India are likely to announce provisional squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on January 12.

India's provisional squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is likely to be revealed on January 12. We might see some big names missing out a spot in the squad.

India will play their first match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on February 20 in Dubai.

3 Indian Stars who might be dropped from India's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

3-indian-stars-who-might-be-dropped-from-india-s-squad-for-the-icc-champions-trophy-2025

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: As the days go by, the buzz around speculations and predictions continues to intensify. For Team India, squad predictions have become a hot topic of discussion, sparking debates everywhere—from cricket fanatics on social media to casual conversations on the streets. Amid this growing excitement, one key question stands out: who will don the wicketkeeping gloves for India in the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025?
With numerous cricket experts and pundits making bold predictions about India's squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, a common thread runs through most discussions: the inclusion of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Sanju Samson.
However, opinions are far from unanimous. While some former cricketers have opted to leave Rishabh Pant out of their squads, others argue for his inclusion at the expense of Sanju Samson, fueling a heated debate among fans and analysts alike. Let's discuss all three options one by one:
<h2>KL Rahul Frontrunner to Keep Wickets?</h2>
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KL Rahul has made a compelling case to be India’s primary wicketkeeping option in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar praised Rahul’s ability to deliver consistently under pressure, highlighting his crucial contributions at No. 5 and his knack for scoring vital runs when the team needed them most.
Rahul’s reliability behind the stumps was further cemented by his record-breaking performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. With 17 dismissals, including 16 catches and one stumping, he surpassed Rahul Dravid’s 2003 record for the most dismissals by an Indian wicketkeeper in a single World Cup edition.
These achievements underscore his dual efficiency with both the gloves and the bat, solidifying his place as a frontrunner for the role in high-stakes tournaments like the Champions Trophy.
<h2>Is Rishabh Pant Ready for ODI Format?</h2>
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Rishabh Pant has proven his mettle in the Test format, but his performances in white-ball cricket have been inconsistent, as highlighted by his ODI stats: 871 runs in 31 matches at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 106.21. Despite his potential, these numbers suggest he lacks the maturity required for high-pressure limited-overs cricket.
However, Pant’s wicketkeeping skills set him apart. Among the three contenders, he is the most agile and reliable behind the stumps, with quick reflexes, sharp accuracy, and adaptability to various conditions. While his batting in ODIs needs improvement, his exceptional glove work makes him a strong contender for a spot in the squad.
<h2>Can Sanju's Form Secure Him a Spot?</h2>
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Sanju Samson’s impressive ODI stats—510 runs in 16 matches at an average of 56.66 and a strike rate of 99.60—underscore his potential as a reliable wicketkeeper-batter. His ability to capitalize on limited opportunities, including a century and three fifties, makes him a strong contender for the squad.
Sanjay Bangar also stated, “You have to give a place to Sanju Samson because he averages above 50 in ODI cricket. Add to that, he is a man in form as well.”
When compared to Rishabh Pant, Samson’s batting stats are significantly better, highlighting his consistency in white-ball cricket. Moreover, Samson’s wicketkeeping skills are nearly on par with Pant’s, making him a well-rounded option. His current form further solidifies his chances of overtaking Pant in the race for the role.
<h2> Who Will Keep Wickets?</h2>
KL Rahul, with his record-breaking wicketkeeping performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup and consistent contributions as a batter, emerges as the frontrunner for India’s primary wicketkeeper role. Sanju Samson, backed by Sanjay Bangar for his stellar ODI average of 56.66 and solid form, is a strong contender for the backup spot.
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant’s exceptional wicketkeeping skills and proven Test success make him a valuable asset, though his inconsistent white-ball batting leaves room for improvement. Together, these options reflect India’s enviable depth in the wicketkeeping department heading into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 
The weight is on KL Rahul to be the first-choice wicketkeeper. Shreyas Iyer is fit and actively playing cricket to provide a good balance in the team and in his presence, KL Rahul would be the best option. Sanju Samson would be a better batter and wicketkeeper in the backup if we take Stats into account. Rishabh Pant might have to wait for a while in the white ball cricket.

With KL Rahul’s consistency, Sanju Samson’s form, and Rishabh Pant’s agility, who should India trust as their wicketkeeper in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025? The race is closer than ever.

India’s wicketkeeping dilemma: Rahul’s reliability, Samson’s form, or Pant’s agility? A tough decision awaits ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Who Will Keep Wickets for India in ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, or KL Rahul?

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The last few months have been below par for Team India in terms of performances. They didn't enjoy much time on the field. But everything can change as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is coming up, and India will be one of the favorites teams entering the tournament.
But can they do it without Jasprit Bumrah? Well, not many will give the Indian cricket team a chance if Bumrah doesn't take part in the upcoming event. That is the reason Rohit Sharma and his men are currently in big confusion over Bumrah's participation.
Notably, the pacer didn't bowl in the final innings of the fifth test at the SCG due to a fitness issue. Though it wasn't serious and we might see the name of Jasprit Bumrah in the Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, it will come with one condition.
<h2>Will Jasprit Bumrah be ready for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025?</h2>
Notably, the last date to submit the provision squad for all teams is January 12. There is no doubt Bumrah will be part of the squad, but his participation in the tournament will be subject to his fitness. As reported by Hindustan Times, the pacer will only step on the field when he feels pain-free.
The report indicates that the pacer has reached New Zealand to consult Dr. Rowan Schouten, who is an orthopedic surgeon. He was the one that treated Bumrah back in 2023, when he suffered from a back injury. The report quoted, "The surgeon is in touch with BCCI’s medical team, and the selectors are expected to be informed.”
India are all set to host England for five T20Is and three ODIs before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tour will begin on January 22 and will conclude on February 12, a week before India will play their first game of the Champions Trophy 2025. India will start their campaign with a game against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai.
India are already struggling with the bad form of the batters. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are going through rough patches. Adding to that, there is no clarity over Mohammed Shami's return. The pacer has been playing at the domestic level, but he is not getting clearance from the NCA to play for India. And if Bumrah doesn't play, India will be under immense pressure.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/australia-suffered-a-massive-blow-after-josh-hazlewood-captain-pat-cummins-is-also-likely-to-miss-icc-champions-trophy-due-to-injury/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia suffered a massive blow; after Josh Hazlewood, captain Pat Cummins is also likely to miss ICC Champions Trophy due to injury</a>

Jasprit Bumrah didn't bowl in the second innings of the fifth test against Australia at the SCG. He will be rested for the England series ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

India to miss Jasprit Bumrah in ICC Champions Trophy 2025? Ace pacer to travel to New Zealand to undergo scans - Reports

india-to-miss-jasprit-bumrah-in-icc-champions-trophy-2025-ace-pacer-to-travel-to-new-zealand-to-undergo-scans-reports

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is just a month away, and the two-time champion, Australia, have been hit with a couple of massive injury-related blows. Star pacer Josh Hazlewood, who was ruled out of the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, might not take part in the upcoming mega event, and now, there is another massive injury concern.
ODI captain Pat Cummins is likely to miss the coming event. This news has certainly hit the team and Australian fans, as the captain is a key member of the squad and has been nursing an ankle injury. His participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is hanging by a thin thread.
Notably, Australia are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka for two test matches ahead of the coming ICC event. Cummins has been rested, and Steve Smith has been given the captaincy duties for the upcoming series. Australia have already qualified for the World Test Championship final, which is why the coming tests don't hold much value and their result won't affect anything. Hence, Cricket Australia decided to give Cummins a rest.
<h2>Pat Cummins might miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to an ankle injury</h2>
The captain, Pat Cummins, played a crucial role in helping Australia win the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He finished with the second-most wickets in the series after Jasprit Bumrah (32). Cummins took 25 wickets at an average of 21.36. He also scored 159 runs with the bat in this low-scoring series.
However, playing all five tests on the trot has seemed to have affected him, and the captain has sustained an ankle soreness. Meanwhile, the captain is on leave because of the birth of his second child, which was also one key reason for him missing the Sri Lanka tour. That's what George Bailey, the chief selector of Australia, also confirmed in one of his statements.
But the recent news has not just raised questions about his availablity but also his participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. He is set to undergo scans for his sore ankle. Bailey said, "We’ll have to wait and see when the scan comes back and see how it's tracking. There’s a little bit of work to do.”
That indicates that the two-time Champions Trophy winner are in jeopardy. If Cummins couldn't make it in time, then Mitchell Marsh is likely to lead Australia in the mega event, which will begin on February 19. Australia are placed in Group B, and they will begin their campaign on February 22 against England.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/icc-champions-trophy-2025-to-shift-from-pakistan-to-uae-completely-here-s-why/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to shift from Pakistan to UAE completely? Here's why</a>

Pat Cummins led Australia to to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy win after a wait of ten years. Cummins is likely to miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to injury.

Australia suffered a massive blow; after Josh Hazlewood, captain Pat Cummins is also likely to miss ICC Champions Trophy due to injury

australia-suffered-a-massive-blow-after-josh-hazlewood-captain-pat-cummins-is-also-likely-to-miss-icc-champions-trophy-due-to-injury

Australia Tour of Sri Lanka 2025: Australia, after having a dominating Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, are all set to tour Sri Lanka for a red-ball series. Cricket Australia have announced the squad for the tour today and Steve Smith is named captain of the side as Pat Cummins is rested.
Australia won the Border Gavaskar Trophy after a decade this year. The series started with Perth's loss for them and many ruled them out as a competition against India this time as well. But, they owned strong character and won three out of four test matches clinching the series 3-1. 
The entire bowling department was thoroughly in the best of their forms, the batting looked damped in the first two tests but by the end of BGT 2025, the entire batting lineup got some runs from their bat. 
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Now, Australia has unveiled a 16-player squad for their upcoming two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, with a few surprising changes. Skipper Pat Cummins will miss the tour as he takes paternity leave to welcome his second child while continuing to recover from an ankle issue that plagued him throughout the home season.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh, who was part of the team that triumphed over India, has been left out. Adding to the injury concerns, Josh Hazlewood remains unavailable due to the setback that sidelined him during the latter stages of the India series. These adjustments set the stage for an intriguing challenge as Australia gears up for the Sri Lankan Tests.
<h2>Australia Squad for Sri Lanka Tour</h2>
Steve Smith (C), Travis Head(VC), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Nathan McSweeney, Beau Webster, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Cooper Connolly, Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann, Sean Abbott
Australia's squad for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka signals a clear strategy to tackle spin-friendly conditions. With only two frontline pacers, Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott, the focus has shifted firmly to spin.
Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann join the experienced Nathan Lyon, creating a strong spin arsenal designed for the turning tracks of Galle. This balanced mix of experience and fresh talent shows how the selectors are adapting to the challenges of playing conditions in Sri Lanka.
On the batting front, Nathan McSweeney has earned a spot in the squad despite falling out of favor during the India series. Adding a fresh spark, young Cooper Connolly, a left-handed batter who can also bowl orthodox spin, has received his first-ever Test call-up. His inclusion not only reflects Australia’s faith in young talent but also highlights their intent to embrace versatility.
Sam Konstas also retained his spot in the side. Alex Carey and Josh Inglis are two wicket-keeping options and the presence of Vice Captain Travis Head provides an absolute balance to the squad. With these selections, Australia seems ready to take on the Sri Lankan conditions with both skill and strategy.
READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/icc-champions-trophy-2025-to-shift-from-pakistan-to-uae-completely-here-s-why/">ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to shift from Pakistan to UAE completely? Here's why</a> 
SOURCE- <a href="https://x.com/cricketcomau/status/1877160916057313759">CRICKET AUSTRALIA</a>

Australia's squad for the Sri Lanka Tests emphasizes spin with Lyon, Murphy, and Kuhnemann. McSweeney returns, while debutant Connolly adds versatility. Starc and Abbott lead a trimmed-pace attack.

Australia strengthens spin options for Sri Lanka Tests, recalls McSweeney, and includes debutant Connolly. Starc, Abbott lead reduced pace lineup.