Australia stick with winning formula as Sri Lanka hand Test debut to trio
Veteran Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was in the mix for a Test recall for the match, but selectors opted to stick with the same team that cruised to a 10-wicket triumph in the opening Test of the series at the start of the month.
A host of positive Covid tests forced Sri Lanka's hand somewhat, with the home side not being able to use all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva, pacer Asitha Fernando and spinners Praveen Jayawickrama and Jeffrey Vandersay for the final Test against Australia.
It means three debutants have been named in the final XI, with all-rounder Kamindu Mendis and spin duo Prabath Jayasuriya and Meheesh Theekshana winning their first cap for the clash.
We've got 3 debutants today!
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) July 8, 2022
Congratulations to Prabath Jayasuriya, Kamindu Mendis and Meheesh Theekshana!#SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/dODFVVmSmI
Jayasuriya and Theekshana are likely to get called into action on the opening day, with Australia skipper Pat Cummins winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Swepson
**Sri Lanka XI:**Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshanna, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kasun Rajitha