Australia’s white-ball spin options had already been reduced by Adam Zampa staying home for the birth of his first child.
Pace may have undone Australia in their most recent one-day match, but it is spin which shapes as the major trial for the remainder of this tour.
Australian bowler Mitchell Starc has picked up a finger injury.Credit:AP
Australia’s inconsistent batsmen are likely to get a feel for the upcoming two-Test series during the remaining three matches limited overs matches that will be played at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium.
“Spin will play a part,” Carey said on Saturday. “Our batters have now had another taste in these conditions, so we’ll wait and see.”
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Both Tests will be played at Galle, which traditionally favours spin, as Lyon found to his delight when he made his Test debut there 11 years ago, claiming first innings figures of 5-34 in a strong Australian victory.
Carey claimed he was unconcerned about going straight from the one-day series into the Tests. Test specialists Lyon and Usman Khawaja are ignoring the chance of playing a four-day match with Australia A in favour of more than a week of solid training.
Lyon arrived on Thursday while Khawaja is due to land in Colombo on Sunday.
Carey believes that Maxwell will stay at number seven in the one-day side as a finisher despite being the best performed batsman during the series.
Maxwell’s unbeaten 80 from just 51 balls with six fours and six sixes ensured a wobbly Australia claimed a two-wicket victory in the opening game.
“When Maxie’s in the sheds and you know he’s coming in there’s always a chance that anything can happen,” Carey said.
“In the first game it was planned perfectly. He came in and played an unbelievable innings.”
Possible Australian team: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.
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