- After the end of the BGT series (BGT 2024-25), this team suddenly changed its captain. The team has also announced its 16-member squad against this team. After 7 years, this 35-year-old veteran player has been given the captaincy of the team.
BGT 2024-25: In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 (BGT 2024-25), Australia defeated the Indian team 1-3 and captured the series again after 2014-15. After losing the series for a decade, Australia (BGT 2024-25) won it again under the captaincy of Pat Cummins. The team has changed its captain only after the end of the BGT series. The Australian Board has handed over the command to this 35-year-old batsman instead of Pat Cummins (BGT 2024-25). He has also officially announced his 16-member team.
This veteran became the captain in place of Cummins
Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, Australia has won many important matches in the last few years. Be it the title of ODI World Cup 2023 or defeating India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at home after a decade. Australia (BGT 2024-25) has won every time under the captaincy of Cummins.
Cummins, who has been playing cricket for a long time, has been rested for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, and 35-year-old middle-order batsman Steve Smith has been appointed captain in his place. After a long time, Smith is returning to the team as captain. Earlier he was appointed interim captain of the team during the tour of India in 2023. But this time he will join this tour as a full-time captain.
AUSTRALIAN SQUAD FOR THE TEST SERIES AGAINST SRI LANKA:
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 9, 2025
Smith (C), Head (VC), Starc, Abbott, Boland, Carey, Connolly, Inglis, Khawaja, Konstas, Kuhnemann, Labuschagne, Lyon, McSweeney, Murphy, Webster. pic.twitter.com/W9Gv2AikET
Became captain again after 7 years
Steve Smith would hardly want to remember the incident of the year 2018. After being found guilty in the sandpaper scandal, he not only lost the captaincy of the team but was also banned by the Australian Board for 1 year. However, after the ban, he captained the team twice, but he became the interim captain both times. Now after the BGT 2024-25 Test series, his luck has shone again.
In 2021, Steve Smith was made the captain after Cummins was not available due to Kovid-19, then in 2023, during the tour of India, Cummins had to return home after the sudden death of his mother. After this, Steve Smith got a chance to captain Australia. But he was selected as the interim captain of the team both times. He will now be seen captaining the team in the entire series for the first time after 7 years.
There will be a litmus test on Sri Lanka tour
This tour is going to be no less than an ordeal for Steve Smith, who is taking over the captaincy after 7 years. The first match of the two-test series will be played from 29 January to 2 February and the second Test from 6 February to 10 February. Sam Constas, Beau Webster, and Nathan McSweeney have been given a chance for the Sri Lanka tour. All three of them made their debut against India. However, Nathan McSweeney was dropped for the last two Tests.
But once again he was successful in making a place in the Kangaroo team. Apart from this, keeping in mind the spinner-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, and Matthew Kuhnemann have also been included in the team as specialist spinners. Apart from making Steve Smith the captain, left-handed explosive batsman Travis Head, who is in excellent form, has been made the vice-captain of the team.
Australian Squad for Sri Lanka tour
Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (vice-captain), Sam Constask, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Todd Murphy, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster, Cooper Connolly
