Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia, suggested on Thursday that Glenn Maxwell, an off-spin all-rounder, might be included in the playing eleven for the second Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle, which begins on Friday.
Maxwell's involvement, most likely in place of Mitchell Starc, a left-arm pacer, will depend on the surface the morning of the Test, according to Cummins. Australia has kept the same 12-man lineup they announced on the eve of the first Test, which they won by ten wickets, going into the second and final Test with a 1-0 lead.
With the exception of a comeback in the Test arena in 2017, if Maxwell plays on Friday, it will be his first appearance in a first-class match since 2019. Additionally, it would imply that Australia's pace option for the second Test will be Cummins, possibly assisted by Cameron Green.
"Maxwell did a great job. You feel like you could easily get 15-20 overs out of him with the all-around package he brings, especially that bowling. Compared to playing Sheffield Shield, first-class cricket played here is quite different."
"Different tempo, very different wickets He will play a role where he will do some bowling, some batting at No. 8, and some game-taking. It might only be producing 30 or 40 quickly rather than slogging out a hundred "ahead of the second Test, Cummins remarked.
Given that spinners Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson, and Travis Head took all ten of Sri Lanka's wickets during their stunning collapse to 113 all out in the second innings, fast bowlers have a very limited role to play, as evidenced by Cummins' decision to skip the second innings for the first time in his Test career. However, the pace spearhead stressed that participants were aware of their responsibilities in Sri Lanka.
"It is entirely conditional. They understand their worth. I believe you need to bowl somewhat differently depending on where you are playing. Even Australia can at times be very different from England. Another planet from a place like this, but I believe you have noticed how Starcy is upping his game."
"He's trying something a little different by creating new balls, like the wobbling seam instead of swinging it. Getting into a routine that will allow him to act as a holding role. Regardless of the game's conditions, he is a versatile bowler. The top wicket-taker here last time was Mitch Starc. We still have today. We'll look into it. But they make excellent team members. They are aware of their value to the squad."