All-rounder Glenn Maxwell remains
in Australia’s plans for the second Test against Covid-hit Sri Lanka on an
expected turner at Galle, skipper Pat Cummins said Thursday.
Maxwell, a batsman who bowls off-spin, will fight for a place in the team
with fast bowler Mitchell Starc as the tourists look to clinch the series in
the final match starting Friday.
Cummins said he will announce the XI at the toss.
“Same 12 (as in the last match), we are going to have a look at the wicket
today, maybe in the morning as well and see what they end up doing with it,”
Cummins told reporters after having a first look at the pitch.
“The wicket may be different to last week,” he said. “Last week we probably
didn’t need two quicks but we know Mitchell Starc’s class, so wait and see.”
Cummins said Maxwell, who last played a Test in 2017, will come in “as a
spinning all-rounder at (number) eight” if he is picked.
The tourists won the opener by 10 wickets inside three days with off-spinner
Nathan Lyon taking nine wickets.
Sri Lanka have been hit by a Covid-19 outbreak with Dhananjaya de Silva,
Jeffrey Vandersay and Asitha Fernando all testing positive for the virus.
Sri Lanka had already reinforced their spin bowling contingent with the
addition of Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage and Prabath Jayasuriya along
with all-rounder Lakshita Manasinghe, who bowls off-spin.
Lakshan Sandakan, a left-arm wrist spinner who last played a Test in 2018,
was added Thursday to the squad as further cover.
