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Richardson flies home as Swepson misses out

Australia have named their XI for the first of five one-day internationals, but their pace bowling stocks have been hit by yet another injury

Australia's avalanche of fast-bowler injuries has continued in their Sri Lankan campaign with Kane Richardson flying home with a serious hamstring injury.

Mitchell Swepson will however continue to wait for his first game of the tour after the leg-spinner lost out to Jhye Richardson for the final spot in the XI for Tuesday's first one-day international in Pallekele.


Australia's first ODI XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Josh Hazlewood


Scott Boland has been brought into the squad as cover, with Nathan Ellis, Wes Agar and Riley Meredith all considered but ultimately not deemed fit for the series, according to captain Aaron Finch.

Finch revealed Kane Richardson, who was a late addition to the ODI squad following injuries to Mitchell Starc (sliced finger), Sean Abbott (broken finger) and Mitchell Marsh (calf strain), played with the tendon injury during their third T20I defeat on Saturday.

Finch names Australia XI for opening ODI in Sri Lanka

The paceman suffered the injury in the warm-up but the Aussies did not realise the severity of it until he went for scans on Sunday. He has flown home and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.

It is the same left hamstring that Richardson injured before the Pakistan white-ball matches earlier this year.

"I wasn't aware of (the injury) during the game, so that was pretty big of him to get through a T20 game of that intensity," Finch said of Richardson, who conceded 19 from the match's final over in a thrilling finish.

Australia are down another bowler for the first two ODIs with Cameron Green only being considered as a batter for now, with Australia managing the allrounder given his importance for the two-Test series that follows the ODI leg.

The tourists had been eager to carefully manage the rest of their Test fast-bowing group but Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc (when he returns, likely for the third ODI) and even Boland may all now need to play bigger roles in the 50-over series than anticipated.

"It is certainly testing," said Finch. "Getting back to Colombo, the wickets will probably be a little drier and we'll look to play either an extra spinner or potentially an extra allrounder to be able to get through the 50 overs.

"It's not ideal but that's a part of touring life in this day and age."

Test skipper Pat Cummins will play his first ODI in 18 months as Australia fields its strongest ODI side since it played India at home during the 2020-21 summer.

David Warner and Steve Smith have also been absent from ODIs over that period, with the pair edging out the side's two leading run-scorers from their most recent 50-over campaign in Pakistan, Travis Head and Ben McDermott.

Head, who averages close to 60 in List A cricket over the past 12 months, is in the one-day squad but will instead play in the Australia A four-day game against Sri Lanka in Hambantota from Tuesday.

Australia are expecting pace-friendly tracks for the first two games in Kandy and spin to then play a greater role for the final three matches in the nation's capital, opening the door for Swepson to add to his two ODIs.

"We saw in the first couple of overs the other day (for the third T20) that there was enough pace and bounce in the wicket for quicks to have an effect," said Finch.

"We still feel as though going with the one spinner and the allrounders in Maxwell and Stoinis, Marnus can bowl a few overs here and there as well, that we feel we've got enough cover for that that fifth bowler.

"We feel as though two out-and-out spinners probably won't be required as much on this surface but into Colombo, that'll be that'll be definitely considered."

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

Sri Lanka T20 squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan. Standby: Jeffrey Vandersay, Niroshan Dickwella

Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner, Matthew Wade

June 7: Australia won by 10 wickets

June 8: Australia won by three wickets

June 11: Sri Lanka won by four wickets

Sri Lanka ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Niroshan Dickwella, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Madushanka, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan

Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 14: First ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST

June 16: Second ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST

June 19: Third ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 21: Fourth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

Sri Lanka Test squad (provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed Shiraz, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 29 - July 3: First Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

All Sri Lanka v Australia international fixtures will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports

Australia A fixtures

Australia A squad: Scott Boland, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee

Sri Lanka A one-day squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Udara, Lasith Croospulle, Oshada Fernando, Pabasara Waduge, Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Janitha Liyanage, Sahan Arachchi, Pulina Tharanga, Dunith Wellalage, Dananjaya Lakshan, Shiran Fernando (will not play due to injury), Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Nishan Madushka, Ashen Daniel,Nisala Tharaka

June 8: Australia A won by seven wickets

June 10: Sri Lanka A won by four wickets

June 14-17: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota

June 21-24: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota