Head firms to hold spot after passing hamstring test

Glenn Maxwell's immediate hopes of a Test return may have dampened as Travis Head showed few signs of his hamstring strain during Australia's first training session in the seaside city of Galle.

Amid brief showers that twice interrupted the Aussies' practice, Head completed a series of extended run-throughs before having a long bat in the nets in the Sunday afternoon heat.

Maxwell has been called in as cover for the incumbent No.5 batter but his five-year Test absence will continue if Head is passed fit for Wednesday's series opener against Sri Lanka at the picturesque seaside venue that sits in the shadow of a historic fort overlooking the Indian ocean.

The repeated running efforts Head completed on a heavy Colombo outfield during the ODI series was a major factor in him suffering the injury, but that burden would be reduced significantly during the Tests.

The 28-year-old typically fields at bat-pad to the spinners, a position Maxwell was also practicing for on Sunday.

Image Id: E14B2D3442D54F378D1E5A382FF9A135 Image Caption: Glenn Maxwell bowls to Travis Head in the Galle nets on Sunday // cricket.com.au

Jon Holland, another late addition to the touring party with fellow left-arm spinner Ashton Agar to miss at least the first Test with a side injury, spent time in the middle bowling to wicketkeeper Alex Carey along with Nathan Lyon.

Beside them lay the dry first Test surface Australia are expecting to take considerable turn.

"They're not going to give us a green one, I'll tell you that," said Usman Khawaja, who played Tests at the venue in 2011 and 2016.

Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson is Lyon's incumbent spinning partner and he too was making a return to action at training having recovered from a gastro bug that ruled him out of Friday's final ODI against Sri Lanka.

Finger spinners are typically preferred in Tests in this part of the world, which would open the door for Holland (who made his debut in Galle six years ago) or Matthew Kuhnemann (who has also stayed back after impressing in the ODIs) to partner Lyon for the first Test.

Agar would also be in the mix for the second Test if he regains fitness.

But Khawaja sees no reason why his Queensland teammate Swepson, the leg-spinner who made his Test debut in Pakistan earlier this year, should be overlooked.

Image Id: 06C45E06C7C642D59469B2812C588A61 Image Caption: Mitchell Swepson overcame a gastro bug to resume training on Sunday // cricket.com.au

"It's just two finger spinners (often being used) because finger-spin is easier to bowl than leg-spin," said Khawaja, who will play his 50th Test this week.

"You don't get many people like Mitchell Swepson who are up to his calibre, (with) his class and accuracy.

"He bowled some really good spells against Pakistan, but you still haven't seen the best of Mitch Swepson.

"I've seen a lot of him. He's unbelievable and once he locks in, he's as good as anyone … he can beat both sides of the bat and actually get more turn (than finger spinners).

"It's never easy out here – even Warnie struggled on the subcontinent."

Mitchell Starc continues to be bothered by the left index finger he sliced open earlier this month and did not bowl at training, though nor did any of the other fast bowlers.

The six stitches Starc had inserted in his finger have since come out but there is still glue in the healing wound, which he is mindful of not reopening before the first Test.

International Cricket Council rules prevent him from wearing tape over it to start the Test, but in an odd quirk of the regulations, umpires would likely permit him to cover the wound if it was split open again during the Test.

Steve Smith, meanwhile, was feeling unwell and was an unusual no-show at training.

The star batter was expected to be back on Monday and has dispelled doubts over the left quad complaint that saw him miss most of the one-day series.

"If we were still playing one-day cricket I would be touch and go, but Test cricket I will be fine," Smith told AAP. "Test cricket is a bit easier (on the quad).

"I field in the slips, won't be doing a great deal of running around in the field. And then in these conditions there's not a lot of hard running."

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

Sri Lanka Test squad (provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Jeffrey Vandersay. Standby players: Dunith Wellalage, Lakshitha Rasanjana.

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, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. Standby players: Jon Holland, Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy

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

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

Sri Lanka v Australia Test matches will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports

Limited-overs results

June 7: Australia won first T20 by 10 wickets

June 8: Australia won second T20 by three wickets

June 11: Sri Lanka won third T20 by four wickets

June 14: Australia won first ODI by two wickets (DLS)

June 16: Sri Lanka won second ODI by 26 runs (DLS)

June 19: Sri Lanka won third ODI by six wickets

June 21: Sri Lanka won fourth ODI by four runs

June 24: Australia won fifth ODI by four wickets

Australia A results

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: Australia A won by 68 runs

June 21-24: Australia A won by five wickets