Smith says ‘little chat’ was behind Connolly Test call-up in Sri Lanka
Steve Smith has said he pushed for Cooper Connolly’s inclusion on Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka.
Connolly was the surprise packet of the 16-player squad announced for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, beating out fellow all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Mitch Marsh for a spot on the plane.
The 21-year-old has played only four wicketless games of first-class cricket for an average of 61.80, memorably scoring 90 for Western Australia on debut in the Sheffield Shield final last season.
He has since represented Australia in Twenty20 and one-day international cricket during a breakout 2024 — albeit without batting extensively in any of his four international white-ball appearances.
But Connolly impressed Test selectors during the recent white-ball tour of the United Kingdom, and with the 37 runs he made for Australia A against India in Mackay in October.
Smith, who takes the reins from Pat Cummins (paternity leave) after interrupted celebrations following their Sydney Test victory over India, pushed left-arm offspinner Connolly’s case as he attempts to replicate the spinning attacks often faced by Australia on the sub-continent.
“I had a little chat to Ron and Dodders (coach Andrew McDonald and selector Tony Dodemaide) in here after the game,” he said on Friday at the SCG ahead of his BBL return for the Sixers.
“I was quite big on someone like Cooper coming in, to be able to spin the ball the other way.
“You watch India, they have Axar (Patel) and Ravindra Jadeja, [so] when a spinner gets tired or nothing’s happening they can turn to another spinner.
“I like the fit, having a couple of spinners going each way, it matches up really nicely.
“He’s a talented young kid and every opportunity he’s got he’s done really well.”
Meanwhile, Smith said he is not sure if Sam Konstas will open in Sri Lanka.
After a whirlwind introduction to Test cricket at the top of the order this summer, the teen’s spot in the side is not certain..
There is a chance middle-order destroyer Travis Head will be deployed at the top of the order after doing so effectively on their last trip to India.
With veteran Usman Khawaja also a proven sub-continental performer it leaves Konstas in a jam after his mid-series injection helped Australia reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“I don’t know the answer to that right now,” Smith said of the side’s opening combination.
“It’s still a little while before we play and we have plenty of options of how the team can stack up.
“We’ll look for the best option and whatever that is we’ll go with that.”
Smith said he would do his best to equip Konstas with the knowledge to flourish in the spin-friendly conditions, but said he would not overdo it.
“As a batter, you can only learn by yourself in a way,” he said.
“You play the way you want to play because it’s your career. From there, you learn along the way through experiences.
“I’ve seen him bat like that and I’ve seen him bat more conventionally in a Shield game and do really well.
“He’s got all the tools and I think he has the ability when he wants to absorb pressure, and he’s got the ability to put a lot of pressure back on (the bowlers).
“It’s something he’ll learn. He’s only 19, he’s a kid. He’s going to have plenty of experiences and he’s going to learn them along the way.”
AAP
