Mitchell Swepson called for spin attack for Sri Lanka Test

• Swepson has been included in the Test squad against Sri Lanka.
• Playing XI has not yet been announced.
• Cummins lauded Sri Lankans’ solitude during the time of crisis.

Mitchell Swepson will play the first Test against Sri Lanka, with touring captain Pat Cummins describing the leg-spinner as an “important cog” of their bowling attack on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Swepson will open the two-match series with elite spinner Nathan Lyon in Galle on Wednesday, where the surface is predicted to change.

Cummins refrained from announcing the complete Australian XI due to concerns over Travis Head, who suffered a hamstring injury during the team’s loss in the one-day internationals.

“Just want to see how Travis gets through, so we give him bit more time. But yes, Mitchell Swepson will be the second spinner in the Test match,” Cummins told the media.

Swepson made his Test debut against Pakistan earlier this year and contributed to the 1-0 victory of the visiting team. He grabbed two wickets across two matches.

But Cummins feels the rising wrist spinner is ready for the Sri Lankan challenge as Australia looks to avenge their 2016 3-0 humiliation to the hosts.

“We’re really happy with Swepo. I think he is bowling beautifully and really ready for this one,” said Cummins.

“I think his role here might be slightly different as well. Pakistan we knew was going to be a slow grind and I thought he did his job despite not taking the wickets he would like. He was a really important cog in that bowling engine.”

Cummins acknowledged that Sri Lanka is a difficult team to defeat at home.

“I think Sri Lanka play really well over here, it’s quite different from what we experience in Australia,” said Cummins.

“They are going to pose a challenge but we are up for it.”

Glenn Maxwell might return to the Test squad after a five-year absence, as his last five-day game was in 2017.

Cummins also praised the Sri Lankan people for their bravery during the country’s unparalleled economic turmoil.

“I was on a call yesterday and was chatting to some young girl cricketers. They’re down to one meal a day and are going to school a couple of days a week because the teachers can’t get to school,” Cummins said.

“No matter what the result is we are in a really privileged position and there are lots of people that are making this happen for us to have a bit of fun and go out and play cricket. So we are really lucky.”

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