Steve Smith has revealed he pushed for Cooper Connolly’s inclusion on Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, the stand-in skipper explaining why he’s “quite big” on the latest Test bolter.
Connolly was the surprise packet of the 16-player squad announced for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, beating out fellow allrounders 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.
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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 – when a spinner gets tired or nothing’s happening they can turn to another spinner.
Cooper Connolly. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
“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.”
Three-time Test player Matthew Kuhnemann is likely to be favoured as a fellow left-arm offspinner, and previously worked with Connolly on a Cricket Australia tour to the MRF Academy in Chennai.
Right-arm offspinners Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy will also command selection while fast-bowling allrounder Beau Webster is in the box seat to retain his place given the Tasmanian’s excellent debut against India in this month’s SCG Test.
Connolly will have the chance to impress Australia’s coaching staff during a training camp in the United Arab Emirates before the squad’s arrival in Galle, where both Tests will be played.
“There’s lots to like,” CA chief selector George Bailey said.
“Technically, we like it. Temperament, we like. Character, we like. Clearly, skill set, there’s a lot to like there as well.
“He’s someone that we’ve had our eye on for a period of time.
“On the first-class front, there’s not a great deal of games behind him, but he is one that’s been around that one-day group.”
Smith is keen to call the shots again after doing so for the final two Tests of their last Indian tour.
“I understand those conditions really well, when the spinners are on, the angles that need to be created … tactically,” he said.
“I’ll try and pass on as much knowledge as I can.”
One of those who Smith will be mentoring is teen batsman Sam Konstas, who has sparked plenty of debate over his style in his two Tests against India.
“As a batter, you can only learn by yourself, in a way,” said Smith, who has had his own technique regularly analysed.
“You play the way you want to play because it’s your career. From there, you learn along the way through experiences.
Sam Konstas takes a swing at the SCG. (Photo by Morgan Hancock – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
“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 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. He’s got a bright future.”
Smith heads to Sri Lanka one run short of the 10,000 run milestone and admitted it was playing on his mind in Australia’s second innings run chase in Sydney.
“One run hurt a little bit at the time, but it’s all good. It would’ve been nice to tick that off in front of all my friends and family at my home ground, but hopefully I can knock it off first innings in Galle.
“I probably let it wander (on my mind) too much during the game. It’s a cool milestone to tick off. I’ve never really been one about milestones, but I think it’s a different story with 10,000 because there have only been a handful that have done it.
“It just shows the longevity in the game and the consistency over a long period of time. It’ll be a cool one to tick off.”
© AAP