Australia in Sri Lanka: West Australian Cooper Connolly to debut in second Test at Galle
West Australian 21-year-old Cooper Connolly will make his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Galle on Thursday.
Sources have confirmed to The West Australian the Scarborough tyro will play just his fifth first-class match in the second Test of the series.
Australian captain Steve Smith and coach Andrew McDonald said on Wednesday they would wait to get one final glimpse at the pitch to be used this week, but that they expected it to be drier and were preparing spin reinforcements.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The left-arm spinner is likely to replace fellow finger spinner Todd Murphy in the side as part of a ploy to lengthen Australia’s batting unit, or all-rounder Beau Webster, who batted at No.7 and did not bowl in the first match.
He will become the 471st man to play Test cricket for Australia and the fourth player to debut in as many matches.
Connolly is fresh off being crowned the joint Player of the Tournament this Big Bash League season, the competition where he made a name for himself when he steered Perth Scorchers to a miracle final victory as a teenager.
He then debuted in a Sheffield Shield final and made 90 in the first innings, but has played just two more four-day games for WA and has not taken a first-class wicket.
Smith was a vocal advocate for Connolly being included on the tour because he spins the ball away from right-handers.
“From what I’ve seen in the nets he bowls some really good balls,” the stand-in captain said on Wednesday.
“He was pretty consistent where he was bowling in Dubai and in the nets here, and that’s kind of all you’ve got to do in these conditions.
“It’s another batter who bowls more than handy spin and spins the same way as Matthew Kuhnemann.”
Connolly’s friend Teague Wyllie said WA teammates back home couldn’t wait to watch him play. “It’s amazing. Everyone in Western Australia is so pumped for Coops, he is a great man, he’s a loyal friend to a lot of the people here in Western Australia,” he told The West Australian. “So to see another West Aussie get to debut is always a great thing so we all wish and hope he goes as good as he can.”
Australia won the first Test by an innings and 242 runs inside four days.
