Australia name squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Who will Captain?

Cricket Australia (CA) have announced a 16-member squad for the impending two-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Marsh are the four players who were withdrawn from the originally selected squad.

Jake Fraser-McGurk has replaced Mitchell Marsh in the squad. The latter will miss the series as well as the subsequent Champions Trophy due to injury. Meanwhile, Hazlewood and Cummins are also recovering from injuries. Stoinis, on the other hand, has announced his retirement from ODI cricket.

Besides, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson, and Tanveer Sangha will be auditioning for the final three spots. They are expected to be given opportunities to showcase their skills during the ODIs against Sri Lanka. Notably, Steve Smith is currently leading Australia in the Test series against Sri Lanka. The squad that has been named for the ODIs does not have a designated captain. However, it is likely that Smith will take charge here as well in the absence of regular captain Cummins.

Australia complete whitewash in Test series

Australia defeated Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the second Test in Galle on Sunday, February 9, to whitewash Dhananjaya de Silva's men in the two-match series. The hosts were bowled out for 231 in the early goings of Day 4. Australia needed just 75 runs to win the Test match.

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Travis Head was the only Australian batter dismissed before Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne took the tourists to victory. Alex Carey was awarded Player of the Match for his spectacular century in the first innings. The first ODI in the two-match series between Australia and Sri Lanka is scheduled to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium, in Galle, on Wednesday, February 12.

Australia's squad for ODIs versus Sri Lanka:

Travis Head, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Tanveer Sangha.