Holland in the mix but Aussie weapon could be negated

Australia’s selectors face a tough call heading into the Test series opener at Galle on Wednesday

A return to Test cricket for Jon Holland, a prospect that seemed far-fetched not long ago, may hinge on the state of his injured spinning finger that has put a spanner in the works of the major selection call for Australia.

Not for the first time, Holland has arrived underdone in the seaside city of Galle where the left-armer was also rushed to six years ago for his Test debut when Stephen O’Keefe injured his hamstring in the series opener.

Ahead of Australia’s first Test in Sri Lanka since that tour, Holland is now back in the mix to add to his four Tests with Ashton Agar sidelined with a side strain and a question mark over whether Mitchell Swepson’s wrist spin will be accurate enough in the conditions.

Holland did not bowl at training on Monday, two days out from the series opener, but coach Andrew McDonald insisted a final decision has not been made on either his or Travis Head’s availability.

Head was again put through his paces at training on Monday as fitness staff test out the hamstring he hurt last week, with Glenn Maxwell on standby if required.

But the decision on Nathan Lyon’s spin partner shapes as the more important call.

The dry Galle pitch has been baking in the sun in recent days, yet curators have been ensuring the rest of the square has been kept well-watered.

If the surface plays as expected, the pitch will offer considerable turn but the less abrasive wicket table will likely negate Australia’s ability to find reverse swing.

That was a major weapon for Mitchell Starc in his dominant 24-wicket campaign in Sri Lanka in 2016 and also for both Starc and Pat Cummins in their series win over Pakistan earlier this year.

It would be a remarkable return if Holland, who played the last of his four Tests four years ago in the UAE against Pakistan, gets the nod to play.

The Victorian was on an Australia A tour of England in 2019 and suggested then that his last chance at a Test recall would likely be the ensuing Ashes campaign, which he was overlooked for.

Matthew Kuhnemann was picked over him for the recent Australia A tour of Sri Lanka but McDonald, who conceded Holland is still bowling himself into full fitness, said selectors had never forgotten about one of domestic cricket’s leading spinners over recent years.

“We know what Jon can do, hence why he was brought into this squad,” said McDonald. “I wouldn’t read too much into the A (squad non) selection. He’s always been there and thereabouts, purely through his domestic performances.

“He got called in late. Was he a little underdone when he got into the A series? There’s no doubt about that. But we feel as though he can bowl his way into the form we potentially need.

“He’s got a bit of an (injury) issue but we’re working through that.”

Agar was the first-choice left-arm spinner initially picked for this tour and appeared in line to play, which he could still do if fit for the second Test at the same venue.

For now, McDonald said selectors had not made a call yet between Holland and Swepson.

“What we’re talking about is the direction the ball is spinning and the value of accuracy versus the wrist-spin, which at times can be a little less accurate,” he said.

“Traditionally finger spin has done well here … but also there hasn’t been a hell of a lot of leg-spin played here either. By no means am I indicating it’s Jon Holland over Mitchell Swepson.”

Mitchell Starc bowled on Monday without tape on his left index finger having recently had stitches removed, while Steve Smith was back batting in the nets after missing the previous day’s session with a minor illness.