Sydney, Feb 7: The Australian cricket team will be woefully short of left-handed batters for the five-match T20 International series against Sir Lanka beginning with the game at Sydney Cricket Ground on February 11.
With David Warner already not included in the side and now Travis Head – the ‘Player of the Series’ during the Ashes – too missing the start of Sri Lanka series due to his Marsh Sheffield Shield engagements, the hosts only have limited specialist left-handed batter options at the top.
Head was in the original 16-memebr squad selected on January 25, but has been released from the T20I squad and will instead get a final red-ball tune-up in the Marsh Sheffield Shield for South Australia this week before leaving for the all-format tour of Pakistan later this month.
Daniel Sams, a pace-bowling all-rounder has replaced Head. Head, though, will return for the last two games of the series in Melbourne.
Warner, who has performed remarkably against Sri Lanka, was not included in the original squad, leaving the top order shorn of left-handed batters.
That leaves wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade as the only highly experienced left-hander to bat at the top, but given that he now thrives in the ‘finishing’ role, Australia have been left with no left-hand substitute for Warner and Head.
The absence of left-handers at the top of the Australian batting order is fraught with risks as Sri Lanka boast of the world’s No.1 ranked T20I bowler, leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga who has troubled Aussie right-handers. (IANS)
