SL vs AUS | Left-arm spinner Jon Holland set to feature in the Sri Lankan Tests

The Australian Test squad contains many spin options for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka starting June 29 at Galle. The likes of Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Jon Holland, and Todd Murphy could all feature for the Aussies.  

Swepson featured in Australia whites against Pakistan earlier this year, but he picked up only two wickets in as many appearances. If the latest reports are to be believed, experienced left-arm spinner Jon Holland could be given an opportunity alongside Nathan Lyon in the 1st Test. He was called up to Sri Lanka after the injury of Ashton Agar. 

Holland scalped 20 wickets in five matches for Victoria in the 2021/22 season of the Sheffield Shield. Furthermore, the 35-year-old picked up two wickets in the second Unofficial Test fixture against Sri Lanka A last week. 

Holland is said to have been practising with Lyon on the centre wicket at Galle on Sunday while the other spinners trained in the nets. 

On June 27 (Monday), Australia head coach Andrew McDonald hinted that the visitors are expected to field two spinners in their Playing XI. 

He believes the finger spinners have done better than the wrist spinners at this venue. 

"We haven't made that decision, and Mitch Swepson is definitely in the selection frame," McDonald said. "We're talking about the direction the ball is spinning and the value of accuracy of finger spin against wrist spin, which at times can be less accurate.

"Traditionally, finger spin has done well here, it would be going against the statistics to say it wasn't. But there also hasn't been a lot of wrist spin played here."

Holland has played 4 Tests and scalped nine wickets at 63.77 apiece. He also debuted at Galle and returned with two wickets in 2016. However, he played last for Australia in 2018 and has been plying his trade for Victoria since then. 

The Australian head coach added that Holland has been called up to the squad due to his abilities. Moreover, the 41-year-old concluded that Holland could make an immediate impact. 

"We know what Jon can do, hence why he has been called into the squad," McDonald said. 

"He's always been there or thereabouts with domestic performances. He was called in late, was he a little underdone when he got into the [Australia] A series? There's no doubt about that. But we feel like he can bowl himself into the form we need him to," concluded McDonald.