“Mitchell Swepson will be the second spinner in the Test match,” says Pat Cummins

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Pat Cummins says Sri Lanka is a tough side to beat on home soil

Australia’s leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson will be part of the playing XI in the opening test game against Sri Lanka, with touring skipper Pat Cummins on Tuesday calling the leg-spinner an “important cog” of their bowling.

Australia leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson will be part of the playing XI in the first test against Sri Lanka, with touring captain Pat Cummins on Tuesday calling the leg-spinner an “important cog” of their bowling. 

The 28-year-old Swepson will partner head spinner, Nathan Lyon, toward the beginning of the two-match series in Galle on Wednesday where the pitch is supposed to be a turner. 

Cummins avoided unveiling the full Australian XI with doubts over batsman Travis Head who harmed his hamstring during the team’s loss in the One-Day internationals.

“Just want to see how Travis gets through, so we give him a bit more time. But yes, Mitchell Swepson will be the second spinner in the Test match,”

Cummins told reporters.

Swepson made his debut in the international cricket against Pakistan earlier this year and was part of the visiting side’s 1-0 test victory. He also scalped two wickets in two games.

But Cummins demands the exceptional wrist spinner is prepared for the Sri Lanka challenge as Australia hopes to vindicate their 3-0 misfortune to the hosts in 2016.

“We’re really happy with Swepo. I think he is bowling beautifully and ready for this one,”

said Cummins.

“I think his role here might be slightly different as well. Pakistan we knew was going to be a slow grind and I thought he did his job despite not taking the wickets he would like. He was a really important cog in that bowling engine.”

Cummins revealed Sri Lanka is a tough side to beat on home soil.

“I think Sri Lanka plays well over here, it’s quite different from what we experience in Australia,”

said Cummins.

“They are going to pose a challenge but we are up for it.”

All-rounder Glenn Maxwell could get back to the Test side after a long gap since he last played a five-day game in 2017.

Cummins also praised the Sri Lanka people for their courage in an unprecedented economic crisis that the island nation.

“I was on a call yesterday and was chatting to some young girl cricketers. They’re down to one meal a day and are going to school a couple of days a week because the teachers can’t get to school,”

Cummins said.

“No matter what the result is we are in a privileged position and there are lots of people that are making this happen for us to have a bit of fun and go out and play cricket. So we are really lucky.”

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