Glenn Maxwell added to Australia's Test squad to face Sri Lanka

Glenn Maxwell could make a shock return to Test cricket next week after the injury-plagued Australians added the white-ball star to their squad to face Sri Lanka. With Travis Head in doubt and Ashton Agar all but ruled out of the Test series opener in Galle on Wednesday, Maxwell is in the mix to wear his Baggy Green for the first time in five years as per cricket.com.au.

Head, who was named player of the men's Ashes earlier this year, suffered a hamstring injury earlier this week in the ODI series while Agar is carrying a side strain and has identified the second Test (also in Galle) as an earliest possible return date. Along with Maxwell, Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis are the other options to take up Head's No.5 berth if the left-hander does not regain fitness in time.

Jon Holland, Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy meanwhile will all remain in Sri Lanka "to assist the Test match preparations and to develop their experience in subcontinent conditions" though none of that spin-bowling trio have yet been added to the squad. All three have played for Australia A on their concurrent tour, while Kuhnemann has been promoted to the ODI team for the Aussies' last three games as a replacement for Agar.

Maxwell's recall is a show of faith in his capability against spin bowling given he has not played a first-class game in two years and eight months amid his significant limited-overs commitments. All four of the 33-year-old's Tests have come on the subcontinent.