Ashton Agar ruled out of 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka due to side strain

Australia all-rounder Ashton Agar has been ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka due to a side strain, starting Friday (July 8). The left-arm spinner was set to make a Test comeback in the first Test at Galle, but due to his injury, it was leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson who took his place in the XI.

Agar sustained this injury during the white-ball leg of the tur three weeks ago. Jon Holland, who was part of the Australia A side on the tour, has been named as Agar's replacement in the 17-man squad.

Swepson picked up five wickets in the opening Test in Galle as Australia romped home to a comfortable 10-wicket victory. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon picked up nine wickets in the match, while part-timer Travis Head registered his best first-class figures in the second innings to further derail the hosts.

"I was really happy with Swepo," Australia's captain Pat Cummins said. 

"A couple of key breakthroughs in the first innings and then [on Friday], top-order wickets. Really valuable. He controlled the tempo of the game, he had some batters come really hard at him. I thought he bowled beautifully."

Given that finger spinners have tasted a lot of success in Galle, Holland was in line to play his first Test since 2018 in Galle. But a finger injury ruled him out, but with him having recovered, it leaves the doors open for his comeback.