It then came to light hours before the toss of the coin on Wednesday afternoon that selectors have made the call to hand Josh Inglis his Test debut — at Konstas’ expense. Inglis has been called in to bat in the middle order and it is a decision that Bharat Sundaresan suggested had been the plan all week.

Axed opener Sam Konstas has come down with a stomach bug and will stay at the Australian team hotel for a second consecutive day of the Test series opener against Sri Lanka. After being dropped from the XI to make way for Travis Head’s move to the top of the order, teenage star Konstas reported a severe headache on Thursday.

Travis Head will replace Sam Konstas as Usman Khawaja's opening partner in the first test against Sri Lanka at Galle on Wednesday, Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith said on the eve of the match.