Beau Webster detail that could see Scott Boland brutally axed for Australia's next Test match

Beau Webster's stunning Test debut against India could see fan favourite Scott Boland miss out on playing Australia's first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle later this month. Boland's stunning 10-wicket match haul in the Border-Gavaskar series-clinching victory over India at the SCG would normally cement his spot in the Aussie starting XI.

But the conditions in Sri Lanka are almost certain to be a spinner's paradise, meaning there is every chance the Aussies only go with one frontline fast bowler, three spinners and an all-rounder - a position that Webster has made his own after a half century on debut and a 39 not out in his second innings against India in the fifth Test. There's even a chance the Aussies will play three spinners, depending on how much turn the Galle wicket has on offer.

Josh Hazlewood will miss the two-Test series - starting on January 29 - as he continues his rehab from a calf injury. But Mitchell Starc is available after overcoming rib pain to play in the final Test against India in Sydney, and Sean Abbott is the other seamer in the squad.

Skipper Pat Cummins will miss the Sri Lanka tour to be with his wife Becky for the birth of their second child, but there will still be a pace conundrum for the Aussies to solve. And once again it could be Boland who is the unlucky man to miss out. The Aussie selectors have consistently shown that Boland is typically the man to make way when the 'big three' of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood are available.

Even with Cummins not travelling to Sri Lanka, the Aussies may have to try and squeeze three quicks into one spot due to the spin-friendly conditions. And despite Boland's career average of 17.66 being the best of any bowler in more than a century, history has shown he's normally Australia's unluckiest quick when it comes to selection.

"Whenever he comes in, you just know he is a seasoned pro, he has been doing it for years for Victoria," Cummins said. "He's well and truly good enough in Test cricket. He proves it time and time again. He bowls into the wind a lot of the time as well, so his figures are probably better than they show. You know what you're going to get from Scotty, and it's class every day."

Beau Webster could force Scott Boland out in Sri Lanka

The other factor that could count against Boland in the pace-bowling squeeze in Sri Lanka is the emergence of Webster, who took one wicket and looked solid with the ball against India at the SCG. The all-rounder got through a tidy 17 overs in Sydney, with workload proving no concern. And it could tempt the Aussies into dropping one frontline quick in Galle, and using Webster as a second paceman to take the new ball.

That would allow a three-pronged spin attack of veteran Nathan Lyon and his understudy Todd Murphy, with Matt Kuhnemann spinning the ball the other way and offering the Aussies a point of difference. Australia played two quicks in both Tests on their most recent trip to Sri Lanka in 2022, but did toy with going with only one for the second of those matches.

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If the Aussies do go with just the one frontline quick, it will be between Starc and Boland - with the pair to potentially rotate for the second Test. And having Webster as a main pace bowling option means Australia does not have to weaken its batting attack, with the 31-year-old proving against India at the SCG that he is more than up for the challenge of Test cricket.

"Beau was huge (in Sydney)," Cummins said. "He is one of those quintessential allrounders where you feel like they are going to contribute in every facet of the game. That's what he does for Tasmania, and proved that. (He) bowled some really important overs, (took) great catches and (made) two really important knocks."

The other major question for the Sri Lanka tour is around Australia's top order, with suggestions selectors could go with Travis Head at opener again. Head was excellent batting there against India in 2023 but it would probably mean impressive rookie Sam Konstas would have to make way, with Nathan McSweeney or Josh Inglis potentially coming into the middle order. Usman Khawaja is a renowned player of spin and his spot looks secure but it's debatable that dropping Konstas - rather than giving the 19-year-old valuable experience on the subcontinent - would be the right move.

Australia's Test squad for Sri Lanka tour:

1. Sam Konstas

2. Usman Khawaja

3. Marnus Labuschagne

4. Steve Smith (c)

5. Travis Head (vc)

6. Beau Webster

7. Alex Carey

8. Mitchell Starc

9. Nathan Lyon

10. Scott Boland

11. Todd Murphy

12. Matt Kuhnemann

13. Sean Abbott

14. Josh Inglis

15. Cooper Connolly

16. Nathan McSweeney

with AAP