The stand-in captain Steve Smith announced that Travis Head will take on the role of Usman Khawaja's opening partner during the first Test match against Sri Lanka at Galle on Wednesday. According to Smith Sam Konstas who showed strong performance as an opener in his series debut against India may play in the middle order now that Head has been promoted. Smith recognized Head's effective performance against spin during the 2023 Australian tour of India as potentially beneficial for the upcoming two-Test series