West Australian Corey Rocchiccioli will be part of a headlining spin trio in Sri Lanka in the New Year, says KEN PIESSE

Australia’s strategy for success for its mid-summer tour of  Sri Lanka is likely to revolve around a spin triumvirate including late-blooming West Australian Corey Rocchiccioli.

Having lost four of their last five Tests in Sri Lanka,  Australia’s planning for the two Tests in Galle from late January will feature three spin specialists, rather than just one as occurs in Australia.

In line behind the distinguished first-chosen finger spinner Nathan Lyon are left-arm  journeyman Matt Kuhnemann and Rocchiccioli, likely to be preferred to fellow youngster Victorian Todd Murphy.

Leg spinner Mitch Swepson, who featured last tour in 2022, is unlikely to play, despite having taken 17 wickets in five first-class matches so far this summer.

Rocchicciolo and Murphy top the red ball wicket-takers with 19 wickets apiece in six matches.

Both represented Australia A earlier this summer against India, Murphy, 24, taking four wickets and Rocchiccioli, 27, five.

Perth is a bastion for faster bowlers, but Rocchiccioli is a frontline selection at home and away. His most successful match this summer was in Perth at the WACA Ground when he took six wickets against Tasmania in mid-October.

He is a big spinner of the ball and uses clever changes of pace.

Australia tied the 2022 series in Sri Lanka 1-1 but lost all three Tests on their previous tour in 2016.

Insiders says the team will travel with 16 players, including a ‘project’ player looking to the future. NSW’s Tanveer Sangha (eight wickets in four games) will be among the younger ones contending.

There is doubt that captain Pat Cummins will tour with his wife expecting their second child.

The squad is unlikely to be announced until the conclusion of the Sydney Test match due to start… weather permitting… on Saturday, January 3.

The Australians are mindful they need to blood several rookie players on their coming tours of Sri Lanka and the West Indies leading into next summer’s big Ashes Tests against England.

Teenager Sam Konstas, who debuted in Melbourne, was the fourth youngest player in Australia’s Test history.