The in-demand South Australian already signed up with Sydney Sixers for the Big Bash when selectors named the touring party on Friday following the recent national under-19 championships.

Pope had finished with a tournament-high 20 wickets at 13.65 after already making four Sheffield Shield appearances for the Redbacks.

He starred for Australia at the 2018 under-19 World Cup in New Zealand that included a brilliant 8-35 in a miraculous quarter-final win over England that had kept Freeman out of all but one game throughout January.

Freeman was given the nod in Pope’s absence on the back of a strong under-19 championship campaign that included 10 wickets at 28.40 and 194 runs at 64.67.

The George Town-raised allrounder was one of two Tasmanians named in the 14-man Australian squad after the state won five of its eight matches.

Keegan Oates was named not only in the party, but the player of the tournament following his 430 runs at 71.67. 

Only Matthew Wade has achieved the honour playing for the state under-19s.

Both Freeman and Oates play club cricket together at top-of-the-table Lindisfarne.

Oates, who has played one game for Hobart Hurricanes in an Abu Dhabi T20 preseason tournament, was rapt to be able to play alongside Freeman again. 

“Frog [Freeman] and I are pretty close,” Oates said.

“We’ve played together since the under-15s.

“I’m lucky to have another Tassie boy with me in the squad – I’m looking forward to touring with him.”

Unlike Freeman who proudly represented the state on his own 12 months earlier, Oates is donning Australian colours for the first time.

Oates said it felt totally surreal to realise a boyhood dream to play for his country.

“I had been pretty nervous [waiting],” he said. “They finally called my name out and it was pure relief.

“I went up there and shook [coach] Ryan Harris’s hand.

“I called my family back home later that night and they were really happy.”

The squad will head to Sri Lanka with some big-time experience.

Freeman made his Tasmanian Shield debut last summer at the SCG and Will Sutherland has represented Victoria in 50-over matches.

The pair joins Victorian seamer Zak Evans and NSW wicketkeeper Baxter Holt as state-contracted players.

Australia will play three one-day internationals and one three-day match against the Sri Lankan under-19s.

Five of the top 10 runscorers and three of the top eight wickettakers from the under-19 nationals are included in the squad.