More than three years after the last of his three Tests, all-rounder Moises Henriques is back in the Australian set-up as the world No.1 team banks on seam bowling to account for Sri Lanka in their own backyard this winter.

Australian selectors on Tuesday announced a 15-man squad for the three-Test series beginning in Kandy on July 26, the Test team's first outing since officially seizing top spot on the ICC rankings in February.

The return of fast bowler Mitchell Starc after six months out through injury is welcome news for captain Steve Smith, but of most interest is the inclusion of Henriques, whose admirable debut in Chennai in 2013 was one of the highlights of an otherwise forgettable tour for Australia.

Due to Australia's withdrawal from last year's series in Bangladesh, the Test squad has not been back to the subcontinent since then, although a 2-0 defeat to Pakistan in the UAE in 2014 was suffered in similar conditions.