Ill feeling escalated ahead of the first Test starting on Tuesday when a rumour circulated that Muralitharan was responsible for securing a spin-friendly wicket to help Australia adapt in last week’s practice match at his home ground P Sara Oval.
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Speaking to Sri Lanka Cricket’s website, Mathews said that though Sri Lanka have the home advantage, the ability of Australia to thrive in all conditions will be a challenge for the home side.
The Sri Lankan legend, who is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 800 scalps, is now assisting Australian spin bowlers prepare for the Test series.
Australia recorded 10 Test victories in 15 matches over the 12-month period.
The forecast rain came to Pallekele Stadium just before the last session was due to start and no further play was possible on day one.
Sri Lankan bowler Rangana Herath, left, celebrates the dismissal of Australia’s Usman Khawaja during the second day of the first test cricket match in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, July 27, 2016.
“He gets himself in a little bit of trouble, as we’ve seen in one-day cricket, when he sort of just noodles them around”.
The onus was on Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal but neither batsman could do much.
The pair, widely regarded as Sri Lanka’s most accomplished batsmen, put on 25, the highest partnership of the innings, but captain Mathews perished for 15 after edging slow left-armer Steve O’Keefe to slip.
In the other instance, Tillakaratne Dilshan opted to bat in 2011 and Australia’s swing bowlers Ryan Harris (3-38) and Trent Copeland (2-24) went through Sri Lanka’s top order on the way to skittling them for 174.
The visitors trail Sri Lanka by 51 runs in the first innings.
Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal both average in the 40s in Test cricket but are set to take on the fast-bowling workload in their absence.
Australia were all out for 203 in reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 117, with spinner Lakshan Sandakan taking (4/58) and Rangana Herath (4/49) doing most of the damage.
“It looks pretty dry at this stage, and lots of cracks down the wicket, so it could certainly could take some spin in the first innings as well.”
Spin is likely to play a major role in the course of the three Test matches.
If India win 4-0, England-Pakistan series ends in a draw and Sri Lanka win by 1-0 or better, then India will jump to the number one position, the ICC said in a statement on Monday.
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Australia skipper Steve Smith (30) threw his wicket away in the second over, dancing down the track to try and slog the left-arm spinner only to miss the line and be stumped.
