And with the pitch showing no sign of respite, the Australian’s first innings lead could well prove decisive as they try to cement their position as Test cricket’s No. 1 side.
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Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera are the other two spinners playing for Sri Lanka.
He took 2-107 and 2-112 on Test debut against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in 2014, and 3-63 in the first innings of the rain-marred SCG clash against the West Indies last summer. Save for a series win over lowly Bangladesh in 2006, Australia have won one of 15 Asian Tests since 2004.
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.
Sri Lanka has only the one batsman ranked in the ICC’s top 10, skipper Angelo Mathews at number 10.
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“Winning away from home has often been a challenge for us, especially in sub-continental conditions, but this is something we are looking to change in this upcoming series against Sri Lanka”, concluded Smith, who won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2015.
And Muralitharan, the highest wicket-taker in Test history, then accused the board president of knowing nothing about cricket and angrily denounced any suggestion of being “a traitor”.
Sri Lanka have only just returned home from a disastrous tour of England where they failed to win any of their nine Tests and limited overs internationals. “I think I play my best cricket when I am fresh”, Warner said.
Muralitharan, 44, added that Sri Lanka’s cricket board had asked for his help only once since his global retirement in 2011.
“Sri Lankan people have done a lot for me, and I think I have done a lot for them as well”.
“I thought we were quite patient, and just bowled the usual great lines and lengths”, Hazlewood said. A strong 72 in the tour match against a Board XI was an encouraging start for the opener. “It’s about making sure you have a plan from ball one as soon as you get out there and each individual is different”, he said. “We need to try and look for more new players and try and get them ready and fit to take up the challenge in the global level”.
A total of 117 is going to be a tough ask to defend for any side in the world and the Sri Lankans may find themselves chasing big during their second innings.
“This rebuilding voyage is definitely long term”, Mathews told the Sri Lanka Cricket website.
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Australia captain Steve Smith also leads an inexperienced team keen to make up for Australia’s poor recent record in Asia.
