The Steve Smith-captained Australia are hot favourites to dominate the home side, who head into the clash following a dismal tour of England and with a young and inexperienced line-up.
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They have played lot of games for New South Wales and they are close friends.
Sri Lanka made a stuttering start to their second innings as Kusal Perera (4) fell early before rain stopped play for the day. “It’s about making sure you’re doing it from ball one and not waiting until you’re 15 or 20, because you can make a mistake before that”.
They will be looking to win the first match and put a lot of pressure on their opponent.
“It certainly will help spin bowlers”, Smith added.
Cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan is at the centre of a heated controversy ahead of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia, with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) accusing the off-spinner of berating the manager and conducting centre-wicket training at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium without permission.
He has done really well in these conditions.
The home side lasted just 6.2 overs in the second session but threatened a fightback as Pradeep struck in the third over, going through Warner’s defence to hit the stumps.
“He rode roughshod over the grounds men and got Australian players to practise in violation of the time stipulations”, Sumathipala said.
“We’ve got quite a few new players, as well having just lost about seven of our senior players less than a year ago”, Smith said. This will mean a more defensive philosophy with sweepers on the boundary, particularly when the spinners are on, to make batsmen work harder for their runs.
From an Australian point of view, it’s important these two bat out at least the first hour to keep the Lankans from burning through the batting order much like the Australians did, on a pitch that suggests it could happen.
“I don’t think I needed to change too much for this first innings”.
They’ve performed in and out of Australia.
They have a solid and settled team after the mass retirements of 2015.
Muralitharan, 44, added that Sri Lanka’s cricket board had asked for his help only once since his global retirement in 2011.
But coach Darren Lehmann has already flagged that frontline spinners Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe will play.
Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva slips while running between wickets.
Overnight batsmen Usman Khawaja (26) and Steve Smith (30) didn’t last long against Herath’s spin, as Australia faltered after starting the day 66 for two in response to Sri Lanka’s 117 all out inside 35 overs on Tuesday.
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Australia removed Sri Lankan opener Kusal Perera cheaply after building up an 86-run first innings lead over their hosts as they took firm command of a low-scoring Test here Wednesday.
