After winning the toss, Sri Lanka chose to bat.
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Playing without the likes of Kumar Sangakara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka have won just a single game against Test-playing opposition, a T20 against India back in February 2016.
He had forcibly entered the outfield with his Australian team members defying the decision.
Muralitharan had previously worked with Australia as a short-term consultant during the series against Pakistan in the UAE two years ago.
To add another layer of comedy, it was presented in a private ceremony chronicled only by ICC photographers.
The early loss of Perera on the second day of the first Test was another bitter blow for the struggling hosts.
They are a very consistent team and a strong unit.
David Warner’s broken left index finger has healed enough for him to bat but, according to Smith, not enough for him to stand in the slips.
Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews acknowledged that his new-look side would have to be at the top of their game if they were to cause an upset. The Test-only players, such as batsmen Joe Burns and Adam Voges, also spent hours honing their craft on the specialist subcontinental pitches at the national training academy in Brisbane.
His seam bowling, meanwhile, has become a genuine weapon.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood hopes Australia has inflicted some early mental scars after the tourists shredded Sri Lanka’s batting order on the opening day of the first Test.
O’Keefe bagged 10 wickets in a warm-up match in Colombo last week.
Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe, who was included alongside Lyon, was brought on in the ninth over by Australia captain Steve Smith and he was rewarded when he dismissed Mathews.
They will be looking to win the first match and put a lot of pressure on their opponent.
The pitch has been a talking point, given it traditionally offers early moisture that helps seamers.
Muttiah Muralitharan has come under fire from Sri Lanka’s cricket board chief for helping rival Australia in a heated buildup to the three-test series.
“I don’t think I needed to change too much for this first innings”.
“We shud [sic] be proud of him”. We’ve named the trophy Murali-Warne Trophy. He faulted the Sri Lankan team management for ill-treating several other past cricketers. At the World Twenty20 and on tour in England, the team has looked to be more hole than remainder.
“We made the most of that, and hopefully, we do again in the second innings”.
Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera have been ruled out while Suranga Lakmal is also doubtful due to an ankle complaint.
Dhananjaya de Silva, on debut along with Lakshan Sandakan, top-scored with 24 while Kusal Perera made a quickfire 20 from 15 balls.
“The Australians obviously saw value in his knowledge of Sri Lankan conditions”, Mathews told reporters. Being forced to turn to the next generation may yet yield some talent.
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They’ve performed in and out of Australia. A history of success in this country only serves to make Smith wary.
