Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja steadied the Australian innings after the visitors lost two early wickets. They reminded everyone that, actually, these were quite good batting conditions.
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Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews is wary of the challenge posed by Australia in the upcoming Test series which begins on 26th July.
Sri Lanka’s paltry total was their lowest first-innings score against Australia in Test history, with Hazlewood hoping their shattered confidence is not mended by the time the tour comes to pitches that are expected to play more into the hosts’ hands.
“If SLC had ever asked him to coach Sri Lanka he always will”. The pacer acknowledged that the first innings runs are going to be crucial but felt the performance with the ball will help them dominate throughout the series. So there should be. Apparently Sri Lankan authorities view a contest against the top side as a potential cause of disheartenment for players and fans, rather than a source of excitement to build interest in the series.
Australia’s Joe Burns looks around the corner after getting one past Sri Lankan keeper Dinesh Chandimal. [Jeffrey] Vandersay is one of our key bowlers in the spin department.
Once the hardness goes out of the ball, both sides will be looking to get some reverse swing which can be just as lethal as spin as the pitch wears.
Starc trapped opener Dimuth Karunaratne (5) lbw in the fifth over to give Australians to start the batting collapse.
Hazlewood joined the party in the next over, dismissing Kusal Mendis in similar fashion before having Kaushal Silva edging to slip a few overs later as Sri Lanka stumbled to 18 for 3 early in the tenth over. Australia Test match will be telecast live on Ten Sports 3 and Ten Sports 1 HD at 10 am IST. He was the next man to walk to the crease and, after offering some resistance, was also the next to walk off.
“The second innings the wicket will definitely take spin”, Australian captain Steve Smith said of the decision to play two spinners.
Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal complained of a stiff hamstring after training on Sunday before the uncapped Dhananjaya de Silva hurt his finger during fielding drills, Mathews revealed.
Lyon found a lot of turn from the surface and picked up his three wickets from just seven deliveries after lunch as Sri Lanka’s batsman appeared keen to return to the pavilion as quickly as they departed it.
They’re well prepared for rain in Pallekele, with massive blue covers not only taking care of the wicket square, but stretching across just about the entire outfield.
“Have they done one hundredth of what I have contributed to cricket in Sri Lanka?”.
“The ball is coming out nice”.
“The first is that Charith Senanayake has made a complaint that he had been berated”.
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Australia were 7 for 2, but finally a half-century was forthcoming – albeit a partnership – as Khawaja and Smith compiled 59 by tea.
