Veteran Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and the 25-year-old rookie Sandakan had earlier taken four wickets apiece as the Australian batsman also struggled to cope with a turning pitch.
Advertisement
Stephen O’Keefe has been confirmed in Australia’s XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka starting in Kandy on Tuesday.
Rangana Herath picked four wickets for Sri Lanka on day two.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said that Lakmal, who had recovered from a knee injury he had sustained in England, has hamstring stiffness and that De Silva was hit on a finger while bowling at practices.
Mathews spoke of his frustration at the injury problems and urged for a stronger recruitment drive. If they had asked me before the series to be a consultant, I would have said yes.
The tourists’ innings started little better but they recovered from the loss of two early wickets to reach 66-2 at the close, rain having prevented any play after the tea interval.
Herath was always going to be key to Sri Lanka’s hopes in this series, and it took only until the second morning for him to send some jitters through the Australian order. “Regardless of professionalism, we’re very hurt by this”, he said. “It’s going to be a big challenge for us”.
As Australia have found to their cost in so many campaigns, Test matches played in subcontinental conditions that make batting a much more nuanced art than on the now ubiquitous “roads” unfold at a disarming pace. We haven’t played them a lot, especially our bowlers.
In lodging the complaint, board president Thilanga Sumathipala accused Muralitharan of insulting Sri Lanka team manager Charith Senanayake. These two sides last met in a three-Test match series at Australia in 2012/2013.
Teenage fast bowler Asitha Fernando, who has played two first-class games, or Vishwa Fernando are likely to make their worldwide debut.
Meanwhile, Australia captain Steve Smith today received the ICC Test Championship mace and Dollars 1 million in prize money for leading his side to the number one ranking on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings on the annual April 1 cut-off date.
Australian bowler Mitchell Starc (C) celebrates with teammates after dismissing Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Perera during the second day of the opening Test at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Wednesday. There was no let up from Australia and Sri Lanka’s first innings was wrapped up inside 35 overs, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon taking three wickets apiece.
Advertisement
Steve Smith’s side will be desperate to reverse a poor recent away record against teams from the sub-continent when play begins in Pallekele on Tuesday, as India breathe down their necks in the race for Test supremacy.
