Australian skipper Steve Smith on Wednesday banked on the advice of retired local spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan to help deliver a victory on Sri Lankan soil as his team looks to reverse recent setbacks in the subcontinent.
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Sri Lankan cricket captain Angelo Mathews and Australian cricket captain Steven Smith pose in front of Warne-Murali trophy.
During his Test career, which spanned almost two decades, Sri Lankan bowling great Muralitharan had taken 800 wickets after playing 133 Tests. “I think helping Australia out with insight – he’s got so much experience – it will be a great help for them to get some advice”, he said. Even as Starc takes small strides to regain his best form with the red ball, Australia’s stand-in bowling coach Allan Donald reckoned the left-armer will make the difference in Sri Lanka. He had previously worked with Australia as a short-term consultant ahead of their Test series against Pakistan in the UAE two years ago.
Marsh further added, “It is (Sri Lanka) a lovely place to play cricket and I have some good memories playing here in 2011 and I think all the boys are looking forward to playing against a really good opposition in their backyard”.
Australia has a relatively young side with only four players – David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon and Shaun Marsh – of its 15-member squad having played a test match in Sri Lanka.
Cricket Australia also appointed Victorian David Saker as the new full-time assistant coach on Thursday.
Law, who has coached Queensland, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, was hired in April for the tour, with Australia coach Darren Lehmann saying at the time the former Australian batsman’s knowledge of batting in Sri Lanka could be a “huge advantage” for the tourists.
He was also no-balled for chucking at the Boxing Day Test on his first tour of Australia in 1995, before he copped the same treatment in a one-day worldwide in 1999.
“Well he’s a professional and he’s into coaching now”, Mathews said.
Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc made an impressive start to the Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka in his first competitive red-ball hit-out in more than eight months.
“David’s experience working around the world with worldwide teams will be invaluable, especially as we work toward the upcoming Indian Test series and the Ashes”, said Darren Lehmann in a statement on Thursday.
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The first of the three Tests will begin in Pallekele on July 26 while the second and the third match will be played respectively at Galle and Colombo.
