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.
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Debutant all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva (24) was the top scorer for Sri Lanka, who have lost their last two test series in New Zealand and England.
If Pakistan beat England and Sri Lanka defeat Australia, then Pakistan will claim the number one ranking for the first time in their history, irrespective of how the West Indies-India series finishes. “We are as prepared as we can be”, Hazlewood said. He was overshadowed by Steve O’Keefe, who claimed 10 wickets for the match and nearly certainly will add to his two Tests when the series opens in Kandy on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Pradeep and Rangana Herath shared one wicket each after their batsmen lost the plot to Australian bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon who picked up three wickets each.
“The Australians obviously saw value in his knowledge of Sri Lankan conditions”, Mathews told reporters.
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. “And the field settings are a little bit different, along with the fact these guys [the Sri Lankans] will probably sweep a bit more and play shots that we don’t typically see in Australia”, he said.
“Sri Lankan people have done a lot for me, and I think I have done a lot for them as well”.
Smith, who is yet to lose a test when leading the side, said he would also have batted first had he won the toss.
Left-armer Mitchell Starc will be back after a long injury layoff to lead Australia’s pace attack.
“He’s been really good around the group so far, and he’s enjoying his time with us”. “I think we’ve won one game out of our last 15 in the subcontinent”.
“Australia asked me to coach for the entire series, but I told them I can only do 10 days because I don’t want to be in the opposition dressing room during the match in Sri Lanka, that’s not ethical”. He needs five wickets to become the only Australian finger spinner in nearly 140 years of Test cricket to reach 200 Test wickets.
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He dismissed both overnight batsmen – skipper Steve Smith (30) and Usman Khawaja (26) – in successive overs and had a third wicket in the morning session when wicket-keeper Peter Nevill was caught at mid-on. While the visitors are well-stocked in that department, Sri Lanka might struggle with Herath as their only recognized spinner against a well-oiled Aussie batting lineup.
