Sri Lanka and Australia are gearing up for the second and final Test, beginning Thursday in Galle. After a dominant performance in the first Test, Australia hold a 1-0 lead and will be eager to seal the series with another commanding victory. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, face an uphill battle to bounce back after their crushing innings and 242-run defeat in the opener.
The first Test saw Australia’s experienced duo, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja, take charge with magnificent century and double-century respectively. Their mammoth contributions ensured Australia amassed a formidable total of 654/6d, leaving Sri Lanka with little breathing space. Sri Lanka, in their first innings, scored 165, compelling Australia to force follow-on. Even after the follow-on, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 247.
Sri Lanka’s batting crumbled under pressure, failing to counter Australia’s strangling bowling attack. Their inability to put up a competitive first-innings total left them playing catch-up throughout the game. Going into the second Test, Sri Lanka will need Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, and Dhananjaya de Silva to step up if they are to challenge the visitors in order to draw the series. Australia, however, are unlikely to make any changes to their team given their dominant performance in the first Test.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Matches: 34
Draw: 8
Sri Lanka WON: 5
Australia WON: 21
SL Probable XI: Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando
AUS Probable XI: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (c), Josh Inglis, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy