Aussies expect extra spins from Galle Surface for other tests
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Aussies expect extra spins from Galle Surface for other tests

A reintroduction of Galle’s early years weather pattern in combination with a further day with preparation time means that Australia expects a smooth bars, drier pitch for the second test against Sri Lanka from Thursday.

The introduction to the series’ opener-as Australia won with one round and 242 runs within four days-tormented by daily monsoonal rainbows, which meant that the pitch on Galle initially sported a “sticky” surface and began to only spin on days three and four.

At that stage, Australia had stacked on its highest test of the test ever at Sri Lanka-6 (Dec) -654 and could attack the home team’s beats relentlessly when conditions became more challenging.

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From what Australia was gathered to show up for its main workout before the test today, which was also Sri Lanka’s Independence Day, the course for the next game will probably take spins earlier in procedures after being best for batting on day one.

It has been prepared under fine conditions since the first game ended a day earlier than scheduled, with the welcome sunshine that helped to bake a hardness in the surface that was missing in last week’s fixture.

When recently crowned Allan border medalist Travis Head noted after a quick inspection of the surface that baked under more cloudless Galle sky this morning, it seemed even more barren than the near shaved strip used in the opener of the series.

However, as Australia has discovered in previous visits to Sri Lanka including their last 2022, the nature of the test site can change significantly during the 24 hours before the coin is thrown.

“It probably looks a little dry but sees a really good wicket still,” Head said today, not quite so fresh from their medal -winning celebration last night.

“As we know, we will see how it plays out in the next few days and where we will come to the first morning.

“It probably looks like it has a little less grass on it than the previous test.

“It looks like it will spin earlier, but it looks at the moment the first few days will be good for batting and then it will spin.

“As we have said in recent weeks, it is only to be able to adapt when that moment, that shift (hands).

“And what we saw in the first test was probably that day three moments where it shifted to sharp spins, and we could catch the moments.”

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The Australians are also aware of the certain symmetry that was played when they remember that the 2022 tour, on which they also recorded a real victory in the first of two tests at Galle just to be greeted by an extremely different pitch that led a round defeat in Other.

After being hit by the largest defeat during its 43 years as a test -playing nation, Sri Lanka is probably not leaving any stone reversed in the search for a more competitive effort from Thursday.

There had been speculation in Australia camps that the home team might even be able to use the same pitch for both tests, but it was delayed when Sri Lanka used that surface for Centre-Wicket ‘Stygg-Boy Nets’ on what should have been day five in the first match.

After rolling out a furious Turner for the first test in 2022, Sri Lanka then called back the preparations for the next test strip to be more smooth friendly during the first days before taking significant spins.

Head does not believe that the pitch is prepared for the game from Thursday will replicate these conditions, on which Australia was knocked out for 151 on just 41 overs on day four.

“It is very different from the first test (2022),” Head said today.

“I remember that one, the ends were really, really dry and the middle was rolled very, very heavy to take Starcy (Australia Fast Bowler Mitchell Starc) out of the game.

“It traditionally sees a really, really good wicket.

“You can play on it right now and you would be happy (but) we still have two days so I guess everything can play under these conditions.”

It seems likely that Australia will adhere to the same spin combination of Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy and Starc who (as Lyon) spent today’s training run of laps followed by a short gymnastics session.

However, the unmatched Spin-Bowling-Allroundern Cooper Connolly bowled a comprehensive game in the nets today and-would the plan is considered a rank that Turner came match day-his lower order could prove to be valuable as his left-arm Orthodox bowling.

Can Cooper Connolly be in the mix for a test debut? // Getty

Fellow Allrunder Beau Webster practiced its medium-sized-Paceers in the Center-Wicket network together with the help of Pacemen Scott Boland and Sean Abbott, with the latter couple who sent longer magic formulas in today’s delightful heat.

They bowled on teenage opener Sam is being replaced by the head at the top of the first test against Sri Lanka, as well as Marnus Labuschagne who did not adopt his usual place in Nets until near the end of the team’s two -hour session.

In the aftermath of his team’s degrading loss of the first test, Sri Lanka coach Sanath Jayasuriya acknowledged that their three-part spinning attack worked too slowly on the surface where Australia’s trio of tweakers captured 17 wickets between them.

“I expected they would probably bowl a little faster, but they know these conditions so well and they have had so much success here,” said Head about the place where Sri Lanka now plays a majority of her test matches.

“There are many different ways to skin it, so we bowled at a faster pace but it is much different than day one to day three as well.

“Of course, we have seen Wicket take spin later in the game.

“We were in a beautiful position, we fought well but they (Sri Lanka) will look better and we expect them to come back in a place where they are doing well.

“We have to make sure we are on our best game.”

Marnus Labuschagne at training in Galleon Thursday // Getty

It is unknown how many changes the hosts will make to XI from the record -breaking defeat, with the most interest focused on whether the opener Pathum Nissanka has sufficiently recovered from a groin injury to take its place.

Nissanka’s replacement at the top of the order, Oshada Fernando, handled points on seven and six in the first test but the second specialized top order option in Sri Lanka’s 18-man squad is unmatched Lahiru Udara.

The sitting opener Dimuth Karunaratne is also expected to small time on his 14-year-old after the upcoming test where he will be the seventh Sri Lankan player who reaches 100 performances.

Karunaratne, who captained Sri Lanka in 30 tests between 2019 and 2023, reportedly told the National Daily FT newspaper that he planned to retire from all forms of cricket after his upcoming milestone match before he emigrated to Australia with his family .

Given the extent of their winnings in the first test and the prospect of a similar, if more spinning-friendly pitch for the second, it would seem to take an extraordinary event for Australia to make changes to their batting-line-up.

But coach Andrew McDonald has already frightened that they will probably return to a more traditional order for their following test assignments, the World Test Championship final against South Africa to be played at an early summer height at Lord’s in mid-June.

Head today confirmed that he expected to return to his usual role in the average scheme for that fixture, with Arts-which made such a memorable entry into the test crunch against India on Boxing Day-tipped to be reintroduced at the top.

“Probably I would go back to the average order and Sam would open,” Head said of Australia’s upcoming defense of the test trophy they won against India in 2023.

“But I’m glad I’m not a voter – Josh (Inglis) has made a fantastic start (for his test career), Greeny (Allrounder Cameron Green) will fit so it will be difficult to fit.

“That’s what we want, an Australian cricket team that is difficult to get in, wants an Australian cricket team where everything pushes in places.

“That’s all we have ever known, players who are unlucky and who are in the team and expect to perform.

“This is where the pressure comes and tries to keep your place every test that knows there are people behind you.”

Qantas Tour in Sri Lanka

First test: Australia wins by a round and 242 runs

Second test: February 6-10, Galle (15:30 AEDT)

Sri Lanka Test Squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka (Subject to Fitness), Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera SamaRi, Praba, Sonal Dinusha ice , Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake

Australia Test Group: Steve Smith (C), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (VC), Josh Inglis, usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Toddhan McSweene Mitchell, Mitchell, Beau Webster

First ODI: February 12, Colombo (15:30 AEDT)

Other ODI: February 14, Colombo (15:30 AEDT)