David Warner can see the upside to Australia being spun out of their one-day series against Sri Lanka, saying it has made them better ready for the Tests.
David Warner is adamant Australia are ready to combat "extreme" turning wickets in the Tests against Sri Lanka despite being spun out of the one-day series.
Australia fell to their first ODI series loss in Sri Lanka in 30 years on Tuesday night, beaten by four runs to go 3-1 down with one to play.
Warner played a lone hand with 99, as the hosts sent down 43 overs of spin on a used wicket and claimed seven wickets with it.
Chasing 259, Australia were 4-189 in the 36th over before a collapse of 3-1 forced a late fightback from Pat Cummins and Matthew Kuhnemann.
Kuhnemann eventually reduced the final-over margin down from 19 required to five off the last ball, before being caught trying to take down Dasun Shanaka.
But Warner can see an upside ahead of next Wednesday's first Test in Galle.
Australia have trained on much greener wickets in practice nets, but have been given a clear indication of what to expect from the wickets and bowlers in the three T20s and first four ODIs.
The tourists also did not have the advantage of limited-overs matches before the Tests when they were trounced 3-0 in 2016, instead having only one warm-up game before playing on wickets Warner labelled "diabolical".
"We were always expecting turning wickets so it's fantastic preparation for us," Warner said.
"We actually love the fact that they're playing on the wickets back to back.
"This is extreme spin; you don't usually see these type of wickets.
"You only see them here. India is completely different ... they're actually good wickets (in India). And they turn later on day three or four (of Tests)."
Warner also made clear the approach he would take.
The opener was cagey in the early overs on Tuesday, before throwing the bat at mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana (1-40) and taking on his sharp turn.
He hit 12 boundaries in his knock, going hard through the covers and driving superbly.
Playing with confidence, Warner looked certain to break the longest century drought of his international career, which now sits at 48 innings across all formats.
But after watching Travis Head (27) bowled by Dhananjaya de Silva (2-39) and Glenn Maxwell go lbw while at the non-striker's end on 99, Warner was beaten by Dhananjaya on the next ball he faced and was stumped.
"In one-day cricket you've got to try and go after it a little bit. It actually helps you be positive," Warner said.
"You can take that into the Test match series. Use your feet, get deep in the crease, come at them them a little bit.
"It's about being busy. It's about committing.
"It's about batting long periods of time. And unfortunately, in the subcontinent, one little mistake will cost you."
The good news for Australia on Tuesday was that their two best players from 2016 are returning to fitness, with Mitchell Starc (finger) and Steve Smith (quad) sighted in the nets using red balls.
Cummins also bowled nicely, taking 2-37 and unlucky not to have another wicket early when he hit Charith Asalanka's leg stump with the left-hander on one.
But the bail did not fall off, allowing Asalanka to lead Sri Lanka from 3-34 to 258 with his maiden international century of 110 from 106 balls.
