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1ST TEST PREVIEW – SRI LANKA V AUSTRALIA

We head around the globe for more international cricketing challenges and the next stop is to the beauty of Sri Lanka.

Racing and Sports will cover the tests and provide a gamble or two which might add to the viewing pleasure.


SRI LANKA v AUSTRALIA

First Test

29 June - 3 July @ Galle

One of the salvations from the impact of Covid across the globe can be sport and while it is a long and winding road, little flickers of light can appear.

No sane person can suggest all is well again but sporting contests provide that element of enjoyment and camaraderie amongst both participants and the wider public at large.

And so with the recalibration of cricket and its global universe, another adventure awaits the Baggy Green as they head to Sri Lanka for the first time in six years chasing more Test success.

Australia takes on the latest subcontinental challenge
Australia takes on the latest subcontinental challenge Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Gallo Images

The last time they ventured to the island nation, they were humbled in all three tests. The locals batted first on every occasion and despite horrific starts every time, managed to scramble their way out of them.

All out 117 at Pallekele as well as 2-9 at Galle and 5-26 at Colombo were positions oft difficult to recover. They all were Mitch Starc interventions and yet all situations were retrieved. Some were by their own means while others had help from ordinary batsmanship by the guests.

Without a massive domination it was Dhananjaya de Silva with the bat leading a team who had four century makers in the series.

However the real intervener was HMRKB Herath. Rangana was at his best on these dry, a tad slow, but ever spinning pitches and he cleaned the Aussies up.

28 wickets @ 12 bowling his left arm orthodox was some haul and alongside Dilruwan Perara's offies, they combined for 43 of a possible 60 Australian wickets.

In truth it wasn't a totally inspiring Australian side. 14 players took to the field in those games with only Steve Smith in his pomp, plus the late addition of Shaun Marsh passed three figures. Fast and furious collapses became the norm.

There was no Patrick Cummins at that time and the heroic leader will ultimately be a significant addition on this tour. Starc was the main man with his inswing so his recuperation from injury is a must although the make up of the team is a fascination.

Can Angelo Mathews keep firing?
Can Angelo Mathews keep firing? Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

And that has effectively been the narrative of this time in Sri Lanka. Ailments in all forms to all types of players have interrupted the preparation. Someone will trip over the boundary rope soon and do some damage the way they are going.

What style of team will they elect to counteract their opponents but also make one with the conditions so foreign to them?

Back in January 2021, England toured and famously won both Tests at Galle. They did it with an interestingly structured 11 and some unbelievable dare from one Joe Root.

First innings scores of 228 and 186 only need some form of batting around that to provide at worst a competitive total and at best a winning one.

England did just that with five batsman, Buttler as the batting all-rounder, three quicks, an offie and a left arm orthodox.

Australia could well attempt something similar unless Cameron Green is regarded as the third seamer. Clearly two spinners play but do three specialists? Head, Labuschagne and Smith could at least roll the arm over.

It does appear Nathan Lyon's preferred lieutenant is Mitchell Swepson again. Two tests is hardly a big body of work but he was a little innocuous in Pakistan through that superb effort to win the series.

Picked for the Karachi Test on those roads didn't help. At the very least he wasn't taken to. There was some control of a very difficult craft.

If fit would they consider Ashton Agar for just his fifth test and first in five years? His hairline is as barren as those 22 yard strips in Pakistan but he could offer more this time around. It would be surprising if anything ever surpasses what occurred on debut and yet that was with the willow. How is that almost nine years ago?

Does Glenn Maxwell play?
Does Glenn Maxwell play? Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Or do they go lefter of field with Matthew Kuhnemann or even wider with Glenn Maxwell to tweak them plus bat at 5?

The batting is probably bedded down at least for now bar that. Warner and Khawaja have a good understanding – the latter off his series pièce de résistance. Labuschagne and Smith are set fair and Head likely holds up batting (once again injury permitting) ahead of Green who is certain to play.

Smith's wrists are a feature at the best of times but even more so on spinning decks. Playing the line is one thing but scoring through midwicket pays the bills. While his incredible overall average has just slipped below 60, his record in Asia is still almost 50. Impressive for an Australian.

The last time these two sides met was for two tests in 2019 and they were comprehensive. A Day/Night slaughter in Brisbane was followed by a large margin in Canberra.

But Sri Lanka bring in decent form now, beating Bangladesh in May and the West Indies to end last year bounding two big losses in India.

Their last foray was a remarkable Test with Bangladesh making 365 – hardly a noteworthy score? Well given two batsman made 316 of them themselves and 272 in partnership, that was some effort.

It was the experienced Dinesh Chandmal and the even more experienced Angelo Mathews that gave them the commanding position from which they asserted their authority.

They do need some youth to stride through, albeit the Australian top order has likely an average age older than theirs.

Karunaratne at the top of the order is capable of making centuries (14 to be precise so far) but they would dearly love the ilk of the way Kusal Perara inspired them but three years back.

If it is not him, then one like him. An attacking top order player to take the game away from the opponent. And with Australia not having a great grasp of conditions, bar the preliminary short form matches, someone to get them into an uncomfortable state could cause dramas.

Dinesh Chandimal has a role to play
Dinesh Chandimal has a role to play Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

Subcontinental cricket has a vastly different cycle to it and even diverse from within it. We saw Pakistan very flat requiring patience with bat and ball.

However in India and maybe more so in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, wickets can fall in packs. The old adage that you add two wickets to the scoreline for a truer reflection can actually be four in the reality of games in conditions remote.

Even though Australia bring the strength of that recent series win, fancy Sri Lanka will be mighty hard to topple. Only India and England of all rivals have had the wood on them here of late. At Galle they have won 21 of 37 tests.

Whoever wins the toss is highly likely to bat first, put some scoreboard pressure on and leave the spinners to clean the test up in the fourth innings - a domain which has eluded Nathan Lyon somewhat.

The only thing the guests would have to allow for here is an M Starc bunch of swinging thunderbolts that might pierce any fragility at the top, assuming he plays. But you'd still bat anyway.

One thing that often happens in these tours, especially off a break, is the top of the batting can get sawn off and the middle order makes a fist of some salvage operations. Helping there is the spinners are regularly used in the first 10 overs and the openers hate that.

Alex Carey could save an innings with attacking cricket
Alex Carey could save an innings with attacking cricket Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

Alex Carey is capable of that recovery mission so could be worth a gamble to make a few runs. He batted well in Pakistan with two first innings half centuries. He also had a solid ODI series making double figures every time.

It is poignant to point out this is the first playing of the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy since the brilliant Australian legspinner's sudden death. There will be much made to commemorate him.

And so while we began with a reference to one Beatles tune, perhaps the truest reflection is this series could have plenty of twists and even more shouting – good luck umps.

Suggested Bets: Alex Carey +23.5 1st Innings @ $1.83

Suggested Bets: Alex Carey +50 1st Innings @ $4.00


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