SL v AUS, 2nd Test Preview: Australia hoping to bounce back

The Australian players were left licking their wounds following a defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Pallekele. However, with the second Test about to begin at Galle and with the Aussies calling up reinforcements in the form of Jon Holland, they enter the encounter with a fighting chance of claiming a win and subsequently squaring the series. Moreover, the fact that Galle is a happy hunting ground for the Aussies will also go on to add fuel to an already mouthwatering encounter.

Pitch Conditions:

The ground at Galle screams history from every corner. A 16th-century Dutch lighthouse and the Indian ocean in the vicinity, the setting could not be perfect to play a game of cricket. The wicket as is the case with most wickets in the subcontinent will provide an abundance of turn. The first Test at Pallekele showcased the diabolical turn the wicket usually has and it will be interesting to see if the Australians can cope with the turn and purchase the spinners will get off the wicket.

Team Analysis

Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan camp will be brimming with confidence following an impressive 106-run win in the first Test at Pallekele. However, Angelo Mathews and the coach Graham Ford will be making attempts not to allow the players to get complacent after the victory. Rangana Herath will be hoping to make a similar impact that he did in the first Test with Lakshan Sandakan also hoping to make a similar impact on proceedings.

The spotlight will probably be on the replacement the Sri Lankans have chosen for the injured Nuwan Pradeep. Although the 29-year old pacer is only in doubt of playing, the fact that none of their frontline seamers are available for selection makes it highly possible that Ashita Fernando or Vishwa Fernando to make their debuts in the match.

Australia

Having been handed an unlikely defeat in the first Test, the Australians will be looking to overturn their fortunes in the second Test at Galle. Galle is a venue that the Aussies highly regard as their happy hunting ground. However, the fact that this is a new Australian side with little or no resemblance from the 2011 squad makes it exciting and invigorating for one to weigh the possibilities of a victory.

While most of the world awaits how Australia will tackle the spin o Herath and Sandakan, the spotlight will be well and truly on Jon Holland. It would seem as though Holland is receiving his much-awaited debut at the age of 29, and it also remains to be seen how he will perform in conditions where many expect him to thrive in.

Probable XI:

Sri Lanka:

Angelo Mathews (C), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Kusal Mendis, Kushal Perera, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep/Ashita Fernando

Australia:

Steve Smith (C), Peter Nevill (wk), David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Voges, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Josh Hazelwood

StAttack:

1. Steve Smith requires 63 runs to complete 4000 runs in Test cricket. Should he accomplish this feat, he will become Australia’s 26th batsman to do so.

2. Mitchell Starc requires 3 wickets to complete 100 wickets in Test matches. He will become the 37th bowler to do so.

3. Dilruwan Perera requires 5 wickets to complete 50 Test wickets for Sri Lanka.

4. Rangana Herath is a part of an elite Sri Lankan club who boast of over 1000 Test runs and have over 300 wickets in Test matches.

5. Sri Lanka has won three of their last five Test matches at this venue. However, Australia has won two of the only three matches they have played at this venue. The last time Australia won at this venue was in 2011, a win that coincides with their previous tour.