Australia is looking to take advantage of a Sri Lanka team on a losing streak to turn around its recent Test match failures in Asia.
Captain Steven Smith said on Wednesday that success was hard to come by for Australia in Asia but the three-Test series in Sri Lanka – starting July 26 – offered a chance to change that.
Since winning its last three-match series in Sri Lanka 1-0 five years ago, Australia lost its matches in a series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and on a tour of India – 2-0 and 4-0 respectively.
Sri Lanka has lost five out of six Test series in the past two years as it struggles to rebuild after the retirement of key players.
Sri Lanka has also been hit by injuries with fast bowlers Dhammika Prasad, Dushmantha Chameera and Suranga Lakmal all injured during their last series in England.
Another fast bowler Shaminda Eranga was reported for an illegal bowling action during that tour and subsequently suspended by the International Cricket Council.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said his team has prepared well for the Australians, despite the setbacks.
Australia has a relatively young side with only four players – David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon and Shaun Marsh – of its 15-member squad having played a Test match in Sri Lanka.
The will, however, have a decent helping of local knowledge on their side.
Former Sri Lanka player Muttiah Muralitharan, who took a record 800 Test wickets, is an Australian consultant for the tour.
“He is obviously got a lot of experience here in Sri Lanka,” Smith said of Muralitharan.
“He took a truckload of wickets, he is helping our spinners out and it’s great to have someone like that on board with us.”
The three Test matches will be played in Pallekele, Galle and Colombo.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Undoubtedly Australia is favourite to win the Series by 2-0, if not 3-0 whitewash. Sri lankans are in rebuilding stage, also it is almost impossible for them to replace Sangakkara & Jayawardene in near future, if not at all possible. Australia should take advantage of this.
Craig Swanson
Guest
The Lankans may have lost some quicks but I see their spinners as being more vital in home conditions. The word is they have plenty of fine tweakers to back up Ragana Herath. Could be the reason CA has taken on Murali in a consultancy role for the series. Interesting to see just how helpful those hybrid sub continental- like pitches at the NCC have been to our batsmen and spinners. I see this 3 test series as the perfect audition for the main bout against India early next year.
Craig Swanson
Guest
Morale is everything in sport. So I say hit em hard while they are down. That is what the Baggy Greens will be aiming to do from ball one on July 26.