Australia had a poor start to the summer against India, and will be keen to turn it around in a two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which gets underway on Thursday at the Gabba.
Day-night Tests always bring an air of uncertainty, and while India knocked it back, Sri Lanka were happy to use the pink ball in Brisbane – something they may well come to regret.
An Aussie attack with the ball swinging is the last thing they want, given the conditions they prefer playing in are low and slow.
Based on what we saw last time the Queensland venue hosted a Test under lights, this could be hostile if the bowlers are consistent and the pitch is near what we have seen in past decades.
When the pink ball comes out, curators have to leave more grass on their wickets to ensure the ball doesn’t get chewed up too quickly. Add that to the difficulty of batting in the sunset period and shortly after dusk, and facing up can become a nightmare.
While wickets fall under lights, the second session has often been the worst time to bat. The sun is going down and the artificial lights are taking effect, making for a constantly changing environment.
In the aforementioned Gabba day-night Test, against Pakistan, Australia’s first innings brought with it 429, while Pakistan’s second got 450. The two in between weren’t worth writing home about, but the hosts ended up with a thrilling 39-run victory.
But since the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, Australia’s best results were a drawn Test in Pakistan, and a single victory in Perth on a bouncy deck against India.
Outside of that, they have lost series to South Africa, Pakistan, India and struggled in limited-overs cricket.
Bowling 340 overs across the first innings of the last two Tests against India would have also sent shockwaves across the camp, with the side being forced to follow on at home for the first time in 30 years.
They have made plenty of changes to the squad ahead of the visit from Sri Lanka, and with these being their last Tests before the Ashes later this year, there is plenty on the line.
Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Will Pucovski and Kurtis Patterson all have plenty to prove in a brittle batting order.
On top of all that, there is the feeling that Australia simply should win this series. Home, against Sri Lanka. It’d be embarrassing to lose either of these Tests.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are right up against it with some poor recent results of their own.
Their last series saw a one-nil loss away to New Zealand, where the batting simply wasn’t up to it. They did eke out a draw in the first Test, but they were failing often, with only Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis putting up a fight.
Going down in the second Test by 423 runs probably gave more of a reflection between the teams though.
If losing on the road wasn’t bad enough, their previous series was a 3-0 loss at home to England. While there is no doubting the opposition’s quality, Sri Lanka are falling down the Test rankings at a rate of knots.
Individual performances from players like Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne and captain Dinesh Chandimal will be relied on, but even that is unlikely to be enough, as Sri Lanka have never won a Test match in Australia, with just two draws from 13 attempts.
The positive news is that the weather forecast is only predicting chances of interruptions on Friday (Day 2), so we should get something close to a full Test.
History
Last five matches
August 13-17, 2016: Sri Lanka defeat Australia by 163 runs at Colombo
August 4-8, 2016: Sri Lanka defeat Australia by 229 runs at Galle
July 26-30, 2016: Sri Lanka defeat Australia by 106 runs at Kandy
January 3-7, 2013: Australia defeat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets at Sydney
December 26-30, 2012: Australia defeat Sri Lanka by an innings and 201 runs at Melbourne
Last five series
2016: Sri Lanka defeat Australia 3-0 in Sri Lanka (three-Test series)
2012-13: Auastralia defeat Sri Lanka 3-0 in Australia (three-Test series)
2011: Australia defeat Sri Lanka 1-0 in Sri Lanka (three-Test series)
2007: Australia defeat Sri Lanka 2-0 in Australia (two-Test series)
2004: Australia defeat Sri Lanka 1-0 in Australia (two-Test series)
Overall head-to-head: Played 29, Australia 17, Sri Lanka 4, drawn 8
Overall head-to-head in Australia: Played 13, Australia 11, Sri Lanka 0, drawn 2
Overall head-to-head at The Gabba: Played 2, Australia 1, Sri Lanka 0, drawn 1
Overall series record: Played 11, Australia 9, Sri Lanka 2
Overall series in Australia: Played 6, Australia 6, Sri Lanka 0
Overall Test record at The Gabba: Played 60, Australia 38, opponents 8, drawn 13, tied 1
Likely XIs and squads
Australia
1. Marcus Harris
2. Joe Burns
3. Usman Khawaja
4. Kurtis Patterson
5. Travis Head (vc)
6. Marnus Labuschagne
7. Tim Paine (c/wk)
8. Pat Cummins (vc)
9. Peter Siddle
10. Mitchell Starc
11. Nathan Lyon
Rest of squad: Will Pucovski, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson
Sri Lanka
1. Dimuth Karunaratne (vc)
2. Lahiru Thirimanne
3. Dinesh Chandimal (c)
4. Kusal Mendis
5. Dhananjaya de Silva
6. Roshen Silva
7. Niroshan Dickwella (wk)
8. Dilruwan Perera
9. Suranga Lakmal
10. Dushmantha Chameera
11. Lahiru Kumara
Rest of squad: Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep, Kusal Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan
Team news
Australia
After twin centuries during the tour game in Hobart, Kurtis Patterson was brought into a squad picked two weeks ago, and the only reasonable assumption which could be made is he will play.
He should slot straight into the number four position, with the out-of-form Matt Renshaw missing out at the top of the order to Joe Burns.
Picking Will Pucovski would be a major risk, so he should be the other to miss out, with newly appointed vice-captain Travis Head joining Marnus Labuschagne and skipper Tim Paine to round out the top seven.
Josh Hazlewood was also a late exclusion, after he picked up a stress fracture. Given Peter Siddle has been in the squad all summer, he should play, with late replacement Jhye Richardson on the sidelines in an otherwise unchanged attack.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Sri Lanka
The biggest problem for Sri Lanka is missing Angelo Mathews. The talented batsmen is out of the series with injury, while Danushka Gunathilaka has also been dropped after a tough tour of New Zealand.
The dropping of Gunathilaka opens up a position for Lahiru Thirimanne, who built some confidence with 46 not out in the second innings against the CA XI.
With Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis certainties for the batting order, it will provide some stability, while Niroshan Dickwella and the bowlers are likely to be unchanged, with Dilruwan Perera a certainty.
The other two batting spots are likely to go to Dhananjaya de Silva and Roshen Silva, however Nuwan Pradeep and Sadeera Samarawickrama could also be in the reckoning.
Keys to the game
How do Sri Lanka replace Angelo Mathews and Rangana Herath?
The retirement of veteran spinner Rangana Herath is likely to hit them even harder than the absence of Mathews.
While Herath could win games on the sub-continent, he was a reliable bowler in all conditions, and the side could have real problems finding a consistent spinner.
The Lankan bowling attack is likely to struggle in these conditions, so a heavy burden will be on Dilruwan Perera to provide wickets, but also block up an end and allow the quicks to rotate out of the other.
Perera himself is a veteran, at 34 years of age, but with only 36 Tests to his name and a bowling average of over 30, the pressure will be on to perform better than he ever has away from home.
Mathews can also be replaced, but that’s going to be a burden on players like Chandimal and Mendis, rather than a direct replacement doing the job.
The former skipper was solid in New Zealand, and was part of an all-day partnership at one point as they grimly hung on for a draw, so every other player now needs to stand up, starting with skipper Chandimal.
However, Mendis is probably the man to watch, given he has scored over 1000 runs in the last 12 months.
(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Who is backing up Pat Cummins?
Pat Cummins was Australia’s best player against India. Whether with the ball or bat, he was always doing something to keep his team in the battle.
With no Josh Hazlewood in this series, he is likely to finally have a crack with the new ball, which should only help him along the way, while a call-up to co-vice captaincy was well-deserved.
But after a long summer, no matter how good the form is, Cummins needs support.
Nathan Lyon will match what Perera is able to do spinning the ball and then some, but the other quicks is where the question lies.
Mitchell Starc has kept his spot in the team, despite struggling to put the ball in the right place and get wickets on a consistent basis since the end of last year’s Ashes tour.
While you know what you’ll get out of Siddle, this might be his last chance in the Test side, so he will be keen to make the most of it, given the selectors continue to leave out players like Chris Tremain.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
The pressure is on Dimuth Karunaratne
Karunaratne has been one of the best openers in world cricket throughout the last 12 months, scoring more than 700 runs and averaging over 45, and while he has played a lot in home conditions, he has excelled whenever the challenge has been thrown down (although the second Test against New Zealand was a fizzer).
The opener made 44 against the CA XI in the first innings, but is going to need more than that against Australia, being consistent.
One of the biggest problems both Australia and India encountered in the recent series was a lack of concentration, with many making starts and unable to go on with it.
If the tourists are to match it with their opponents, they need someone to pull off a similar effort to Cheteswhar Pujara. Karunaratne could be the man, but in conditions which don’t suit him, it’ll be tough.
Usman Khawaja needs to lead an inexperienced batting order
Australia’s biggest problem ahead of this series is the lack of experience in the batting order.
With David Warner and Steve Smith still watching on from the sidelines, and both the Marsh brothers (thankfully) dropped, they are left with a team of relative newbies in the Test arena.
Outside of Usman Khawaja’s 39 Tests, no other batsmen (including captain Tim Paine) has played 20 Tests yet.
Here is the brutal evidence.
- Joe Burns – 14
- Marcus Harris – 4
- Kurtis Patterson – debut
- Travis Head – 6
- Marnus Labuschagne – 3
- Tim Paine – 19
- Will Pucovski – debut
- Matt Renshaw – 11
Excluding Pucovski and Renshaw as the likely subs, that’s just 45 Tests across six players, and excluding Paine, 26 Tests across five players.
Khawaja, now more than ever, needs to stand up at first drop. He failed in this role against India, but this is the change to cement number three for the rest of his career, as well as throw the doubters off his back.
There is no question talent exists among the rest, but consistency of results this early in a career on the biggest stage can’t be assured.
(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Key game information: Australia vs Sri Lanka first Test
Dates: Thursday, January 24 – Monday, January 28
First ball: 2pm (AEDT)
Expected daily finish time: 9pm (AEDT)
Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane
TV: Live, Fox Sports, Channel 7
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, Kayo Sports
Betting: Australia $1.25, Sri Lanka $7
Umpires: Richard Illingworth, Marais Erasmus
Hours of play
| Start time (AEDT) | Finish time (AEDT) | Start time (local) | Finish time (local) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First session | 2pm | 4pm | 1pm | 3pm PM |
| Tea break | 4pm | 4pm | 3pm | 3:20pm |
| Second session | 4:20pm | 6:20pm | 3:20pm | 5:20pm |
| Dinner break | 6:20pm | 7pm | 5:20pm | 6pm |
| Third session | 7pm | 9pm | 6pm | 8pm |
Note: Hours of play can be changed and modified due to weather. An extra hour is available each day should time be lost. The start of play can be brought forward by half an hour if weather prevented overs being bowled the day before. Play can be extended by a further half an hour should overs not be bowled at the scheduled finish time due to slow over rates.
Prediction
The Australians are a lot better on paper, regardless of their recent struggles.
Tim Paine will need to lead from the front, and they need runs, but even then, their bowlers should be able to restrict Sri Lanka to a fairly low score with a pink ball at the Gabba, particularly given Mathews won’t be there.
Australia to claim a 1-0 lead inside four days.
Don’t forget to stay across all the action in Brisbane with The Roar as we bring you a live blog of each day’s play, as well as highlights.
Brasstax
Guest
"This Sri Lanka team would find it hard to win a match in warehouse cricket in Brisbane so we really should win this series." This is exactly the kind of arrogance that our opponents hate. There is nothing wrong in taking pride at how good you are, but belittling opponents is another thing. Also that comment especially now is a bit rich considering how if it hadn't rained for 2 straight days in the last test we would have lost 3-1 to India and lost the ODIs as well and probably would have lost the second T20 and that series as well if it hadn't been rained out.
Ben
Guest
Shown no form? He made 3 hundreds and a fifty in his last 5 shield games last year. Then proceeded to make 3 hundreds and a fifty 6 games in County cricket.
Jimbo
Guest
Renshaw is a very interesting case. He is loved by the armchair critic, despite representing a lot of what they claim to dislike about the selection process. He has shown no form in Shield cricket over the last 12 months. People often speak of the selectors needing to pick players based on Shield form - Maxwell, Wade, etc. - and then in the same breath say Renshaw should be in the team. Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh are often criticised as players who should never play for Australia again, despite performing over the past 12 months at Test level to a similar standard as Renshaw has at Shield level. Long-term I think Renshaw is probably the answer at opener for Australia. Right now though, it has to be Harris and Burns. Harris performed well enough against India to get another shot and Burns has just been so much better than Renshaw over the past year. I will concede Renshaw has performed well in England - so I'm comfortable with him being in the squad to spend time with the group ahead of the Ashes. If they pick Renshaw to open now the public will be calling for his head if/when he performs as his current form says he might. Let him find his feet again.
AREH
Roar Guru
What if by then he has earned that place? He's on track to, even with some of the horrid dismissals. Further to that, we've seen how the VC tag simply does not secure ones place in the side, with M. Marsh
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
And probably to help them build some confidence in those net sessions!
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
A battle of the poor batting lineups. I can't pick a winner
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Poor old Yallop unluckily won the toss in his first test as captain and did the conventional thing and chose to bat. Alas on an actual gabba greentop. To be fair, Bobby Simpson, no less did the same thing vs India, the previous gabba test, on another actual gabba greentop and they were 5/49! While the gabba greentop has become a myth, if SL get them under lights with a swinging ball it could be carnage. SL bowled the Aussies out for 74 in a ODI in Brissie in 2013. Not sure if any of these current SL boys played but there are bound to be support who were there.
jameswm
Roar Guru
The guy averaged mid-40s in FC cricket. It's the same concept, not that hard to work out. Many other specialist batsmen have fallen into the trap of feeling they need to accelerate during their innings.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Until the Patterson inclusion I was pretty sure he was picked to play. But thinking about it as I put a comment on a different article, I can’t go past the fact that in 2 tests time when Warner and Smith are straight back in, Khawaja will remain, Head will remain likely even if he can’t reach double figures in these matches, he’s probably earned himself a few more tests, and Patterson, assuming he plays here, has to get more than 2 tests before dropping him you’d think. Meaning the top 6 for the first Ashes test is: Warner Harris Khawaja Smith Head Patterson So others are just filling in for these two tests. If I’m therefore really considering the others just filling in for these two tests (obviously there is an outside chance they can perform out of their skin and put pressure on one of these guys) I’d be more likely to go with Burns and Labuschagne and leave Pucovski out.
Rob JM
Guest
Isn't the point of having siddle in the squad is to give the batsmen a tireless net bowler without taking value from the BBL?
Rossy
Roar Rookie
I live in Brisbane. Tossing up going to the game If they pick Siddle and Marnus I won't be. That signals we have not learned anything, and are on the wrong path and that kind of Cricket Australia is not getting a cent out of me.
Rossy
Roar Rookie
You are comparing Head's batting to how a bowler used to bat and then saying he did better than expected. Geez, expectations must have been low.... Personally my expectations are for a number 5 specialist batsman to bat with a calm head and not throw their innings away repeatedly without learning from their mistakes.
Rossy
Roar Rookie
Didn't do much wrong?! I just spat out my coffee! His game awarness and decision making was horrendous. Over and over he got out to terrible shots rather than good balls. He was batting like it's t20. I would have dropped him to go learn some common sense when batting in first class cricket, rather than bestowing him with a leadership position. Absolute joke.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
LOL, That Australian VC curse has been around for yonks. I go as far back as Hookes and a few others around that time got the VC job to their peril.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Tom T, bit harsh in Finch. I would not have picked him in any case, but considering other selections and patience offered, as he was selected he at least deserved a run in the low middle order before being cast into the scrap heap.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
The selectors have done lots of things lately that anyone prior to the selection would have said "it's hard to see them doing that" if such a thing was suggested. Jhye Richardson has been on fire in all forms of the game. I could easily see them playing him. I don't think Siddle being retained in the test squad necessarily suggests he's automatically the next one picked. Anyway, we'll find out tomorrow I guess.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I don't think it will be an issue for Head. He was lumped with the captaincy of South Australia while still trying to find his way as a first class cricketer. He's obviously seen as someone who has good leadership qualities. And I don't know about it meaning he's a lock for the Ashes. Mitch Marsh getting the VC didn't make him a lock. But Head has done enough this season to earn at least the first couple of Ashes tests.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Richardson should play. I must admit, part of me wonders if the reason the selectors kept Siddle around while sending other bowlers, like Tremain, back to Shield cricket was because his experience was good to have around the group even if not playing, and the younger bowlers they’d rather send back to their states to actually get some game-time in. Here’s hoping anyway. I think Richardson gives a good variety simply by his height. While there seems to be this idea that for fast bowlers, being tall is a massive bonus, it doesn’t have to be, and having one of the three be a more short, skiddy fast bowler is probably a good thing. (I actually think that the fact India had some shorter fast bowlers might have helped on the slower surfaces. If a bowler is more skiddy, then the ball likely won’t get held up in a slow wicket as much. Of course, this test match is the one that really doesn’t need that so much, there will be plenty of pace and bounce on offer!)
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I would probably play Richardson instead of Siddle. Siddle was average at best in the ODIs against India. If the team is to move forward, it should start with giving Siddle the heave-ho.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Before my time, but it sounds scary.