Australia’s looming challenge of “extreme” turning Sri Lankan Test wickets has been laid bare, after being spun out of the one-day series with a four-run defeat in Colombo.
Chasing 259, David Warner played a lone hand with 99 as Australia capitulated from 4-189 in the 36th over to be all out for 254 and down 3-1 in the five-match series.
The margin could also have been far worse, if not for Pat Cummins’ 35 and Matthew Kuhnemann scoring 14 from the final over off Dasun Shanaka before being caught in the ring on the final ball.
But it couldn’t paper over Australia’s uphill battle against spin.
Seven wickets fell to the slower bowlers, as Sri Lanka played five turners and sent down 43 overs from them on a used wicket that spun well into the night.
Just over a week out from the first Test in Galle, the hosts’ win will likely confirm the blueprint on how they plan to beat Australia in the red-ball format.
Legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay took 2-40, offspinner Dhananjaya de Silva 2-39 and mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana 1-40.
Warner meanwhile had looked in control after Aaron Finch (0) Mitch Marsh (26), Marnus Labuschagne (14) and Alex Carey (19) all came and went.
The opener was cagey in the early overs, before throwing his hands at mystery spinner Theekshana and taking him on.
He hit 12 boundaries in his knock, going hard through the covers and driving superbly.
And when he reached 99 Warner looked almost certain to end the longest century drought of his international career, which now sits at 48 innings across all formats.
But the match then swung violently in Sri Lanka’s favour, handing them their first bilateral one-day series win over Australia at home since 1992.
With Warner at the non-striker’s end Travis Head (27) was bowled by Dhananjaya, before Glenn Maxwell was trapped lbw by Theekshana next over.
And when Warner finally got back on strike, Dhananjaya drew him off balance and beat his outside edge to have him stumped.
Cameron Green followed shortly after, before Cummins (35) and Kuhnemann’s late efforts.
The collapse will no doubt have evoked memories of the 2016 Test tour for the locals, when Australia struggled to combat the spin in the 3-0 series loss.
“This is extreme spin; you don’t usually see these type of wickets,” Warner said.
“You only see them here. India is completely different. They don’t turn like that. They’re actually good wickets. And they turn later on day three or four (of Tests).
“So everyone has to prepare as well as they can. 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 and Steve Smith both sighted in the nets with a red ball after finger and quad injuries.
Cummins also bowled nicely on field, 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.
However 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.
U
Roar Rookie
That’ll happen when you select a half assed team
Tell me a team that gets decent warm up games on tour these days
Clear as mud
Guest
Aust a and a bit No zampa. Starc. Agar. Smith. Stoinis. And half the team with a test series to win next week with virtually zero other preparation
Clear as mud
Guest
It seemed classic Watson to me. The sort of dismissal never given before DRS. And mathematically potentially out - if you believe in ball tracking. Scrap it.
Clear as mud
Guest
It really depends on the team agreed approach Nothing wrong with the guy who is set going hard to make it easier for the players below you. Because coming in cold on these decks as the run rate rises is big pressure And with Maxwell and agreement to come, possibly Carey was trying to do a Maxwell for Maxwell. Begs the question why Maxwell wasn’t in earlier on a spinning deck. We also seem averse to trying a pinch hitter, when a quick 20 might make the scoring rate a misere. I think the real reason is that are trying to max the batting practice for Marnus Head and Carey before the tests. And I am ok with that, however they could easily be in the Aust A game getting actual batting practice. (Mitch at 3 makes sense for the long term but he has not delivered given his disrupted prep.) Also a pretty disrupted line up. Smith looked ok and gone. Stoinis ditto. Head now out for game 5. If I was Finch I would consider stepping off for the last game just as a resilience step for the next big tourney - gone whoever is vice a run. Just in case… Anyway, back to the proposition. There’s nothing wrong with going hard - until you get out, and then they do. Or like Carey running himself out just after Maxwell got out on game 2 or whatever.
Not as good as you thought you were in the ODI format huh Aussies.
maverick
Roar Rookie
Carey has become a serial offender. To me he always seems to be in a hurry. He should be put on notice and if he doesn't learn should be kicked out. I think Head did ok. But one man who seems to in funky mood is Marnus. He always seems to go to backfoot and flick which he can easily play straight. Handscomb was a better odi player than him.
maverick
Roar Rookie
Marnus and Carey have been throwing their wickets away on a regular basis. Handscomb was a better odi palyer than Marnus who was harshly ousted from the odi side. Marnus tries to be too funky with his shots insted of playing straight. And Carey seems to be in always hurry as if he has to go to toilet.
matth
Roar Guru
Australia loses in spinning conditions. I guess there is a first tome for everything :laughing: :laughing:
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
The Sri Lankan side have the look of the Indian side of about 5 years ago. Young, fit, focussed and very skilled. Good on them. They have the makings of a tough side to beat anywhere on the sub continent and if they keep it going they can elsewhere too.
Sedz
Guest
And then begging your neighbors for medicine to money? Isn't is much? Reverse racism?
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
That is quite dramatic headline. But let us be honest, it would have taken a miracle even for the most successful chasing team to win that match on that surface. I was actually wowed watching how Australia cruised to one eighty for four down only. For any other team it would have been one fifty all out. Saying that, Australia probably should have won that from the position they were in. Somebody in Australian set up will need to have some tough chat with both Alex Carey and Travis Head. It is not the first time i have seen that with Alex Carey. Whenever he is doing pretty good, he needs to do something out of the blue,like a slog sweep or a risky run. Given both of them are in test set up, it has to be solved. Australia probably should trust their spinners more. You should not load your team with spinners just because your opposition team has done. But condition is different thing. You can not fight against it. You have to adapt to it.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
I get it now. I lost IQ points deciphering that word salad. Are you the same clown who was carrying on around Ashes time - predicting a thumping humiliation for Oz?
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Good for Sri Lanka. Pity the last match is a dead rubber. Thought Warner’s innings one of the best you will see in an ODI, given the conditions. No need to fret much - Zampa and Agar in the team would have made a huge difference. Though Marsh, Carey, Head and particularly Marnus are all dodgy against spin. I’m certain that DRS cameras failed for Maxwell’s dismissal- it’s almost impossible for the ball to hit the stumps if it hits above the front leg kneeroll in front of the batting crease on a batter of above average height. The simulation got something very wrong.
Clear as mud
Guest
yep that world championship winning T20 sie, they are the funniest thing since Fawlty Towers.
Frank delosa
Guest
ILP = Intelligence Lowering Protocol. Guess you either know or you don't. Ouch! Warner, Stoinis, Mitch Marsh all prime candidates. Have a blessed day. See you in Melbourne for the BD Test mate :)
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Indian League Premier. They changed the name to rekindle interest in T20.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
What's the ILP?
Frank delosa
Guest
Bravi Sri Lanka Bravi! This what happens when you put ILP coins over national duties. AUS got what they deserved 10-fold. Expect AUS to win the test series but their ODI team and T20 are a joke. Move Finch on for the good of the side! The decline of cricket continues (T20 to eventually become the only form played).