Australia awaits yet another stern test as they run into a charged-up Sri Lanka side in the second Test in Galle on Thursday. After being handed a humiliating 106-run defeat by Sri Lanka, Australia will want to bounce back strongly in the second Test.
Steve Smith suffered his first defeat since he took over the captaincy from Michael Clarke and he was definitely disappointed with their performance.
"I wasn't yelling at the players. It was obviously disappointing, the loss in Kandy, my first loss as captain. It was a different experience and hopefully it doesn't happen too often," Smith was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.
"We know what we have to do to turn it around, it's just about making sure we go out there and do it."
Australia's prevalent problem of tackling spin on the subcontinental wickets surfaced yet again during the first Test against Sri Lanka. Australian batsmen could not handle the spin of veteran player Rangana Herath and the surprise package, Lakshan Sandakan, in the first or the second innings.
Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Stephen O'Keefe also bowled well but they could not make an impact that Sandakan and Herath did for Sri Lanka in the first Test.
Meanwhile for Sri Lanka, the win in the first Test must have boosted their morale and they are raring to go out and take on the Australian side yet again in Galle. They rode on the match-saving century of Kusal Mendis, who was phenomenal in the second innings.
Skipper Angelo Mathews will expect him to come in handy with the bat yet again during the second Test in Galle.
Australia, on the other hand, will be forced to make one change for the second Test. Steve O'keefe, who picked up an injury during the first Test in Pallekele, will be replaced by John Holland.
Expected playing XI:
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Angelo Mathews (C), Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, Asitha Fernando.
Australia (confirmed): David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (C), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland.
Where to watch live:
The second Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia is scheduled to start at 10am local time (10 am IST, 2:30 pm Australian Time, 5:30 am BST) start. Ten Sports will be broadcasting the match in India and the subcontinents. Live Streaming option will be available on TenSports Live.
There will be no live TV coverage of the first Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia in UK.
Willow TV will show the match live in the US. Willow TV Online will stream the game live as well.
Fox Sports will telecast the match live in Australia. Foxtel Play will stream the same.
