Aus vs SL 1st Test at Pallekele

Captain Steve Smith confirms two-man spin attack for first Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy




Australia will take a dual-spin attack into the first Test against Sri Lanka, starting tomorrow, after captain Steve Smith today confirmed an XI that includes both Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe.

AUSTRALIA XI: David Warner (vc), Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon
 
Australia coach and national selector Darren Lehmann indicated last week that his team would employ the dual spin attack of off-spinner Lyon and left-armer O’Keefe unless they were confronted by the unlikely scenario of a Pallakele pitch that offered something for the quicks.

www.cricket.com.au/news/australia-sri-la...kson-bird/2016-07-25

Even bigger favourites after the first day of play. Oof.

Sri Lanka 117 all out. Australia 66/2. Sri Lanka probably thankful that rain washed out play after tea. This one might make it to three days now.

is that the WI playing

Warner shouldda sit out this tour

now a DUCK spoil his stats 

I wasn't feeling such confidence after the first few overs when we lost both openers >

Exactly. Pradeep is back from Injury.

England did not see him

Burns and Warner did ....duck and 3  :-[

Some iffy batting from Australia has left the door slightly ajar for Sri Lanka, though still a very handy first innings lead. Don't think I've seen Steve Smith fooled that badly before. It wasn't so much a stumping as nearly a run out.

This was my first time seeing Sandakan, he looked pretty handy.

Starc nipping out an early wicket has put Sri Lanka on the backfoot once again. They are still 80 runs behind with 9 wickets in hand. Will Sri Lanka be able to avoid an innings defeat? I wouldn't bet on it.

DownUnda, what score would you be comfortable chasing should Sri Lanka avoid an innings defeat?