Sri Lanka v Australia: first males’s cricket Check, day one – dwell | Australia cricket crew

thirty second over: Australia 145-2 (Khawaja 65, Smith 2) He’s misplaced his opening companion and his No 3 however Khawaja cracks on! Vandersay has bowled effectively up to now however he dropped that one brief and Khawaja rocked again and pulled it to the midwicket boundary.

Steve Smith reaches 10,000 Check runs! (Australia 137-2)

WICKET! Labuschagne c de Silva b Vandersay 20 (Australia 135-2)

twenty ninth over: Australia 131-1 (Khawaja 54, Labuschagne 19) Sri Lanka flip the screws. Jayasuriya is on a size cramping the batter’s for room and drying up runs. Khawaja clips one however Australia’s run fee has now slid underneath 4.5 from the match-high 6.5 15 when Travis Head was on the crease.

twenty eighth over: Australia 131-1 (Khawaja 54, Labuschagne 19) Vandersay continues to hassle the Australian batters. Two singles is all they will handle because the 34-year-old rookie finds a nagging line on off stump.

twenty seventh over: Australia 128-1 (Khawaja 52, Labuschagne 18) Jayasuriya’s eleventh over is a decent one as he seems to be for roughage exterior off stump. Khawaja breaks the impasse with a decent single on the final.

twenty sixth over: Australia 127-1 (Khawaja 51, Labuschagne 18) Vandersay is into his third over and it’s been a formidable spell so removed from the diminutive 34-year-old. Khawaja sneaks a run via backward level however Sri Lanka have completed effectively to stem the stream of runs.

twenty fifth over: Australia 123-1 (Khawaja 50, Labuschagne 18) Jayasuriya continues to threaten. He took 12 wickets in that match-winning and series-equalling efficiency in 2022 and he’s discovering his groove once more at present. Khawaja flicks one off the pads to achieve a half-century from 71 balls with 4 fours and a six. It’s the twenty eighth fifty of his profession.

twenty fourth over: Australia 123-1 (Khawaja 48, Labuschagne 16) Crushed! Stunning bowling by Vandersay. He made Labuschagne look silly 3 times in that over, floating the ball, touchdown it on a dime and fizzing it previous the bat. Hope for Sri Lanka!

twenty third over: Australia 123-1 (Khawaja 48, Labuschagne 16) Australia proceed to dominate this primary session. Jayasuriya has bowled effectively however runs got here in a torrent when Travis Head was on the crease and have flowed steadily ever since. The batters preserve issues ticking over with a few singles right here.

twenty second over: Australia 120-1 (Khawaja 47, Labuschagne 16) Jeffrey Vandersay is into the assault and Labuschagne shortly will get him considering, spanking a two after which a single to completely different components of the bottom. Simply the second Check for Vandersay and he has two wickets at 35 to his identify to date.

twenty first over: Australia 117-1 (Khawaja 47, Labuschagne 12) Australia’s run fee has now dropped from a Travis Head excessive of 6.5 to five.75 as Sri Lanka battle again and discover spin and bounce. Jayasuriya has led the way in which and he rips one previous Marnus as a reminder that he’s not known as the Galledozer for nothing.

twentieth over: Australia 115-1 (Khawaja 46, Labuschagne 11) Quick ball from Peiris and Khawaja leans again and heaves it to the midwicket rope. Labuschagne will get in on the motion now, stepping out and driving to the mid-on fence. However he’s crushed on the subsequent! And there’s a loud and vociferous attraction for lbw on the fifth as Labuschagne’s sweep goes awry. Umpire says NO and the Man within the Excessive Tower says… shut however NOT OUT.

nineteenth over: Australia 106-1 (Khawaja 41, Labuschagne 7) Jayasuriya and Labuschagne are duelling. Bowler wins the primary spherical, floating one exterior off which narrowly beats the surface edge. Labuschagne takes the second, taking an extended stride right down to the fifth and sweeping for 4. Good battle unfolding right here.

18th over: Australia 101-1 (Khawaja 40, Labuschagne 3) Khawaja continues to assault, pinching a few twos from Peiris. However he will get fortunate on the final, edging fortunately to a ball scooting decrease and quicker at center stump. He steals a run nevertheless it’s a fortunate one.

seventeenth over: Australia 96-1 (Khawaja 35, Labuschagne 3) Wicket-taker Jayasuriya is within the zone now. Labuschagne works him for a pair however Sri Lanka making use of strain for the primary time within the Check.

sixteenth over: Australia 94-1 (Khawaja 35, Labuschagne 1) Marnus Labuschagne is on the crease in his forty sixth Check and he watches Khawaja work a single from Peiris. Labuschagne will get off the mark by tickling a single via sq. leg. Will Usman proceed to assault? Or will Head’s absence ship him again into his extra acquainted anchor function?

WICKET! Head c Chandimal b Jayasuriya 57 (Australia 92-1)

fifteenth over: Australia 91-0 (Khawaja 33, Head 57) Spin for Jayasuriya and Khawaja is crushed. Sadly the bat pad has been eliminated and he runs a single when he may’ve been caught. Head takes the lengthy deal with to the subsequent one…. and is OUT. Labuschagne survives a loud shout for lbw on his second ball confronted nevertheless it’s means down legside.

14th over: Australia 91-0 (Khawaja 33, Head 57) Nishan Peiris begins his seventh over with 0-31. He’s rolling them down at 85kph and discovering glints of spin however he’s been bludgeoned by two batters on the prime of their recreation. Head underlines that assertion by skipping right down to catch the fourth ball on the half-volley and slam it to the boundary.

thirteenth over: Australia 84-0 (Khawaja 31, Head 51) Cheeky by Khawaja! Seeing a yawing hole on the offside, he steps out and reverse sweeps Jayasuriya for FOUR. Nice batting by the 38-year-old. After stepping out with energy, he steps again with persistence, flicking a single from the final to maintain strike. Australia’s run-rate is now 6.46!

twelfth over: Australia 76-0 (Khawaja 24, Head 50) Head brings up his FIFTY with a single to lengthy on. Nice innings to date with the half century coming from simply 35 balls with 9 fours and a six.

eleventh over: Australia 74-0 (Khawaja 24, Head 49) Head faucets a single to maintain the strike rotating. Khawaja does the identical as Jaysuriya continues to probe for spin. He finds it on the fifth supply however Head sees it fizzing and flat bats it vast of mid-off for 4 extra.

Vivienne Doonar emails to ask: Why was Sam Kontas dropped? As a result of he’s unproven in Sri Lankan circumstances, Vivienne, and Travis Head is a confirmed grasp of them, as confirmed by his 49 from 33 balls at present.

tenth over: Australia 67-0 (Khawaja 22, Head 44) Now Khawaja golf equipment a SIX! Peiris continues to toss it up however the batter noticed it coming and was three metres down the pitch to negate the spin and loft it simply over the rope. Sri Lanka appear unfazed by the Australian assault and Peiris will get the fifth ball to grip and it beats Khawaja who edges simply vast of the person at again pad. He celebrates the near-catch by pitching one other 4 over mid-on.

ninth over: Australia 54-0 (Khawaja 13, Head 40) Head hammers one other FOUR. This time Jayasuriya put it brief and vast and Head stepped again and smashed it sq.. Ouch! Now Head will get down on one knee and slog sweeps one other superb boundary. Fifty is up for Australia and they’re rattling alongside at six runs per over!

eighth over: Australia 45-0 (Khawja 12, Head 33) Peiris provides it air… and so does Head, stepping down and lifting into the grandstands for SIX! Fantastic batting from the Australian vice-captain who’s now batting in his saggy inexperienced cap. Between that and the bristling moustache it’s a throwback to Australia’s first Check towards Sri Lanka in 1983 when David Hookes tonked a well-known unbeaten 143 from 145 balls. Massive attraction towards Head now and this time Sri Lanka assessment. Nevertheless it’s a nasty name. The ball is placing Head’s left pad means exterior the road. Overview misplaced.

seventh over: Australia 37-0 (Khawaja 12, Head 24) Fernando, robbed of a wicket in his final over when his captain didn’t assessment a ball hitting Head’s off stump, is changed with Prabath Jayasuriya AKA “The Galledozer”. Jayasuriya was the destroyer within the second Check of the final collection towards Australia in 2022, taking 12 wickets to bolster his profession tally of 107 from 19 Checks. Head faucets a single from the final.

sixth over: Australia 36-0 (Khawaja 12, Head 23) Peiris tosses it up however Khawaja has his ft dancing and he drives it for 4 previous lengthy on. One other quick over, one other worthwhile one for Australia. And fortuitous because it seems, as replays of that attraction within the earlier over present that Fernando’s closing ball was certainly hitting Head’s stumps!

fifth over: Australia 32-0 (Khawaja 3, Head 23) Unhealthy ball first up from Fernando and Head punishes it, taking it off center stump and sending it to the rope. Tries to repeat it on the subsequent nevertheless it’s squarer and solely yields a single. Khawaja now feasts on a fuller wider ball, stepping out and opening the face to glide his first boundary of the day. The 79-Check veteran then reaches for a large one and steers a run behind level. Head stands tall to the subsequent, reducing powerfully and eluding the boundary rider for a fifth boundary from 13 balls. Massive attraction on the final, extra exasperation than expectant me thinks, however Sri Lanka decide to not assessment.

4th over: Australia 18-0 (Khawaja 3, Head 14) Proper-armer Peiris wheels in once more from his two-metre “run-up”. Head instantly slaps a single and Khawaja, crushed in flight and looking out awkward, inside edges a run in return. Head tiptoes right down to the ultimate ball, driving straight to retain the strike.

third over: Australia 15-0 (Khawaja 2, Head 12) Fernanado returns, this time across the wicket. That is the 27-year-old’s twenty second Check and he has 76 wickets at 26 to indicate for them. Second ball jags again and catches Khawaja on the codpiece. Nasty for Ussie, good for Asitha and first signal of spice from this Galle pitch to this point… however the additional kick got here from a no-ball. Khawaja can’t get a bat on the remaining. Good response from Fernando.

2nd over: Australia 14-0 (Khawaja 2, Head 12) Two-Check spinner Nishan Peiris will bowl the second over and fortunate for him it’s to Usman Khawaja not boundary-glutton Travis Head. Peiris rattles via six deliveries and has a single taken from the final.

1st over: Australia 13-0 (Khawaja 1, Head 12) And we’re away! First ball from Asitha Fernando is full and Usman Khawaja takes a half-step to drive a single. Head has a take a look at one then casually flicks the subsequent for FOUR. Fifth ball is vast and Head, deep within the crease, swats it sq. for an additional boundary. Straightforward pickings. And why not go three in a row? A late minimize eludes gully and flies to the rope. What a begin for Travis Head!

Gamers are on the sphere and anthems are being belted out underneath cloudy skies in Galle. There was rain in a single day however skies are clear for now and anticipated to remain that means for a lot of the day. After that, issues will get dicey with showers predicted fr the rest of the Check.

The pitch seems to be dry and dusty. No grass to talk of however there’ll doubtless be moisture deeper down. Heaters and UV lights have been utilized by curators to dry the pitch this morning. What impact will it have? Batten ‘em down and buckle ‘em up, we’re about to seek out out!

So teenage wonderboy Sam Konstas has been dropped after two Checks and Scott Boland’s run of dangerous luck continues, additionally dumped after profitable man of the match honours in his final Check. Once more.

Konstas makes means for Travis Head to open the batting with fellow Asian wicket specialist Usman Khawaja and Boland will shine the pine to permit specialist spinners right-armer Todd Murphy and leftie Matthew Kuhnemann to return to the line-up.

An fascinating problem now awaits Konstas who appeared assured of taking part in within the Ashes however whose rollercoaster rise has now been all of the sudden derailed. If Josh Inglis, a wonderful participant of spin, takes his likelihood within the center order this collection and Head excels on the prime and decides to remain there, Australian cricket’s Subsequent Massive Factor is perhaps left ready for Usman Khawaja to retire if he’s to mud off his saggy inexperienced.

It’s nothing Geoff Lemon didn’t see coming…

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Josh Inglis is confirmed to play and has acquired saggy inexperienced cap No 470 from redoubtable former Check opener Geoff Marsh whose son Mitchell was dropped for this collection. The English-born, Australian-raised Inglis completes the Australian cricket holy trinity, having already performed 26 ODIs and 29 T20s within the inexperienced and gold.

Australia have gained the toss and can bat first

As Australia’s males get their collection underneath means at present, Australia’s ladies are making ready to play the Ashes Check towards England on the Melbourne Cricket Floor tomorrow. Australia are unbeaten within the collection to date and, if Beth Mooney’s preventing phrases at present are any indicator, there’s lots extra ache for the English to return.

Since 2007-08, Australia and Sri Lanka have performed for the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, named for the 2 titans of spin bowling from both nation. The trophy itself is a magnificence, with the magic palms of each males forged in bronze and gripping match balls.

With closing XIs pending right here’s how the squads line up for this collection…

Sri Lanka: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake

Australia: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

Australia enter this collection with out spearhead and captain Pat Cummins, who has despatched his superhero cape to the dry-cleaners and stayed dwelling for the delivery of his second youngster whereas plotting the subsequent step in Australia conquest of the cricketing world.

With Josh Hazlewood additionally sidelined, the bowling assault Australia’s selectors go together with right here in Galle is the topic of heated conjecture. Veterans Mitchell Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon appear sure to play. However who companions every?

Will folks’s hero paceman Scott Boland get an opportunity alongside Starc with the brand new ball? Or does uncapped NSW firebrand Sean Abbott get his alternative finally? Maybe the medium tempo of SCG Check hero allrounder Beau Webster is promoted up the bowling order?

Given the dry spinning wickets right here in Galle, it’s additionally potential Australia may go for a three-prong spin assault. Will Todd Murphy, Matthew Kuhnemann or rookie Cooper Connolly companion Lyon? Or will Australia choose simply one in all that trio and belief the part-time tweak of Travis Head who took a helpful 4-10 to clinch the primary Check for Australia in 2022?

There may be threat with all three spinners, with Murphy not having performed a Check in over a yr, left-armer Kuhnemann recovering from thumb surgical procedure and Connolly a veteran of simply 4 first-class video games.

The taking part in XIs for this match will probably be confirmed shortly, with loads of debate over who will begin and the place they’ll bat/ bowl if picked.

Australia dropped a bombshell yesterday by confirming Travis Head will exchange Sam Konstas as opener. Will the 19-year-old Boxing Day Check hero transfer down the order or drop out of the XI completely? If the latter, who fills that vacant middle-order spot? Will Nathan McSweeney – a specialist No 5 at dwelling – be recalled? Or are native studies on the cash saying dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is about to win a Check debut a month shy of his thirtieth birthday?

Be at liberty to drop me an e mail along with your tuppence price at any stage at present. Or just rhapsodise about Konstas in prose or poetry so we will get underneath Barney Ronay’s pores and skin forward of the Ashes…

There may be deep intrigue surrounding this collection, with key personnel lacking from each squads, a number of stars believed to be taking part in injured and a bunch of contemporary faces bracing for baptism within the strain cooker of Check cricket.

Either side had 2024, with Sri Lanka boasting a 6-4 win-loss file and Australia 7-2-1. Nonetheless, Australia nonetheless have their tail up after defeating India 3-1 to win again the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the primary time in a decade, whereas Sri Lanka completed the yr with a 2-0 away loss to South Africa, dropping each Checks by hefty 233-run and 109-run margins.

Right here’s how Geoff Lemon previewed the primary Check…

Preamble

Angus Fontaine