Rain slowed Australia’s progress on day three of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
After the tourists dominated the first two days, Sri Lanka resumed on 44-3 and reached 136-5 at lunch before the weather wiped out the rest of the day.
Left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc took the first of the two wickets to fall when Kamindu Mendis was caught down the leg side for 15.
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva then gifted Australia a second as he charged left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann and was stumped for 22.
That left the hosts 107-5 but a partnership of 29 between Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis took Sri Lanka to the interval, with former skipper Chandimal 63 not out.
The rain did stop before the scheduled close but the wet conditions meant the umpires abandoned the day.
Day three of the Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia was marred by heavy rain, which slowed down the tourists’ progress in their second innings.
Australia had started the day with a healthy lead of over 200 runs, but the rain interruptions meant that they were unable to build on their advantage. The Sri Lankan bowlers were able to pick up crucial wickets, including the prized scalp of Steve Smith, before the weather intervened.
Despite the setbacks, Australia managed to reach a total of 200/5 by the end of the day, with Travis Head leading the way with a gritty half-century. The Sri Lankan bowlers, led by Suranga Lakmal and Lasith Embuldeniya, kept the pressure on the tourists and will be looking to wrap up the innings quickly on day four.
The rain delays have added a new twist to the match, as both teams will now have to contend with a shortened playing time to try and force a result. With the match finely poised, it promises to be an exciting finish as Sri Lanka look to level the series and Australia aim to secure a series win.
And frankly you’d hope so with a lead of 489 runs. They’ve been far too good for Sri Lanka, whose last five wickets disappeared in the space of 26 balls.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 165 all out (Vandersay c Starc b Kuhnemann 4)
Five wickets for Matt Kuhnemann! Vandersay hacks him high into the cover, where Starc takes a simple catch. Kuhnemann smiles a little sheepishly and his teammates charge across in celebration; they could barely be happier for him. He leads Australia off, raising the ball to the crowd after finishing with excellent figures of 18.2-3-63-5. He’ll be bowling again very soon.
52nd over: Sri Lanka 161-9 (Vandersay 0, Fernando 0) Now Lyon has seven men plus the keeper around the bat for Asitha Fernando, woh edges his first ball along the ground to second slip.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 161-9 (Peiris c Inglis b Lyon 5)
Nathan Lyon makes short work of the left-handed Nishan Peiris, who slashes a boundary before bat-padding a defensive stroke to short leg. Josh Inglis moves smartly to his right to take the catch.
Australia’s spinners have skittled Sri Lanka’s feeble lower order on day four of the first Test. Photograph: Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images
51st over: Sri Lanka 157-8 (Vandersay 0, Peiris 1) There are six fielders round the bat for the new batter Peiris: short leg, gully, slip, leg slip, leg gully and short leg. An inside-edge lands just short of leg gully.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 156-8 (Jayasuriya st Carey b Kuhnemann 0)
Another one. Jayasuriya runs past a lovely delivery that pitches on middle and growls past the edge; Alex Carey does the rest. Sri Lanka have lost three for none in 13 balls and Matthew Kuhnemann is one wicket away from his second Test five-for.
Prabath Jayasuriya is about to see himself stumped by Alex Carey as Sri Lanka crumble on day four. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
50th over: Sri Lanka 156-7 (Jayasuriya 0, Vandersay 0) There’s surely no doubt Australia will enforce the follow-on when the time comes. It’s not like they need to give the seamers a break, or that there’s any risk of them losing the game with a lead of almost 500.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 156-7 (Chandimal LBW b Lyon 72)
The change of angle works for Nathan Lyon, who has dismissed Chandimal for only the second time in Tests. Chandimal missed a reverse sweep and was hit on the back thigh by a lovely delivery that curved onto off and middle and turned sharply.
Chandimal reviewed, mainly because he’s the last remaining batter, but it was hitting leg stump and he’s on his way for a punchy 72.
Australia appeal successfully for the wicket of Dinesh Chandimal on day four of the First Test. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
49th over: Sri Lanka 156-6 (Chandimal 72, Jayasuriya 0) There’s isn’t much Sri Lankan batting left – Prabath Jayasuriya, the No8, has a Test average of 8.41 – so one wicket could bring five. Jayasuriya is beaten by his first two deliveries, both of which rip off the stumps to beat the edge.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 156-6 (Kusal Mendis c Murphy b Kuhnemann 21)
Kusal Mendis falls into the trap. Australia were happy for him to slog-sweep against the spin, knowing he could easily top-edge it. That’s exactly what happened and Todd Murphy took a excellent running catch at deepish midwicket.
Australia’s Matthew Kuhnemann celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis on day four. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena/AP
48th over: Sri Lanka 156-5 (Chandimal 72, Kusal Mendis 22) A great stat from the host broadcaster. Chandimal has a head-to-head average of 221 against Nathan Lyon in Test cricket. Make that 223 after a couple of singles in this over. Lyon has moved around the wicket to Chandimal but not Mendis.
47th over: Sri Lanka 152-5 (Chandimal 70, Kusal Mendis 19) Mendis fetches Kuhnemann from well outside off stump, slog-sweeping through midwicket for four. Australia won’t mind that with the ball turning away from the bat.
46th over: Sri Lanka 145-5 (Chandimal 68, Kusal Mendis 14) Mendis lunges at a beautiful delivery from Lyon that zips past the edge. Carey has the bails off in a flash but Mendis’s back foot stayed grounded. It feels like a wicket is imminent.
45th over: Sri Lanka 144-5 (Chandimal 67, Kusal Mendis 14) Kuhnemann is getting bounce as well as turn and has started very well. Chandimal, surprised by a ball that spits from middle stump, does well to soften his hands and drop it short of the fielder who has just been moved to silly point.
Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal bats on day four of the First Test against Australia at Galle Stadium. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
England Women have had a better morning at the MCG, taking the last five Australian wickets for nine runs. They are miles behind, though, and there’s every chance Australia will complete a whitewash today.
44th over: Sri Lanka 143-5 (Chandimal 66, Kusal Mendis 14) Nathan Lyon’s first ball induces a top-edged sweep from Chandimal that lands safely. Mendis then crashes a pull into the left knee of Head at short leg. Oof, that looked painful.
Lyon has a slightly different field: slip, short leg and leg gully.
43rd over: Sri Lanka 138-5 (Chandimal 64, Kusal Mendis 11) Kuhnemann starts around the wicket, with two slips and a short leg for both batsmen. There’s some turn straight away, albeit relatively slow, and Chandimal and Mendis take a single apiece. A low-key start.
Nathan Lyon talks to our own Adam Collins
We can’t do anything about the weather. But we’ve rocked up here today and there’s some sunlight and some heat coming out of the ground. It’s gonna be a challenging morning and an exciting one.
We hope the pitch will deteriorate, you expect that on the subcontinent. Hopefully we’ll get a full day in today.
I’ve played against Dinesh [Chandimal] for a long time now – he’s a class player, isn’t he? Hopefully we can create some more problems for him to solve.
[On Matt Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy] Our preparation has been pretty spot on. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Dubai. Their young, they’re learning, they’re asking questions. It’s a pretty amazing group to be working with.
I’ve got nothing but love for the ground here at Galle. The Sri Lankan culture and people… it’s an amazing place to tour.
Nathan Lyon will be trying to spin Australia to victory over Sri Lanka on day four of the first Test. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena/AP
Less than ten minutes until play resumes. It looks a beautiful sunny day in Galle. There’s a small chance of rain this afternoon but apart from that the radar looks clear.
Weather permitting, there should be plenty of time for Australia to force victory in this game, almost 200 overs. That’s roughly a wicket every 13 overs on a pitch that is already offering a fair bit for the spinners.
The Women’s Ashes Test is about to resume at the MCG. Jonathan Howcroft is on duty for that one.
Preamble
Rob Smyth
Morning folks. Shall we try that one again? Only 27 overs were possible on the third day in Galle but the forecast is much better today and Australia should be able to push towards victory. All things being equal, there should be a sighting of an endangered tactic: the follow-on.
Sri Lanka will resume on 136 for 5, still a mildly terrifying 518 runs behind, with Dinesh Chandimal on 63 and Kusal Mendis on 10. Expect an early blast from Mitchell Starc and then spin, lots of spin.
Welcome to our live coverage of the first men’s cricket Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia on day four. The Australia cricket team is looking to continue their dominance in the match and secure a victory over the Sri Lankan team.
Stay tuned as we provide you with live updates, commentary, and analysis of the game as it unfolds. Will Australia be able to maintain their lead and emerge victorious, or will Sri Lanka stage a comeback and turn the tide in their favor?
Don’t miss out on the action as both teams battle it out on the field. Follow along with us as we bring you all the excitement and drama from this thrilling Test match. #SriLankavsAustralia #TestCricket #AustraliaCricketTeam
10:31 Local Time, 05:01 GMT, 10:31 IST: Sri Lanka have been bundled out for just 165 and with the deficit being a mammoth 489 runs, Australia have decided to enforce the follow-on. Definitely the right call too, we’ve heard that there’s some rain expected later in the afternoon again so Australia will want all the time they can have to bowl Sri Lanka out a second time. Their bowlers should be relatively fresh too considering they bowled only 27 overs yesterday. In total, they bowled only 52.2 overs with Starc only bowling 8 so they should be raring to go once more. Sorry looking batting card for Sri Lanka. The openers went cheaply and there were a lot of soft-dismissals. Chandimal was the only standout with 72. Lot of batters got starts but went on to throw it away. The surface is offering plenty to the spinners when they put it in the right areas. With some discipline and patience, Australia should bundle Sri Lanka out easily once again. The weather is their only foe.
The first Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia in the Australia tour of Sri Lanka, 2025 ended in a draw with Sri Lanka scoring 165 & 0/0 in their first innings and Australia declaring at 654/6 in their first innings.
Sri Lanka’s openers Oshada Fernando and Dimuth Karunaratne were dismissed for ducks in their first innings, facing just one ball each. Despite the early setbacks, Sri Lanka managed to reach a total of 165 in their first innings.
Australia’s batsmen dominated the match with a massive total of 654/6 declared in their first innings. The highlight of their innings was a brilliant performance by their captain, scoring a double century.
The match ended in a draw as Sri Lanka managed to hold on in their second innings without losing any wickets. Overall, it was a thrilling match with both teams putting up a strong fight. Stay tuned for more updates on the series.
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SL vs AUS 1st Test 2025, Sri Lanka vs Australia, Oshada Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne, cricket match, Australia tour of Sri Lanka, SL 165 & 0/0 f/o vs AUS 654/6 d, Wed Jan 29
31st over: Sri Lanka 95-4 (Chandimal 42, de Silva 13) Kuhnemann returns for an eighth over, seemingly recovered from that fractured and dislocated thumb injury he suffered a few weeks ago. De Silva takes him for a clipped a single through midwicket and Chandimal drives to long off to retain strike. Sri Lanka now trail by 559.
30th over: Sri Lanka 93-4 (Chandimal 41, De Silva 12) Reverse swept to the rope! Now Chandimal gets in on the counterattack, taking on Lyon and winning. The GOAT mixes up the next two, sends them through faster, flatter. Chandimal defends them before flinching weirdly at the final delivery and punching it fine for a single.
29th over: Sri Lanka 87-4 (Chandimal 36, De Silva 11) Swept for FOUR! Great shot by De Silva. He swatted at the previous ball and missed but hasd the courage to double down and try again. Kuhnemann knew an attack was coming and dropped it short and Sri Lanka’s captain duly went into a crouch and belted him square to the boundary.
28th over: Sri Lanka 81-4 (Chandimal 36, De Silva 5) At the venue where he took a five-for on debut 12 years ago, Lyon continues to befuddle the Sri Lankans. The ball is now spinning noticeably more than on day two and Lyon has this pair pinned in the crease. They eke two singles, neither from a convincing stroke.
27th over: Sri Lanka 79-4 (Chandimal 35, De Silva 4) Kuhnemann delivers a maiden as De Silva recovers from an appeal on the second ball – a bottom edge saves him – and defends the rest.
26th over: Sri Lanka 79-4 (Chandimal 35, De Silva 4) Lyon enters his 11th over with 1-31. This is the old man from Young’s 135th Test and his dismissal of Angelo Mathews last night gave him 540 Test wickets. A 23-year-old Lyon made his debut here 12 years ago wearing a lot of hair and although the locks have been lost, the legend has grown and the GOAT always has a ball in Galle. De Silva tries three reverse sweeps in this over and none work.
25th over: Sri Lanka 78-4 (Chandimal 35, De Silva 3) The Big Kuhnemann is on. The Queensland leftie opened the bowling with Starc yesterday and rewarded captain Smith’s faith by picking up the wicket of Oshada Fernando in his first over. Today’s start isn’t as smooth. Finding a ball drifting too wide outside off, De Silva opens the face late to dab it past slip and run three. Good chasing by Todd Murphy at third man saves four.
24th over: Sri Lanka 73-4 (Chandimal 33, De Silva 0) With a little dance and a lot of power, Chandimal skips out and on drives Lyon to the boundary. Good batting. Sri Lanka are in a hole but they must attack and score runs to dig themselves toward a draw. It won’t be easy though. Lyon is in the zone and responds to that lashing with five probing dot balls.
23rd over: Sri Lanka 69-4 (Chandimal 29, De Silva 0) Ouch! Chandimal’’s attempt to pull Starc off his hip has backfired painfully. He was too slow through the shot and it has cannoned into the exposed area between the hip and the rib cage. Chandimal calls for the medic straight away. Magic spray. Magic sponge. Magic gum. He takes anything he can get. Restored, he faces up again, bravely ducking and swinging a short ball off the helmet badge and getting it square for a single.
22nd over: Sri Lanka 68-4 (Chandimal 28, De Silva 0) Chandimal’s single means De Silva gets his first look at Nathan Lyon today. He’s wary of what he sees which is sharp turn out of that rough patch outside off. De Silva is in his 62nd Test and has 12 centuries at an average of 40 so he knows a trap when he sees one.
21st over: Sri Lanka 67-4 (Chandimal 26, De Silva 0) New batter is Sri Lanka’s captain Dhananjaya de Silva. He plays out the over safely as Sri Lanka try to build a partnership of substance to scale this Australian Everest. As Starc celebrates his second wicket, his partner Alyssa Healy has just walked to the wicket at the MCG, replacing Phoebe Litchfield who has been dismissed by Lauren Bell to leave Australia 99-2.
WICKET! Mendis c Carey b Starc 15 (Sri Lanka 67-4)
Starc strikes! That’s a big wicket on day three as Mendis goes cheaply (for him). It was a lucky wicket for the big wuick. He sprayed it down the leg-side and Mendis chased it and unfortunately caught the edge. Carey pouched the chance with ease.
20th over: Sri Lanka 66-3 (Chandimal 26, Mendis 15) Usman Khawaja didn’t field yesterday due to cramp. Fair enough too after he batted 503 minutes and 352 balls. Instead Nathan McSweeney was sent in his stead and took a superb juggling catch in the gully to dismiss Dimuth Karunaratne for 7. McSweeney is back out there this morning as Ussie guzzles pickle juice in the shade of the dressing-rooms. Three singles from this Lyon over as Sri Lanka’s batters stay busy.
19th over: Sri Lanka 63-3 (Chandimal 24, Mendis 14) Mendis plays an aggressive angled bat to Starc but can’t get past the man at gully. He tries to drive the third but it sprays off the inside edge. Good to see an aggressive approach from the Sri Lankans this morning. Chandimal and Mendis are brilliant batters, highly capable of big runs on home pitches and have each compiled their highest Test scores at Galle so why not? A Chandimal single and a leg bye in this over means Sri Lanka are now only 591 behind.
18th over: Sri Lanka 61-3 (Chandimal 23, Mendis 14) Nathan Lyon is fizzing his off spinners into the rough left by Mitchell Starc’s big hooves. Second ball falls short of that golden rough and Chandimal pulls it for a boundary. Lyon’s riposte is brilliant. Chandimal is drawn forward to a floater and gets a thick edge. It should be safely scooped up by first slip but Smith is standing wider than usual and it flies past his left hand and runs for four. Lyon puts his hands to his head, tearing out invisible hair. He recovers to rip another past the edge. Chandimal recovers too, reverse sweeping the final ball for four. 12 from the over!
17th over: Sri Lanka 47-3 (Chandimal 9, Mendis 14) Mitchell Starc opens Australia’s attack from the other end. Straight away he slides a sweet nut past Mendis’s edge. Wry grins from batter and bowler. Beautiful bowling at 144kph. Starc is wearing long inner sleeves under his shirt today, perhaps a birthday present for turning 35 yesterday? Starc is full and focused on that channel outside off. Mendis survives but can’t score.
16th over: Sri Lanka 47-3 (Chandimal 9, Mendis 14) Mendis shucks off the rust with a little dab through square leg. Chandimal’s first attempt at a run is much dicier as Lyon tosses one down outside off and finds steep bounce. It leaps past the batter’s throat and goes over Alex Carey’s helmet. We are away!
Players are on the field and Nathan Lyon is at the top of his mark awaiting Kamindu Mendis, a man with five centuries and four fifties from his last 10 Tests! Let’s go…
Don’t forget the Women’s Ashes Test is happening at the MCG, with Australia looking good. Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland are in the midst of a 76-run partnership and Australia are cruising at 93-1 in pursuit of England’s 170.
Martin Pegan has out live coverage bubbling here…
Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal will resume Sri Lanka’s innings today unbeaten on 13 and 9 respectively. For the home side, their torment in the final session was slightly alleviated by rain, hence the start time of 3.21pm AEST today.
There is more rain predicted for the afternoon but so far things look clear for play to begin on time.
For those who came in late, here’s a report on day two…
Preamble
Angus Fontaine
Greetings sports fans! Welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of day three in this first Test between Australian and Sri Lanka at Galle International Cricket Stadium.
Australia are bossing this Test match. An Usman Khawaja double-century 232, Steve Smith’s 141 and Josh Inglis’s 102 on debut have set Sri Lanka the mountainous total of 654 (dec) – a new Australian record for Tests played in Asia. Sent in for an hour in the final session, Sri Lanka collapsed to 44-3!
Can the home side conjure a miracle and pull this Test out of the fire? They still have Dinesh Chandimal at the crease – his glorious double-century in 2022 led Sri Lanka to a comeback victory and a squared series. And his current partner Kamindu Mendis is no slouch either, having scored 1000+ Test runs last year at an average nudging 75.
But the road to another 610 runs and parity is long, winding and steep. It is also deadly, with Australia’s triple-threat spin cartel of Nathan Lyon (1-7), Matthew Kuhnemann (1-26) and Todd Murphy already developing an appetite for destruction.
Play starts at the traditional time of 3.21pm so batten ‘em down and buckle ‘em up. We’ll have action under way soon.
Sri Lanka v Australia: first men’s cricket Test, day three – live updates
The first men’s cricket Test between Sri Lanka and Australia is well underway, with both teams giving it their all on the field. As we enter day three of the Test match, the excitement and tension are palpable as fans eagerly await to see how the game unfolds.
Australia’s cricket team has been in fine form, with standout performances from players like Steve Smith, David Warner, and Pat Cummins. The team has shown great skill and determination in their play, and they will be looking to continue their strong performance as they aim to secure a victory in this Test match.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka is not to be underestimated, as they have some talented players in their lineup who are more than capable of turning the game in their favor. The home team will be looking to put up a tough fight and make a comeback in the match.
Stay tuned for live updates as the action unfolds on the field. Will Australia continue their dominance, or will Sri Lanka fight back and turn the tables? Follow along to find out.
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Sri Lanka vs Australia, Men’s Cricket Test, Day 3
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144th over – Australia’s innings continues after tea
Looks like there’s no declaration just yet from Steve Smith.
Jeffrey Vandersay to start things off. Alex Carey on strike.
Will Australia enforce the follow-on?
If Australia is planning on enforcing the follow on with this massive total, I’m down for that.
– Doc
Hi Doc,
That certainly appears to be the plan at this stage.
Of course, whether Australia is able to enforce the follow-on is entirely contingent on Sri Lanka’s first-innings batting performance.
Live from the Antarctic
Following languidly from the Antarctic Ocean. Any reason not to be bored by this one?
– Cold Mick
Hi Mick,
Hope you’re keeping warm down there.
I reckon jumping into the Antarctic Ocean would definitely be more of a thrill than watching this.
The last time Australia scored over 600
When was the last time we (Australia) scored 600 in a test innings? Feels like it was at least 5 years ago.
– Chloe
Hi Chloe,
This innings is Australia’s first 600+ score since January 4, 2018, when they scored 7-649 declared against England at the SCG.
Australia’s highest ever Test score is 8-758 declared, which was scored against the West Indies in 1955.
TEA: Australia 5-600 (Carey 25, Webster 10)
(Getty)
Well, look, I mean, Sri Lanka got Usman Khawaja and Josh Inglis out. So, probably the best session for the hosts since the first on day one.
Australia is just grinding the fielders and bowlers down. This has all the hallmarks of a ‘bat once’ victory, but the prospect of bowling back-to-back in this heat isn’t ideal.
Still, it might be the only chance we have of seeing a result in the game. And it might be a little easier with mostly spinners in the line-up.
But, before we get to that, we have to see the approach from the batters after tea. I’m expecting, and hoping for, an aggressive approach from Carey and Webster after a watchful start.
143rd over – Australia brings up 600
Australia is 5-599 as Prabath Jayasuriya starts his 60th over.
And there’s 600 for the Aussies as Alex Carey gets another single with another reverse sweep.
It’s the first time since 2018 that Australia has reached this mark.
Galle’s good looking, hey?
(Getty)
142nd over – Jeffrey Vandersay returns for his 33rd over
And he sprays one down leg. Oshada Fernando sprints to the rope from short leg and the ball dies just before reaching the boundary.
Fernando actually stepped on the boundary before picking it up, but got his foot back in the field of play before touching the ball.
Too much width and Beau Webster slashes away for a couple more wide of cover.
141st over – Jayasuriya continues because Sri Lanka refuses to use a fifth bowler
Alex Carey reverse sweeps and gets back for a sharp two.
Webster tries a lap sweep and it’s very awkward. Almost LBW.
Sri Lanka doesn’t even have the energy for a pointless appeal anymore.
140th over – No urgency from the Aussies
Another nudge to long-off for a single from Carey. And Webster skips down and clips Nishan to mid-wicket for one more.
This doesn’t feel like declaration batting. But there are 13 minutes to tea. We might see more aggression after the break.
139th over – Prabath Jayasuriya gets some fielders around the bat
Beau Webster is just looking to nudge the ball.
A little extra bounce almost does for Webster, but he’s playing with soft hands and the ball just trickles away.
138th over – The wait goes on for Nishan Peiris’s first wicket in the innings
The big long levers get Beau Webster a single to the man in the deep with a sweep shot.
Webster gets some width and pushes into the deep for two more.
Nothing overly probing from Nishan in his 38th offering.
137th over – Jayasuriya comes in for his 57th over
Carey tries to force the issue with a little shuffle down the wicket, but he can only get a thick edge away behind point.
Carey gets off strike with a single off a reverse sweep.
It’s another tight, if uninspiring over.
136th over – Nishan Peiris bowling to Beau Webster
The big Slug pushes at a wide one and misses everything. A lot of drift away for Nishan, still hunting his first wicket of this innings.
Webster eventually manages to lay bat on it to take a single to point.
This game will, I assume, accelerate after tea. But things are meandering a little now.
135th over – Jayasuriya hunting a five-fa
Alex Carey is getting them all with sweeps and reverse sweeps.
Webster clatters a drive into Oshada Fernando. It’s whacked him in the arms.
After a lengthy delay, Jayasuriya wraps up with another ball outside off.
134th over – Nishan Peiris bowling with Beau Webster out in the middle
Nishan thinks he has found Carey’s outside edge, but no-one behind the stumps is there with him.
Carey punches down the ground for one more. Still a very spread field despite having two new batters at the crease. In saying that, the score is up over 570.
Josh Inglis is gone for 102
(Getty)
The debutant closed the face of the bat on one, and the next ball he shuffles, closes the face again as he tries to work to the leg side and chips a catch straight to Kamindu Mendia at short cover.
Another fine innings ends apparently with just a little dip in concentration.
Credit to Prabath Jayasuriya for continuing to toil at the end of his 55th over.
133rd over – Australia’s newest century-maker faces Prabath Jayasuriya
This pair is happily knocking singles around.
Carey’s almost top-edged a reverse sleep to leg slip.
There doesn’t seem to be any direction to put the pedal down. Maybe there will be after tea.
A century on debut for Josh Inglis!
(Getty)
The 29-year-old carves through the covers for a few more and leaps in the air to celebrate this momentous feat.
There’s tears in the stands for mum and dad as Inglis becomes the first Australian man since Adam Voges in 2015 to score a century on Test debut, and just the third in history to do it in Asia.
Not only that, but Inglis has has done it at better than a run a ball, reaching three figures off just 91 deliveries.
In a thrilling match-up between Sri Lanka and Australia, day two of the first Test saw some incredible performances from the Australian team. Opening batsman Usman Khawaja set the tone with a brilliant double century, showcasing his class and experience at the highest level.
But the real star of the day was debutant Josh Inglis, who announced his arrival on the international stage with a stunning century. Inglis showed great composure and skill as he guided the Australian innings with his aggressive stroke-play and impeccable timing.
The partnership between Khawaja and Inglis turned the tide in Australia’s favor, as they piled on the runs and put Sri Lanka under immense pressure. The Sri Lankan bowlers tried their best to contain the Australian batsmen, but Khawaja and Inglis were simply unstoppable.
As the day ended, Australia had posted a mammoth total on the board, thanks to the heroics of Khawaja and Inglis. The Sri Lankan team now faces an uphill task to come back into the game, but with the form that the Australian batsmen are in, it will be a tough challenge.
Stay tuned for more updates as the match progresses, as Sri Lanka looks to fight back against the mighty Australian team. #SriLankavsAustralia #Cricket #TestMatch #JoshInglis #UsmanKhawaja #DebutCentury
131st over: Australia 560-4 (Inglis 96, Carey 4) Inglis rocks back and punchesJayasuriya through the covers for four to go within one shot of a century on Test debut. His mum and dad are at the ground in Galle and watching on nervously. Can their boy get there?
130th over: Australia 554-3 (Inglis 88, Carey 1) Five singles collected off the over with ease. Inglis closing in on a maiden Test century. He comes from Leeds originally so us poms can take some of the credit, right?
129th over: Australia 549-3 (Inglis 88, Carey 1) Alex Carey is the new man, fresh after being snubbed by Wisden Cricket Monthly. Arf. He gets off the mark with a single and Inglis heads towards the 90s with the same.
WICKET! Khawaja c Mendis b Jayasuriya 232 (Australia 547-4)
Flames to dust, lovers to friends, why must all good things come to an end? Not my words, the words of Nelly Furtado. Jayasuriya angles one across Khawaja and he has a nibble at it, the thin edge is snaffled by Mendis behind the stumps and after 352 balls and over a day and a half at the crease Usman Khawaja is on his way. Fabulous knock, he’s still got some in the baggy green tank.
James Wallace
Thanks Angus, top stint that. I don’t know what you were messing about at though, this pitch is obviously a snake pit… no sooner have I shifted my flanks into the OBO armchair there is a wicket! It’s the big one too – Usman Khawaja is out! Repeat out!
As drinks come onto the field – water for the Aussies, something stronger for the Sri Lankans – Henning Brammer emails to say, nay plead: “They’ll surely give Inglis the chance for a century, won’t they?” It appears so, Henning. And it could be just a few brutal swings of the bat away. He’s on 87 from 79 balls with nine fours and a six and looking good to smash a century on debut and write his name into history.
Time for some fresh blood on the blog. Thanks for your company today and cath you on the morrow. From the London end, it’s James Wallace!
128th over: Australia 547-3 (Khawaja 232, Inglis 87) Inglis goes big and that is SIX! Vandersay skidded it in flat and fast but the debutant was fast to the pitch of the ball and got enough willow to muscle it over the rope. Vandersay, frustrated, throws in a half-tracker to close and Inglis spiflicates it for another FOUR. He’s flying!
127th over: Australia 534-3 (Khawaja 230, Inglis 76) Jayasuriya gets taken for four singles and a deuce. He’s nagging away at a length but the angles he extracted yesterday haven’t been spotted on day two and neither batter looks troubled.
126th over: Australia 528-3 (Khawaja 226, Inglis 74) As Inglis smokes Vandersay for a FOUR to rocket into the seventies, let’s tempt fate by mentioning that Inglis is striving to be the first Australian to score a century on debut since Adam Voges in 2015.
If he makes it, the 29-year-old would be the 21st Australian to achieve the feat. Five of the past six to achieve the feat were at Windsor Park to see Voges do it a decade ago, with Shaun Marsh and Michael Clarke as Voges’ teammates, Greg Blewett as Australia’s fielding coach, and Mark Waugh as national selector.
The first to the milestone was also the hioghest score by a debutant: Charles Bannerman’s 165 retired hurt) in the very first Test ever played in 1877 against England. Bannerman opened the batting and scored 165 of Australia’s first innings245 at the MCG to spearhead a 45 run victory. He retired hurt with Australia at 7 for 240 after copping a nasty blow to his index finger. The next best score was 18.
125th over: Australia 528-3 (Khawaja 226, Inglis 70) Inglis and Khawaja stroll a couple of singles, as if bored with the tepid nature of this Sri Lanka attack. There’s more vim, vigour and venom in this Alana King over than Sri Lanka have shown all Test match.
124th over: Australia 518-3 (Khawaja 224, Inglis 67) Vandersay is back in the attack. He’s been the pick of Sri Lanka’s bowlers and has the scalps of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to his name. Just two Khawaja runs into the covers from this over.
When do Australia declare ya reckon?
123d over: Australia 513-3 (Khawaja 222, Inglis 67) Usman moves onto Richie Benaud’s favourite number with a couple of slow singles. Khawaja has been out there for 123 overs and 330 deliveries now and may start to cramp up soon. Put the pickle juice on ice, Twelfthie!
122nd over: Australia 513-3 (Khawaja 220, Inglis 66) Inglis gets onto one leg to whack Nisha Peiris into the deep for a couple. He is the third consecutive debutant to score a fifty in his debut innings after Sam Konstas in Melbourne and Beau Webster in Sydney. Who said there’s no succession plan in Australian cricket?
In the Women’s Ashes Test being played at the MCG, England have collapsed to 136-7. What about this classic catch from Phoebe Litchfield?
121st over: Australia 508-3 (Khawaja 218, Inglis 63) Fernando returns for an 11th over. He’s going at almost six per over and hasn’t done much to trouble the batters or stem the flow of runs. Khawaja cuts a run. Inglis, still scoring at better than a run-a-ball, gets the fielders to scatter. Short ball trap coming here. Sure enough the bouncers fly way over the top. Wasteful bowling. Can you hear the drums Fernando?
120th over: Australia 507-3 (Khawaja 217, Inglis 63) A Khawaja push brings up the century partnership between these two. But there’s a huge appeal next ball when an Inglis reverse sweep misses the ball and crashes into the back pad down low. Umpire says OUT. Inglis confidently reviews… and rightly so. UltraEdge shows a delicious flurry of static to prove he got a splinter on it. Inglis gets the reverse sweep right next ball to bank a single. Khawaja, a natural leftie, then sweeps it to the same fielder. Inglis ices the over with a bludgeoning cut shot to the boundary.
119th over: Australia 500-3 (Khawaja 215, Inglis 58) Asitha returns for a 10th over desperate to break a partnership up to 91 already. Make that 95 after Inglis hooks a bouncer to the fine leg boundary. That could be the first bouncer of the Test and, sorry Asitha, it wasn’t worth the wait for anyone but Josh Inglis. Khawaja leans on a straight ball to earn a single and bring up the 500 for Australia.
Australia reach 500 for the loss of only 3 wickets as they take control against Sri Lanka in Galle. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena/AP
118th over: Australia 492-3 (Khawaja 212, Inglis 53) A chance? Maybe not. Khawaja edged hard and it flew past the left hand of first slip who seemed slow to move. Ah well, at least he wasn’t nutmegged. Khawaja takes two from it, then a soothing single. Inglis continues to motor, returning the strike with a push through midwicket.
117th over: Australia 487-3 (Khawaja 209, Inglis 51) Inglis has a dash at Fernando’s first ball and cuts it to backward point for two. A crashed pull shot gets him the single he needs for a maiden Test half century. Well played Mr Inglis! That 50 came from 51 balls and featured five fours.
Josh Inglis celebrates reaching fifty in his debut Test for Australia. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena/AP
116th over: Australia 482-3 (Khawaja 208 Inglis 47) Nishan Peisa gets a 31st over. If you’re wondering why Sri Lanka haven’t turned to a part-timer it’s because their go-to cameo man, Angelo Mathews, has a hamstring injury that prevents him from bowling. That’s s a shame because Sri Lanka desperately need some X factor in their attack and Angelo – who has 33 wickets in is 116 Tests – might’ve provided it. Three singles from the over.
115th over: Australia 479-3 (Khawaja 207, Inglis 45) Asitha Fernando must have made the case for pace over lunch because he’s got the first over after the break. This is just his eighth over for the Test after Travis Head hammered him into a specialist fielding role in the first hour of play yesterday. This over goes better for Asitha, just two singles and a driven two from it.
What’s a nutmeg? asks Tom Lewis via email. Even though the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper has mastered the art of nutmegging in this Test, to nutmeg is a football expression for when a ball travels between the legs (nutmeg is English rhyming slang for leg).
The Khawaja-Smith partnership was worth 266. It broke the record for the biggest third-wicket partnership for Australia in men’s Tests in Asia, which was held by Allan Border and Kim Hughes who put on 222 in 1979. The Smith and Khawaja 266 sits fifth on the list of all-time third-wicket partnerships for Australia in men’s Tests.
Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith broke the record for Australia’s highest-third wicket partnership in Asia. Photograph: Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images
Over at the Women’s Ashes Test at the MCG, England are 99-4 after Australia’s Alana King took a sharp caught and bowled to dismiss Sophia Dunkley for 21.
LUNCH: Australia 475-3 (Khawaja 204*, Inglis 44*)
That session belonged to one man: Usman Khawaja.
He has batted for 10 hours and 298 balls and now has a maiden Test double century to his name, a highest career score and the honour of being the first Australian man to hit a double-ton in Sri Lanka. After 34 innings without a century, the 38-year-old has cashed in here in Galle and may have locked himself in for another Ashes series later this year.
With Steve Smith (141) and frenetic debutant Josh Inglis (44 not out), Australia have rolled to 475 with ease. Will they bat to 600, slamming quick runs in the second session (and giving Khawaja a sniff at 300) before chasing fast wickets in the final session? Or does Smith, looking at a weather forecast predicting showers for the next three days, think 500 runs is enough?
Join us after the break to find out.
114th over: Australia 475-3 (Khawaja 204, Inglis 44) Usman Khawaja strokes another run from Peiris as he enjoys life in the exclusive club of Australians to score a Test double century in the subcontinent. He joins Mark Taylor, Greg Chappell, Dean Jones, Matt Hayden and Jason Gillespie in that club. Incredibly though, Khawaja is the only Australian man to hit a double century in Sri Lanka. Take a bow, Ussie.
113th over: Australia 471-3 (Khawaja 203, Inglis 41) Australia have scored 140 runs from the 31 overs in this session and done it for the loss of one wicket (Steve Smith for 141). Inglis, who has 40 runs from 40 balls, tamps five before clipping a single off the hip.
112th over: Australia 470-3 (Khawaja 203, Inglis 40) Another nutmeg from the ‘keeper as Inglis’s attempted reverse sweep of Peiris catches the bottom edge, almost hits the stumps then bounces between the ankles of the gloveman and runs away for three.
111th over: Australia 465-3 (Khawaja 201, Inglis 37) Four singles from the Jayasuriya over but the most important was the first, a misfield, which allowed Usman Khawaja to scamper a single and bring up his maiden Test double century.
Australia’s Usman Khawaja kisses the Galle turf after scoring a double century in the first Test. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images
Usman Khawaja scores his first Test double century! (Australia 462-3)
He’s got it! The 200th run came from a prod and a misfield but that doesn’t taint the beautiful 199 runs prior. 290 balls. 113 singles. 16 fours. And a six. Well done Usman! He raises his bat to the dressing room and sinks to his knees to kiss the turf. He was deropped from the Australian XI after being dismissed twice in the same day at this ground. But Khawaja’s comeback story is one for the ages and he now has his first double ton in Tests.
110th over: Australia 461-3 (Khawaja 199, Inglis 35) Nishan Peiris gets a whirl before lunch. He is wicketless for 117 runs from his 27 overs so far and has barely fired a shot. Khawaja is one shot from his first Test double century and Sri Lanka are slowing things down, moving fielders hither and thither. They’ve set a trap for the reverse sweep but Khawaja drops and runs for a single. Inglis swats square and gets two, then skips out and drives a single to mid-on. Khawaja clips another run to make 199.
109th over: Australia 455-3 (Khawaja 197, Inglis 31) Khawaja’s spanked single through covers gives him a PB – his highest Test score, surpassing his 195 against South Africa. Inglis is going at a rate of knots at the other end, swiping Jayasuriya square for another FOUR.
108th over: Australia 445-3 (Khawaja 192, Inglis 26) Vandersay enters his 28th over. He has 2-130 and has doubled his career tally of wickets already in this innings. Inglis skips out and chips a half-tracker down the ground for another FOUR.
107th over: Australia 438-3 (Khawaja 190, Inglis 21) Inglis dances down and clouts Jayasuriya for FOUR. Great shot by the debutant! And another streaky one by Khawaja as another bottom edged sweep shot misses the middle, skims the stumps and eludes wicketkeeper. Instead it runs away fine for another boundary, this time as leg byes. Khawaja reverse sweeps a single to close out the over.
Weird situation in Australian cricket today with Alyssa Healy and Josh Inglis – both specialist wicketkeepers – taking the field as specialist batters. What does it mean?
106th over: Australia 428-3 (Khawaja 189, Inglis 16) Was that a chance? Khawaja reverse swept Vandersay and bottom edged… but no, it’s another nutmeg as the ball hits glove and bounces through wicketkeeper Mendes’s legs for another four, Khawaja’s 14th.
105th over: Australia 422-3 (Khawaja 184, Inglis 15) Inglis late cuts for FOUR! That was so late it nutmegged the second slipper. Nice shot though. The rookie is rattling along at ODI pace and that shot takes him to 14 from 17. Sri Lanka are crowding him and have a back pad fielder breathing down his neck. Unperturbed, Ibnglis reverse sweeps a single. Khawaja drops and runs to retain strike.
104th over: Australia 416-3 (Khawaja 183, Inglis 10) Inglis races to double-figures with a swept full toss and a dancing drive to mid on. Khawaja gets the reverse sweep out again but Vandersay shoots it through a tad quicker and Usman can’t connect.
103rd over: Australia 414-3 (Khawaja 182, Inglis 8) Inglis almost chops on! That was good bowling by Jayasuriya. he rushed it onto the rookie and caught the bottom edge and almost hit off stumps. Inglis withdraws into his shell for the next two then steps back to late cut the fourth past slip. He gets two and adds a third with a paddle sweep to the last.
Welcome to our live coverage of the first men’s cricket Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia!
On day two of the Test match, the Australia cricket team will be looking to build on their strong performance from day one. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the Australian team put up a commendable total on the board, with some impressive performances from their top order batsmen.
The Sri Lankan team, on the other hand, will be looking to make a comeback and put up a strong performance with the ball on day two. Their bowlers will have to come up with a plan to dismiss the Australian batsmen quickly and restrict the runs to keep themselves in the game.
Stay tuned as we bring you live updates and analysis of the match as it unfolds. Will the Australian team continue their dominance on day two, or will Sri Lanka fight back and turn the tables? Follow along to find out!
Sri Lanka vs Australia Live Score: Australia captain Steve Smith won the toss and opted to bat first, with Josh Inglis making his Test debut.
Australia are already through to the World Test Championship final and the result in this series is inconsequential in that context. The Aussies will take on South Africa in the WTC final in June this year at Lord’s.
However, it’s a big day for Josh Inglis who has received his baggy green and will be making his Test debut.
Sri Lanka had an opportunity to reach the WTC final if they had secured victory in either of their two Test matches against South Africa in the previous year. However, following their inability to achieve this, Sri Lanka’s best possible outcome now is to secure the position immediately after the finalists, Australia and South Africa.
To accomplish this, they must achieve a clean sweep with a 2-0 series victory.
Australia Dominating Sri Lanka in the 1st Test
In what has been a dominant display by the Australian cricket team, they have reached a formidable total of 383/2 in 95.2 overs on Day 2 of the 1st Test against Sri Lanka. The batsmen have shown great resilience and skill as they continue to pile on the runs.
Opener David Warner led the charge with a brilliant century, scoring 145 runs before being dismissed. His partner, Usman Khawaja, also played a solid innings, contributing 89 runs to the team’s total. Marnus Labuschagne has now joined Khawaja at the crease and is looking to build on their partnership.
The Sri Lankan bowlers have struggled to make an impact on the Australian batting line-up, with only two wickets falling so far. They will need to regroup and come up with a plan to break this partnership and put pressure on the Australian batsmen.
As the match progresses, it will be interesting to see how the Sri Lankan team responds to this challenge and if they can turn the tide in their favor. Stay tuned for more updates on the Sri Lanka vs Australia Live Score.
So teenage wonderboy Sam Konstas has been dropped after two Tests and Scott Boland’s run of bad luck continues, also dumped after winning man of the match honours in his last Test. Again.
Konstas makes way for Travis Head to open the batting with fellow Asian wicket specialist Usman Khawaja and Boland will shine the pine to allow specialist spinners right-armer Todd Murphy and leftie Matthew Kuhnemann to return to the line-up.
An interesting challenge now awaits Konstas who seemed assured of playing in the Ashes but whose rollercoaster rise has now been suddenly derailed. If Josh Inglis, a fine player of spin, takes his chance in the middle order this series and Head excels at the top and decides to stay there, Australian cricket’s Next Big Thing might be left waiting for Usman Khawaja to retire if he’s to dust off his baggy green.
It’s nothing Geoff Lemon didn’t see coming…
Teams
Final XIs have been confirmed and it’s a case of ‘Come in spinner!’ as both sides plump for triple-threat spin attacks.
Australia XI: 1 Usman Khawaja 2 Travis Head 3 Marnus Labuschagne 4 Steven Smith (capt.) 5 Josh Inglis 6 Beau Webster 7 Alex Carey (wk) 8 Mitchell Starc 9 Mathew Kuhnemann 10 Nathan Lyon 11 Todd Murphy
Josh Inglis is confirmed to play and has received baggy green cap No 470 from redoubtable former Test opener Geoff Marsh whose son Mitchell was dropped for this series. The English-born, Australian-raised Inglis completes the Australian cricket holy trinity, having already played 26 ODIs and 29 T20s in the green and gold.
Australia’s Josh Inglis receives his cap from Geoff Marsh before the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Australia have won the toss and will bat first
Good toss to win for Steve Smith. Australia will bat first and bowl last on what is traditionally a fiercely spinning Galle wicket.
As Australia’s men get their series under way today, Australia’s women are preparing to play the Ashes Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground tomorrow. Australia are unbeaten in the series so far and, if Beth Mooney’s fighting words today are any indicator, there’s plenty more pain for the English to come.
Since 2007-08, Australia and Sri Lanka have played for the Warne-MuralitharanTrophy, named for the two titans of spin bowling from either nation. The trophy itself is a beauty, with the magic hands of both men cast in bronze and gripping match balls.
Captains Steve Smith and Dhananjaya de Silva pose with the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images
With final XIs pending here’s how the squads line up for this series…
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 series without spearhead and captain Pat Cummins, who has sent his superhero cape to the dry-cleaners and stayed home for the birth of his second child while plotting the next step in Australia conquest of the cricketing world.
With Josh Hazlewood also sidelined, the bowling attack Australia’s selectors go with here in Galle is the subject of heated conjecture. Veterans Mitchell Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon seem certain to play. But who partners each?
Will people’s hero paceman Scott Boland get a chance alongside Starc with the new ball? Or does uncapped NSW firebrand Sean Abbott get his opportunity at last? Perhaps the medium pace of SCG Test hero allrounder Beau Webster is promoted up the bowling order?
Given the dry spinning wickets here in Galle, it’s also possible Australia could opt for a three-prong spin attack. Will Todd Murphy, Matthew Kuhnemann or rookie Cooper Connolly partner Lyon? Or will Australia pick just one of that trio and trust the part-time tweak of Travis Head who took a handy 4-10 to clinch the first Test for Australia in 2022?
There is risk with all three spinners, with Murphy not having played a Test in over a year, left-armer Kuhnemann recovering from thumb surgery and Connolly a veteran of just four first-class games.
The playing XIs for this match will be confirmed shortly, with plenty of debate over who will start and where they’ll bat/ bowl if picked.
Australia dropped a bombshell yesterday by confirming Travis Head will replace Sam Konstas as opener. Will the 19-year-old Boxing Day Test hero move down the order or drop out of the XI entirely? If the latter, who fills that vacant middle-order spot? Will Nathan McSweeney – a specialist No 5 at home – be recalled? Or are local reports on the money saying dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is set to win a Test debut a month shy of his 30th birthday?
Feel free to drop me an email with your tuppence worth at any stage today. Or simply rhapsodise about Konstas in prose or poetry so we can get under Barney Ronay’s skin ahead of the Ashes…
There is deep intrigue surrounding this series, with key personnel missing from both squads, several stars believed to be playing injured and a host of fresh faces bracing for baptism in the pressure cooker of Test cricket.
Both sides had a good 2024, with Sri Lanka boasting a 6-4 win-loss record and Australia 7-2-1. However, Australia still have their tail up after defeating India 3-1 to win back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade, whereas Sri Lanka finished the year with a 2-0 away loss to South Africa, losing both Tests by hefty 233-run and 109-run margins.
Here’s how Geoff Lemon previewed the first Test…
Preamble
Angus Fontaine
Greetings cricket fans! Welcome to the Guardian’s over-by-over coverage of the opening day in the first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka at Galle International Cricket Stadium. Angus Fontaine here with you for the opening stages before Rob Smyth takes you home to stumps.
These two nations have been playing Tests against each other since 1983. In the 33 Tests over those 42 years, Australia has won 20 to Sri Lanka’s five, with eight draws. Overall, in 14 series, Australia has won 11 and Sri Lanka just two, with their sole triumphs coming at home in 1999 and 2016. However, the pendulum has swung back to Sri Lanka of late. Of the seven Tests contested in the past decade, Sri Lanka lead 4-3 (no draws).
If you’re looking for a form guide for 2025, look no further than the most recent two-Test showdown in 2022, the only drawn series ever staged between these countries, both played at Galle, today’s battleground.
Australia won the first Test by 10 wickets inside three days, with Nathan Lyon taking nine scalps and Travis Head 4-10 in the second innings. Sri Lanka then staged an epic fightback in the second Test. After Marnus Labuschagne (104) and Steve Smith (145) led Australia’s to 364, Dinesh Chandimal (206) swept Sri Lanka to 554 before Prabath Jayasuriya (6-59) rolled the visitors for 151 to seal victory by an innings and 39 runs.
It was a stunning reminder of how formidable Sri Lanka can be at home and why Australia are wary. Despite beating India 3-1 in the home summer and securing their berth at the World Test Championship in July, the No 1 Test side in the world somehow enter this 2025 series as underdogs.
The stage is set, the fuse is lit, and action gets under way at 3.30pm AEST.
Welcome to our live coverage of the first men’s cricket Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia!
Today marks the beginning of what promises to be an exciting series between these two talented teams. The Australian cricket team is looking to continue their recent success on the international stage, while Sri Lanka is aiming to make a statement and show that they are a force to be reckoned with.
Both teams have been preparing diligently for this match, and it will be interesting to see how they perform on the field. Will Australia’s strong batting lineup be able to handle Sri Lanka’s skilled bowlers? Can Sri Lanka’s batsmen handle Australia’s pace attack?
Stay tuned as we provide live updates and analysis throughout the day. Don’t miss a moment of the action as these two teams battle it out for supremacy on the cricket field. Let’s sit back, relax, and enjoy what promises to be a thrilling day of Test cricket!
Australia’s Test series in Sri Lanka often seem to have a touch of the dramatic about them. Last time Australia were in Galle, Sri Lanka saw the greatest mass protests in the country’s history, while the teams battled out a 1-1 series. In 2016, Australia had nosedived spectacularly against spin, Rangana Herath gobbling up their top order en masse.
Over the years there have been series-ending fielding collisions, such as in 1999 in Kandy when Jason Gillespie broke a leg and Steve Waugh broke a nose, Shane Warne triggering one of Sri Lanka’s most painful 90s collapses to clinch victory in a game Australia were losing, and Sri Lanka producing one of their most infamously dry surfaces in Galle in 2011. Where Sri Lanka have never won a Test in Australia, these teams tend to be more evenly matched in Sri Lanka.
And so it shapes up again. Australia are coming off their big Border-Gavaskar Trophy win, of course. Through their 3-1 win in that series, they also booked their World Test Championship final spot. They are missing regular captain Pat Cummins, who is on paternity leave, but have a seasoned leader in Steven Smith.
Sri Lanka had had a decent Test year in 2024, until the disappointing series in South Africa to finish it off. But they will feel as if their Test team is building to something – maybe mounting a more serious campaign in the next WTC cycle, in which they appear to have a relatively easy schedule.
It will likely come down to spin in Galle. This surface doesn’t appear to be the dryest one the ground has turned out, and may stay together a little longer than usual, owing to January’s cooler weather. But it is likely to take substantial turn from day three onwards. Expect plenty of sweeping and reverse-sweeping, and catchers around the bat as the match wears on.
Form guide
Sri Lanka: LLWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first) Australia: WWWDL
In the spotlight: Nathan Lyon and Prabath Jayasuriya
A track that tends to start off dry, a sea breeze that helps sap what little moisture there is in the pitch, footmarks to bowl into from as early as day two sometimes – Galle is basically spin-bowling paradise. As such, how well your lead spinner goes in a Galle Test goes a long way to deciding the outcome.
It is a track Nathan Lyon will know well. Not only did he get a five-wicket haul on debut here in 2011, he also took a match-winning 9 for 121 from the first game in 2022, when Australia last visited. He has 21 wickets from seven innings at this venue, with an average of 27.61. Expect this group of Sri Lanka’s batters to attempt to attack Lyon, particularly in the first innings. Sri Lanka’s easiest path to upsetting Australia’s bowling plan is to unsettle Lyon.
Prabath Jayasuriya had also made his debut in Galle, and he has dominated as few spinners ever have at this venue. He’s got 71 wickets at an average of 21.78 at this venue, and the key to much of that success has been his devastating straight ball, as well as his control. With Sri Lanka’s remaining frontline spin options lacking in experience, the hosts will look to Jayasuriya to define the back half of these Tests.
Pitch and conditions: Some rain around
There’s a little unseasonal rain around in Galle, but rare is the Galle Test that even goes into the last couple of sessions, even if there are interruptions along the way. Dhananjaya de Silva said he expected the surface to be decent for batting to begin with. Temperatures are forecast to hover around 30 degrees celsius.
Team news: Who will be SL’s opener?
Australia have confirmed that Travis Head will open the innings, displacing Sam Konstas from that position. They are pondering their attack though, and could go in with as many as three spinners – Todd Murphy potentially joining Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann. They will likely have Josh Inglis and Beau Webster – who bowls spin as well as seam – in the lower middle order.
Australia (possible): 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Travis Head, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith (capt.), 5 Josh Inglis, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Mathew Kuhnemann, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland/ Todd Murphy
Sri Lanka have a decision to make around their attack as well – whether their second seamer will be Vishwa Fernando or Lahiru Kumara. They also have to replace the injured Pathum Nissanka at the top of the order. Oshada Fernando is his likeliest replacement.
Steve Smith is one run away from completing 10,000 in Test cricket. He’d be the fourth Australia batter to the milestone, after Alan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting.
Prabath Jayasuriya took 12 wickets for 177 in the one Test he’d played against Australia – on debut in Galle.
All up, Australia have won three of the six Tests they’ve played in Galle, losing two and drawing one.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is a senior writer at ESPNcricinfo. @afidelf
The highly anticipated Sri Lanka vs Australia 2024/25 series is set to kick off with the 1st Test match taking place soon. Both teams are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting and competitive series.
Sri Lanka will be looking to make a strong start in the Test series as they aim to continue their recent success in the longest format of the game. Led by a talented group of players, including experienced players and promising youngsters, Sri Lanka will be a force to be reckoned with.
On the other hand, Australia, known for their aggressive and dominant style of play, will be looking to assert their dominance early on in the series. With a formidable lineup and a wealth of experience, Australia will be a tough opponent for Sri Lanka.
The 1st Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia is expected to be a thrilling contest with both teams vying for supremacy. Fans can expect to witness some top-quality cricket as these two cricketing powerhouses go head to head.
Stay tuned for all the action and updates from the Sri Lanka vs Australia 2024/25 series as we bring you the latest news, match previews, and analysis. Don’t miss out on what promises to be an exciting Test series between these two cricketing giants.
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Sri Lanka vs Australia 2024/25 preview, SL vs AUS 1st Test match, SL vs AUS series, Sri Lanka vs Australia rivalry, Test match preview, Sri Lanka cricket, Australia cricket, Cricket preview, Cricket analysis
The series trophy is presented to Mitch Santner who flashes a big smile and then the New Zealand side pose with the trophy. They are all smiles. That ends the T20I series. We have the ODIs next starting on January 4th (5th in India). We will be there for that. Do join us then. And keep following all the cricket action here. See you soon. Bye.
Mitchell Santner | New Zealand captain: It was a pretty good surface, they made the most of it. Great pitch in front of a great crowd. It’s nice to get around the country and see the turnout we saw. Nice to perform in front of the New Zealand crowd. The way you play is pretty similar, we have got to adapt to conditions in Wellington, we were pretty good in all three games, lots of learnings and a lot of positives in the series. Today we came up on the wrong side, but youngsters coming up and performing, that’s what we can ask for going forward.
Charith Asalanka | Sri Lanka captain: It’s a good win for us. Throughout the series, we have played good cricket but did not manage to win but today we got it. I was bowling in home conditions, not here, today we were short of one bowler, that’s the main reason to bowl. It’s a momentum shift for us, adapting to conditions is key to success here. Congrats to New Zealand for the series win and looking forward to the ODIs. [on Kusal Perera] No words for that, since 2013 or something we got a T20I century, we were looking for a 100, he played amazing.
Jacob Duffy | Player of the Series: Amazing series win against a very strong Sri Lankan team and happy to be a part of it. It’s good to put pressure at the death and Kusal’s knock today was very good. Playing for the country is a huge honor and this time of the year to play in front of such crowds is amazing. It’s been awesome and expect more of it.
Kusal Perera | Player of the Match: It’s always a pleasure to score a 100. When I faced the first ball today, was like a wake-up call. You need to adjust to the extra bounce and conditions here. I always try to back myself and play my natural game. These conditions are helpful for the seamers, the last two games we did not get a start, once you get a start here you need to make it count. That’s what I tried to do.
17:18 Local Time, 04:18 GMT, 09:48 IST: A consolation win for Sri Lanka. New Zealand tried hard but quick wickets starting with Hay’s and some good bowling at the death from Binura Fernando and Thushara helped them win this one. Ravindra who flopped in the first two matches came good today and hit the ball cleanly to make 69. Then Mitchell struck four consecutive sixes off Asalanka to bring New Zealand back into it. Then Hay got out and Bracewell and Mitchell went soon after. Sri Lanka after that saw it out. The damage was done with the ball by skipper Asalanka who took three crucial wickets after a good opening stand between Robinson and Ravindra. Hasaranga too chipped in with two key strikes while Thushara was superb with his swinging yorkers. Sri Lanka will be happy to have won today after losing the series. Stay tuned for the presentation…
Binura Fernando to Santner, 1 run, Sri Lanka win. A slower-ball off-cutter outside off, Santner miscues the pull and it lands in vacant space at mid-wicket. Just one
9 off 1. If Binura Fernando keeps his foot behind the line and does not bowl a wide, this will be over.
Binura Fernando to Foulkes, 1 run, that should do it for Sri Lanka. Very full on off, driven to extra-cover and that’s just a single
Binura Fernando to Foulkes, SIX, still New Zealand in this. A slower-ball off-cutter full outside off, Foulkes shuffles across and lofts nicely and clears the long-off fence, first one Foulkes has struck cleanly
Just one good delivery should win this for Sri Lanka. Foulkes and Santner have a chat.
Binura Fernando to Foulkes, 2 runs, full outside off, driven wide of sweeper cover and it’s just two
Binura Fernando to Foulkes, wide, the slower-ball off-cutter is well wide outside off and left alone, Santner wants the run, but is sent back
Binura Fernando to Santner, 1 run, seam-up and very full outside off, Santner gets forward to drive and the thick inside-edge rolls to short fine-leg
Binura Fernando to Santner, 2 runs, slower-ball off-cutter dug in outside off, Santner miscues the pull and it lands on the edge of the ring at mid-wicket which is vacant
22 off 6. Who will bowl it? Binura it is. An extra fielder inside the ring. Sri Lanka penalised for slow over-rate.
N Thushara to Santner, 1 run, slower-ball off-cutter outside off, swung away to deep mid-wicket
The highly anticipated 3rd T20I between New Zealand and Sri Lanka is set to take place on January 2nd as part of the Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 2024-25.
Both teams have been in top form leading up to this crucial match, with New Zealand looking to maintain their dominance on home soil while Sri Lanka aims to pull off an upset and secure a series win.
New Zealand will be banking on their experienced players such as Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, and Tim Southee to lead the team to victory. On the other hand, Sri Lanka will be relying on their talented youngsters like Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Charith Asalanka to make an impact in the game.
With both teams having a lot to play for, fans can expect an exciting and intense battle between these two cricketing giants. Stay tuned for all the action and updates from the 3rd T20I between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
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New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 2024-25, cricket match, T20 international, Jan 02, New Zealand cricket, Sri Lanka cricket, live updates, scorecard, highlights, predictions.
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