Sri Lanka vs Australia: 2nd Test Preview & Betting Tips
Galle, Thursday 6th February, 3:30pm AEDT
Sri Lanka
Predicted XI: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando
Things could not have gone any worse for Sri Lanka than what they did in the first Test, as they fell to the largest ever home loss in Test cricket. After losing the toss, they did themselves no favour by missing reviews on Travis head and Usman Khawaja that would have had both openers out early, as well as dropping Steve Smith on 1. Their poor fielding and use of DRS went along with a horrendous performance with bat and ball.
Sri Lanka conceded 6/654 in the first innings, with the bleeding only being stopped by the Australians declaring. By the Stats Prabath Jayasuriya (3/193) looked okay but provided next to no threat, while Nishan Peiris (0/189), Asitha Fernando (0/77) and (3/182) were all poor with the ball. In spinning friendly conditions they didn’t look like taking wickets, and they couldn’t restrict Australia’s scoring rates.
With the bat, Sri Lanka’s application and execution was nothing short of horrendous. Bundled out for 165 in the first innings and 247 with 15 wickets falling in just 64.5 overs on Day 4. Dinesh Chandimal (72) and Jeffrey Vandersay (53) were the only Sri Lankans to reach 50 in the Test match, while Chandimal in the first innings was the only batter to face at least 100 balls.
Australia
Predicted XI: Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon
Australia produced an outstanding performance in the first Test with an utterly dominant performance across the three and a half days. Usman Khawaja (232) and Steve Smith (141) set up the innings, whilst debutant Josh Inglis kept the foot on the throat with an excellent 102 off just 94 deliveries. Travis Head’s move to the top of the order was a success, blitzing 57 off just 40 balls to allow the middle order’s job to be incredibly easy.
With the ball, Australia’s three prong spin attack dismantled Sri Lanka’s batting unit with ease. In the first innings it was Matt Kuhnemann (5/63) and Nathan Lyon (3/57) who did the damage, and they backed it up in the second innings with Lyon taking 4/78 and Kuhnemann taking 4/86. Although he didn’t take the wickets, Todd Murphy bowled well in tandem with Lyon and Kuhnemann, while Mitchell Starc (2/13 & 1/14) was comfortably the best seamer in the match.
The big challenge for Australia in the second Test will be the fact that the curators will certainly deliver the driest, most spin friendly surface as possible. The batting conditions will be more challenging and winning the toss will be crucial in getting an opportunity to bat first.
Match Prediction
The conditions will provide a much greater challenge for Australia, who likely won’t produce another 600 plus run score. However Sri Lanka’s batting lineup proved to be incredibly fragile against Australia’s spinners, so a spin friendly surface won’t suit them in the way that many people think it will.
Australia’s positive approach with the bat will hold them in great stead, especially given that nearly their entire batting unit got scores in the opening Test. Australia are in excellent form with three straight wins, and having a 6-1-1 record across their last eight Tests. In comparison Sri Lanka are currently on a three game losing streak, and have only scored above 300 once in their last six innings. It will be a lower scoring affair than the first Test, however Australia’s batting unit will be the difference in this clash.
Australia
$1.52 (2 Units)
Prop Bet
Steve Smith brought up his 10,000th run in Test cricket en route to an outstanding century in the first Test. Smith has scored three centuries in his last four Test matches, and has scored of 145* and 141 in his last two Tests at Galle. Smith averages 65.40 at Galle International Stadium, and looks set to continue his red hot form in the second Test.
Steve Smith, Australian Top Run Scorer 1st Innings
$4
