While England and India fight over the ODI Series, Sri Lanka and Australia are the two biggest test nations playing catch up and the visitors are worth backing to take their second successive test and land a series for the first time since their tour of New Zealand in March 2010.
The first test was dominated by the pitch produced in Kandy to suit Sri Lankan spinners which backfired to the point that the pitch was officially rated "poor" by the ICC match referee Chris Broad and only gave Australia's debutant offspinner Nathan Lyon licence to go through the Sri Lankans in the first innings.
Australia’s record over Sri Lanka now stands at 14-1 in favour of the visitors with matches won (6 draws) and while things should be closer here Michael Clarke’s bullishness about his side’s capability to bat either first or second should not go unnoticed.
The conditions in Galle makes Australia’s first innings effort of 273 all the more creditable especially when you see how badly the Sri Lankans faltered, and the newly built Pallekele stadium should be easier for batting on – Plenty of runs were scored at the World Cup there and in the rained off test between Sri Lanka and the West Indies the visitors made 303.
It’s easy to anticipate Sri Lanka’s batting line improving – They went from 105 to 253 in the next Innings and an improved performance from Captain Tillakaratne Dislhan should also added to that – But the Aussies look value to gain a first innings lead here.
Their batting was a feature of the One Day Series win and they’ve made more in an innings than their hosts on 5 occasions out of 7 on this tour while Sri Lanka were outscored 4 times in two tests against England so the evens available about a first innings lead should be taken.
Advice
1 pt Australia (2/1 general)
2 pts Australia 1st Innings Lead (evs Totesport)
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