Sri Lanka vs Australia 2nd Test Tips - Australia Heavy Favourites Against Dispirited Sri Lanka

By Nikhil Kalro

05 Feb 2025

Nikhil Kalro 05 Feb 2025

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Australia's dominant win in the first Test with a 242-run victory
Concerns over Sri Lanka's batting; need to adapt to home conditions
Australia confident with strong performances from Khawaja and Smith

Sri Lanka and Australia (Getty Images)

Sri Lanka vs Australia Second Test Preview
Sri Lanka Form
Sri Lanka Team News
Australia Form
Australia Team News

Sri Lanka vs Australia Second Test Preview

Australia were simply too strong in the first Test against Sri Lanka as they claimed a resounding 242-run victory in Galle. In the first innings, Australia smashed 654 for 6 before declaring their innings.

That mammoth score was led by Usman Khawaja’s 232 off 352 balls with 16 fours and a six. Steven Smith completed 10,000 Test match runs en route to yet another hundred as he made 141. Josh Inglis also scored a rapid 102 off 94 balls with 10 fours and a six.

Sri Lanka had no response in conditions that began to turn a lot more after the first two days. Dinesh Chandimal was the only batter that could muster up some momentum with 72 but the hosts were bundled out for 165 in the first innings. Matthew Kuhnemann did the majority of the damage with 5 for 63 while Nathan Lyon chopped in with three wickets.

At one point, it looked like the rain in Galle may help Sri Lanka but there was enough time for Australia to bowl the hosts out for 247 in the second innings after enforcing the follow-on. Kuhnemann and Lyon took four wickets apiece in the second innings.

Sri Lanka Form

There are plenty of concerns around Sri Lanka’s batting form. The surface in Galle stayed true for the first two days, which meant that Sri Lanka’s spinners didn’t have as much of an impact but their batting didn’t show much character in conditions that weren’t as bad as the score suggested.

"These players have played a lot of cricket and should know how to play. I've talked to them about this. But we've got to talk to them in detail about this now,” head coach Sanath Jayasuriya said.

“Also, we cannot blame the wicket. Because we saw how the wicket behaved. This was a very good wicket.

"For a long time, we haven't seen such a good wicket in Galle, on the third and fourth days. Our players should know that these are our conditions and we must make use of these conditions.”

Sri Lanka Team News

Despite a horrid performance in the first game, Sri Lanka may not make too many changes to their squad for the second Test, which is also in Galle.

Australia Form

Australia played close to the perfect game in the first Test: score big runs and then bowl the opposition out without batting again.

That will give them plenty of confidence going into the second game. Technically, Australia were fluent with both bat and ball, which could certainly continue in the next Test.

"I think the spinners getting to work on the shape and the pace of deliveries with spin coach Dan Vettori was important, as was the batting unit working through flat surface versus extreme surface," Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald said.

"The ground staff there did an amazing job in recreating what we would potentially get here across the game. So we were just working through all of those scenarios, conversations, and it was a hectic time."

Australia Team News

Sam Konstas left Sri Lanka after the first Test to participate in the Sheffield Shield back home. Australia should retain the same playing XI for the next match.

Verdict

Sri Lanka v Australia 2nd Test

Sri Lanka should put in a much better performance in the second Test in Galle but Australia showed the rest of the world why they are so adaptable to different conditions across the world.

That could continue in the next Test against a team that is clearly lacking confidence and momentum.