Sri Lanka vs Australia – 2nd Test Match Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Sri Lanka vs Australia taking place? Friday, July 8th, 2022 – 05:30 (UK)
Where is Sri Lanka vs Australia taking place? Galle International Stadium, Galle
What is the expected weather for Sri Lanka vs Australia? 28c, cloudy but dry on Day 1, however a chance of thundery showers across the remaining four days of play.
What channel is Sri Lanka vs Australia on? The match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Sri Lanka vs Australia? This match can be streamed live via the Sri Lanka Cricket YouTube channel.
LAST MEETING
Australia beat Sri Lanka by ten wickets.
THE TEAM NEWS
SRI LANKA
- It was Sri Lanka’s batting which ultimately let them down in the first Test on what was a challenging pitch as expected as they were bowled out for 212 and 113 respectively with a top individual score of just 58 across both innings.
- The hosts have acted swiftly in a bid to reverse their fortunes, although it is the bowling attack which is set to undergo significant change with left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya dropped from the team.
- With Praveen Jayawickrama having tested positive for Covid-19, Embuldeniya is likely to be replaced by Under-19 World Cup star Dunith Wellalage, who did well against Australia in the ODI series prior to these Test matches and would offer a stronger alternative with the bat to go alongside his left-arm spin.
AUSTRALIA
- Australia made it nine Test matches unbeaten for them following a strong all-round performance in Galle, although they themselves will have found room for improvement in certain areas, perhaps most notably in terms of converting fifties into centuries.
- Mitchell Swepson was given the nod over Jon Holland as the second-spin option alongside Nathan Lyon in the first Test and the 28-year-old will have been relatively happy with his five wickets across Sri Lanka’s two innings, although he was the most expensive of the spinners utilised
- Swepson will likely keep his place for this second Test, which may well see Australia go unchanged when taking into account the comprehensive nature of their victory last time out.
THE PREDICTION
Australia have the chance to secure the series in this second Test and they have every right to feel confident following the events which transpired in Galle most recently. What was most pleasing from an Australian perspective regarding that first Test was how their batters played against the Sri Lankan spin-bowlers on a turning pitch, using their feet and not getting bogged down, making sure that Sri Lanka couldn’t keep the shackles on their scoring. When taking into account the presence of Lyon among others, Australia will have always been confident about taking 20 wickets, so the batters performing as well as they did prove the catalyst for victory. It’s difficult not to see a similar story emerging here with Sri Lanka still a team in somewhat of a transition and not at the level of their opponents. Whilst their bowling is strong enough to take wickets, it’s hard to see their batters outsourcing Australia across the entirety of a Test match, so back the tourists to come out on top once again.
