Australia have won the first Test of the series at Galle, and will look to clinch the series against Sri Lanka in the second of the three games at Pallekele. The game begins Thursday and unlike the track at Galle, can be expected to go the distance. Australia beat Sri Lanka at their own game; on a pitch that turned square on the first day and one that resembled a fifth-day pitch to Michael Clarke, the Aussies were lucky to win the toss and bat first. A total of 273 in the first innings for Australia proved to be the highest score of the game and it was creditable to the visitors for the way they got to the score. Even better was the manner in which they bowled as a unit on a pitch that they wouldn’t have encountered even at the most spin-friendly Sydney Cricket Ground. Nathan Lyon’s five-wicket haul was complemented by Ryan Harris and Shane Watson’s efforts with the ball, leading the side to what turned out to be a comfortable win in the end. There will be a flurry of changes for the second Test; some forced while some by design. Ricky Ponting will miss out as he has opted to be with his wife for the birth of their second child and Shaun Marsh will become the 422nd Australian Test cricketer making his debut. Fortunately for Marsh, he has been around for over three years at the international level and having played in the IPL would probably make it easier for him to adjust to the slow-natured tracks.
Toss by cricfree100
