Steve Smith correctly calls heads and Australia will bat first after winning the toss.

Smith says he is unsure how the wicket will play, calling the pitch “tacky” at first sight.

Both teams are going with three spinners.

Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva says he would have liked to bat first as well.

Here are the two confirmed line-ups. Sam Konstas has been dropped from Australia’s side.

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith ©, Josh Inglis, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (WK), Mitchell Starc, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy.

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva ©, Kusal Mendis (WK), Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando

first of.

Ricky Ponting wasn’t happy about Konstas not batting.

Tune in to live radio coverage

Thanks. I’d forgotten.

Fiddy for the kwaj

Jeffrey Dexter Francis Vandersay on test debut

That’s 10000 runs for Smith.

Indeed this pair are the only current Australian batsmen with >5000 runs.

dv said:

That’s 10000 runs for Smith.

Indeed this pair are the only current Australian batsmen with >5000 runs.

He was dropped a couple of balls later.
Key Event
36m ago
LUNCH: Australia 2-145 (Khawaja 65, Smith 2)

roughbarked said:

dv said:

That’s 10000 runs for Smith.

Indeed this pair are the only current Australian batsmen with >5000 runs.

He was dropped a couple of balls later.
Key Event
36m ago
LUNCH: Australia 2-145 (Khawaja 65, Smith 2)

The players are back out on the ground in Galle after the lunch break.

Australia on top at the moment, but a few quick wickets will change the complexion of this match.

Sri Lanka dropped a few chances in that first session, they’ll need to be more clinical if they’re to get back into this Test.

Prabath Jayasuriya will start things off for Sri Lanka.

SIX! What a shot from Smith! Comes down the track and lofts Jayasuriya gun-barrel straight, right over the bowler’s head.

The Aussies aren’t letting any of these spinners settle into a decent length by continuing to use their feet.

Jayasuriya continues around the wicket to the right-handed Smith.

He’s trying to hone in on that middle and off stump line.

The danger ball here to Smith isn’t the one that spins away, but the one that goes on with the arm.

It’s a much better over this from Jayasuriya, as he’s pinned Smith to his crease on that danger line.

That’s the first maiden of the match.

Khawaja once again comfortably works one off his pads away for a single to start the over.

It can’t be overstated just how much more at ease he looks when not having to face Jasprit Bumrah.

It seems like he’s got an absolute eternity to face every ball out here today.

They are doing well.

AUS: 2/308

Michael V said:

They are doing well.

AUS: 2/308

Just when I decided to turn it on and watch they went 11 overs without a boundary. Got the scoreboard ticking over again. New ball due in 3 overs.

… aaaaand it’s raining.

STUMPS: Australia 2-330 (Usman Khawaja 147, Steve Smith 104)

See you back here at 3:15pm AEDT for a slightly early start to day two.

Today we have to choose between the women’s Ashes Test at the MCG and the men’s test at Galle in Sri Lanka.

Michael V said:

Today we have to choose between the women’s Ashes Test at the MCG and the men’s test at Galle in Sri Lanka.

We can follow the test here and check the scores in SL via the internet.

Some stats notes:

At 38 years and 42 days, Khawaja becomes the oldest Australian to make a test ton since Waugh in 2003.

Smith crossed the 10k line but it might be a very long time before another Australian does that.

Michael V said:

Today we have to choose between the women’s Ashes Test at the MCG and the men’s test at Galle in Sri Lanka.

There’s the Champions League football..

Ian said:

Michael V said:

Today we have to choose between the women’s Ashes Test at the MCG and the men’s test at Galle in Sri Lanka.

There’s the Champions League football..

Yair well, looks like the hot dogs are well done.

roughbarked said:

Ian said:

Michael V said:

Today we have to choose between the women’s Ashes Test at the MCG and the men’s test at Galle in Sri Lanka.

There’s the Champions League football..

Yair well, looks like the hot dogs are well done.

Or they’ve overdone the chilly sauce.

Ian said:

Michael V said:

Today we have to choose between the women’s Ashes Test at the MCG and the men’s test at Galle in Sri Lanka.

There’s the Champions League football..

Not for me there isn’t.

It’s that time of year when Perth is closer to Sri Lanka than to Melbourne, timewise.

Maybe I have been out of the loop but I don’t think I’ve heard of this Nissan Prius fellow

dv said:

Maybe I have been out of the loop but I don’t think I’ve heard of this Nissan Prius fellow

He’s a spin-off.

86th over – Khawaja brings up his 150

roughbarked said:

86th over – Khawaja brings up his 150

Well done him

Usman Khawaja
LHB
173 from 251
Steve Smith
RHB
126 from 230

Australia
380-2 (95.0 overs)

7/131 in the Women’s Ashes test.

Poms hopeless at proper cricket as well.

Inglis gets to 100 on debut.

21st Aussie to do so.

4/Lots

And he’s out for 102

Aus 5/570. good time to start thinking about a declaration.

party_pants said:

And he’s out for 102

Aus 5/570. good time to start thinking about a declaration.

Bummer for Josh.

Michael V said:

party_pants said:

And he’s out for 102

Aus 5/570. good time to start thinking about a declaration.

Bummer for Josh.

He seemed to have a massive grin on his face as he walked off, waving to the crowd and all that.

party_pants said:

Michael V said:

party_pants said:

And he’s out for 102

Aus 5/570. good time to start thinking about a declaration.

Bummer for Josh.

He seemed to have a massive grin on his face as he walked off, waving to the crowd and all that.

:)

party_pants said:

And he’s out for 102

Aus 5/570. good time to start thinking about a declaration.

Oh I dunno, might as well stock up while it’s cheap.
Leave an hour at the end of the day to have a ping at the openers.

Alex Carey is getting them all with sweeps and reverse sweeps.

Webster clatters a drive into Oshada Fernando. It’s whacked him in the arms.

After a lengthy delay, Jayasuriya wraps up with another ball outside off.

dv said:

party_pants said:

And he’s out for 102

Aus 5/570. good time to start thinking about a declaration.

Oh I dunno, might as well stock up while it’s cheap.
Leave an hour at the end of the day to have a ping at the openers.

You could be right

5/600 at tea.

There’s an old cricket saying, measure twice, bat once.

TV stations and their bloody annoying channel changes!

Why not stick with one channel per match?

Michael V said:

TV stations and their bloody annoying channel changes!

Why not stick with one channel per match?

Because the News department think they are the most important program of the day. Nothing shifts the news from its sacred timeslot.

party_pants said:

Michael V said:

TV stations and their bloody annoying channel changes!

Why not stick with one channel per match?

Because the News department think they are the most important program of the day. Nothing shifts the news from its sacred timeslot.

Way past news time here.

Anyway: put one test on 7Two, and the other on 7Mate. No problemas. Sheesh.

Michael V said:

party_pants said:

Michael V said:

TV stations and their bloody annoying channel changes!

Why not stick with one channel per match?

Because the News department think they are the most important program of the day. Nothing shifts the news from its sacred timeslot.

Way past news time here.

Anyway: put one test on 7Two, and the other on 7Mate. No problemas. Sheesh.

Maybe switching the broadcast from one channel to another helps boost the average ratings for all of the network’s channels?

captain_spalding said:

Michael V said:

party_pants said:

Because the News department think they are the most important program of the day. Nothing shifts the news from its sacred timeslot.

Way past news time here.

Anyway: put one test on 7Two, and the other on 7Mate. No problemas. Sheesh.

Maybe switching the broadcast from one channel to another helps boost the average ratings for all of the network’s channels?

Who know what their thinking is. I just know that it’s bloody annoying. Well, bloody annoying to me, at least.

All the networks do it. Nine network did it during the tennis. “Oh, this match is coming to an interesting finish. To continue watching go to the internet.”

Michael V said:

captain_spalding said:

Michael V said:

Way past news time here.

Anyway: put one test on 7Two, and the other on 7Mate. No problemas. Sheesh.

Maybe switching the broadcast from one channel to another helps boost the average ratings for all of the network’s channels?

Who know what their thinking is. I just know that it’s bloody annoying. Well, bloody annoying to me, at least.

All the networks do it. Nine network did it during the tennis. “Oh, this match is coming to an interesting finish. To continue watching go to the internet.”

Doesn’t really bother me. I have the remote on the armchair next to me.

So they’ve declared a 6/654.

Carey stranded not out on 46 with Mitch Starc hogging most of the strike. Seems odd they didn’t let him get 4 more and then call it. Still plenty of overs left in the day.

party_pants said:

So they’ve declared a 6/654.

Carey stranded not out on 46 with Mitch Starc hogging most of the strike. Seems odd they didn’t let him get 4 more and then call it. Still plenty of overs left in the day.

Bummer for Carey. It does seem odd.

Michael V said:

party_pants said:

So they’ve declared a 6/654.

Carey stranded not out on 46 with Mitch Starc hogging most of the strike. Seems odd they didn’t let him get 4 more and then call it. Still plenty of overs left in the day.

Bummer for Carey. It does seem odd.

I think Bill Lawry declared when someone was on 97 or some such.

Peak Warming Man said:

Michael V said:

party_pants said:

So they’ve declared a 6/654.

Carey stranded not out on 46 with Mitch Starc hogging most of the strike. Seems odd they didn’t let him get 4 more and then call it. Still plenty of overs left in the day.

Bummer for Carey. It does seem odd.

I think Bill Lawry declared when someone was on 97 or some such.

was the bloke from NSW?

party_pants said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Michael V said:

Bummer for Carey. It does seem odd.

I think Bill Lawry declared when someone was on 97 or some such.

was the bloke from NSW?

Hehe.

Peak Warming Man said:

Michael V said:

party_pants said:

So they’ve declared a 6/654.

Carey stranded not out on 46 with Mitch Starc hogging most of the strike. Seems odd they didn’t let him get 4 more and then call it. Still plenty of overs left in the day.

Bummer for Carey. It does seem odd.

I think Bill Lawry declared when someone was on 97 or some such.

Ouch!

Peak Warming Man said:

party_pants said:

Peak Warming Man said:

I think Bill Lawry declared when someone was on 97 or some such.

was the bloke from NSW?

Hehe.

Rod Marsh from WA, he was on 92 noy out.

Aus went 9 wickets down and he didn’t want to risk injury to his star fast bowler batting at 11. Pre helmet days, so understandable.

SL 2/15

oh dear

party_pants said:

Peak Warming Man said:

party_pants said:

was the bloke from NSW?

Hehe.

Rod Marsh from WA, he was on 92 noy out.

Aus went 9 wickets down and he didn’t want to risk injury to his star fast bowler batting at 11. Pre helmet days, so understandable.

Ta for that.

party_pants said:

SL 2/15

oh dear

Indeed.

Michael V said:

party_pants said:

SL 2/15

oh dear

Indeed.

3/30 now!

I was expecting Mathews to put up a fair bit of resistance.

Michael V said:

Michael V said:

party_pants said:

SL 2/15

oh dear

Indeed.

3/30 now!

I was expecting Mathews to put up a fair bit of resistance.

Yeah. Bit disappointing so far.

Here comes the late afternoon rain again.

That’ll probably be stumps.

So this is in fact Nishan’s second test and he got 9 wickets in his first. Not quite so lucky this time.

This is Australia’s highest innings total versus Sri Lanka. Also, and correct me if I’m wrong, their highest total ever scored in Asia.

dv said:

So this is in fact Nishan’s second test and he got 9 wickets in his first. Not quite so lucky this time.

This is Australia’s highest innings total versus Sri Lanka. Also, and correct me if I’m wrong, their highest total ever scored in Asia.

No corrections necessary.

dv said:

So this is in fact Nishan’s second test and he got 9 wickets in his first. Not quite so lucky this time.

This is Australia’s highest innings total versus Sri Lanka. Also, and correct me if I’m wrong, their highest total ever scored in Asia.

Ya.. a cricket score…

A long way from the follow on here. Probably not going to be enough rain to save them.

dv said:

A long way from the follow on here. Probably not going to be enough rain to save them.

As one of my longtime cricket tragic friends (whose name happens to be Tony Greig) said, “I hate it when Australia always wins. No fun in that and no real advancement of the team into newer players”.

roughbarked said:

dv said:

A long way from the follow on here. Probably not going to be enough rain to save them.

As one of my longtime cricket tragic friends (whose name happens to be Tony Greig) said, “I hate it when Australia always wins. No fun in that and no real advancement of the team into newer players”.

What was he like in person?

Sbeen 24 years since Australia won a test series in England

They’ve called stumps on Day 3 at Galle.

Hopefully they get better weather tomorrow. Otherwise such a late declaration is not looking such a good idea.

dv said:

roughbarked said:

dv said:

A long way from the follow on here. Probably not going to be enough rain to save them.

As one of my longtime cricket tragic friends (whose name happens to be Tony Greig) said, “I hate it when Australia always wins. No fun in that and no real advancement of the team into newer players”.

What was he like in person?

Sbeen 24 years since Australia won a test series in England

‘e was a completely different Tony Greig.
but he was into cricket.

SL 8/157 still trailing by 497

Question now is to follow on or not follow on? Arguments in favour – there is a chance of further rain and a fair chunk of overs have already been lost. The spinners are doing most of the work. Arguments against – the possibility of batting last on a turning pitch chasing a sdmall total.

9/161 now.

All out 165

The follow on has been enforced. Good call.

party_pants said:

9/161 now.

jeepers

This could be a massive win by an innings

1/6 and a review lost. That was hitting the middle of middle stump.

LBW appeal not reviewed by the Aussies. Would have been given out if they did.

But not matter, the SL batsmen are throwing away theor wickets any. Mendis caught in the deep. SL 4/114 still trailing by 375

5/114, and the collapse is on.

Over at the MCG Eng-W are 5/109 after a bright start – so looks like the collapse on on over there too.

party_pants said:

5/114, and the collapse is on.

Over at the MCG Eng-W are 5/109 after a bright start – so looks like the collapse on on over there too.

Well and truly.

1st if two tests, 2nd if three.

I’m watching both tests with a flick of a switch. Entertaining as both matches have two spinners.
Alana King is awesome.

39 degrees outside.

roughbarked said:

I’m watching both tests with a flick of a switch. Entertaining as both matches have two spinners.
Alana King is awesome.

39 degrees outside.

Indoors watching the cricket seems like a good place to be.

My outdoor thermometer is showing 33C, so I’m doing the same.

SL 7-fa

Eng-W 8-fa

SL 8 down

Prior to this, SL’s worst lost by an innings had a 239 run margin.

Who is going to win first?

SL Men are 9 down
England Women are 9 down

party_pants said:

Who is going to win first?

SL Men are 9 down
England Women are 9 down

Either way it’s going to be a win win.

Peak Warming Man said:

party_pants said:

Who is going to win first?

SL Men are 9 down
England Women are 9 down

Either way it’s going to be a win win.

I like your thinking :)

Aus -W win
Aus -M win

About 2 minutes apart.

dv said:

Prior to this, SL’s worst lost by an innings had a 239 run margin.

Innings and 242 in the end.

New record.

Anyhow, that was exciting. I don’t recall this ever happening before where two test matches finished at the same time.