If ever Australia wanted proof that their defend-with-attack mantra would work on the sub-continent, they discovered it with their first full day with the bat in Galle.
Australia went to stumps on day two of the primary Check at 8-313, in reply to Sri Lanka’s 212.
Already their rating is larger than any they produced on the 2016 tour of Sri Lanka, the place they have been spun out by Rangana Herath and overwhelmed 3-0 by the hosts.
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The autopsy of that sequence recognized a perception that Australia’s batters had been too conservative, permitting Herath to get right into a rhythm together with his lengths.
So on Thursday, Australia put pay to that.
Of their first red-ball innings of the tour they went at a run-rate of 4.53, on observe to be their second highest ever in a accomplished innings on the sub-continent.
Usman Khawaja (71), Cameron Inexperienced (77) and Alex Carey (45) all swept recurrently on a big-turning wicket, as Sri Lanka despatched down only one maiden over.
“If you try and block on that wicket too often, it’s almost goodnight,” Khawaja mentioned.
“I don’t know if you can see it watching the game, but my god, that wicket is ragging.
“The blokes are batting extraordinarily effectively to get to 300.”
Australia’s start in Sri Lanka follows their first series win in Asia in 10 years in March, albeit on flatter pitches in Pakistan.
“We have learnt from our errors, guys are extra trusting of their plans and capable of adapt to completely different conditions,” Khawaja mentioned.
“The quantity of occasions I received informed rising up to not sweep as a teen, each second coach telling me to not do it.
“But for (Carey) and myself it’s a very natural shot.
“Greeny doing it now – the quantity of occasions I’ve heard individuals say ‘you are a tall bloke, simply hit down the bottom’ – it is simply the most important bullcrap on the planet.
“A player has the ability to sweep whether he’s six foot seen or five foot five. It’s actually more potent when you’re tall person.”
Khawaja’s feedback got here as Sri Lanka’s spin coach Piyal Wijetunge admitted Australia had received their ways proper and that his 4 gradual bowlers had not dealt with it effectively.
“When the ball turns the batsman’s approach changes too,” the previous Check spinner mentioned.
“They tend to bat aggressively.. So spinners need to be tactical. There is a bit of an issue.
“I cannot inform that each day that these are younger spinners. We’re getting there.
“England, South Africa and Australia (you used to say) ‘they don’t play spin well’.
“However now they play spin higher than anybody else.”
