Sri Lanka’s bowlers saw India run through Australia this summer with swing and seam and now they want to do the same.
Having never won any of their 13 Tests in Australia, the tourists are eying the two-Test series as their best shot at victory down under against the wounded hosts.
Australia’s batsmen failed to score a century in their 2-1 series loss to India, suffering collapses as they dropped a Test trophy at home against a team from Asia for the first time in their history.
Jasprit Bumrah produced one of the best performances by an overseas quick in recent years as he claimed 21 wickets at 17, while Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Sharmi offered no width to the hosts and took away the cut shot in the victory.
And it’s that game plan Sri Lanka want to bring to Thursday’s Warne-Muralitharan Trophy opener at the Gabba with the pink ball.
“It’s one of the major things we looked at and the areas which they had bowled at,” bowling coach and former Sri Lanka quick Rumesh Ratnayake said.
“It’s just making the bowlers believe that whatever other teams can do we also can do.
“I think it is certainly one of the better chances (to win in Australia), but I wouldn’t say the best chance.
Sri Lanka are reeling from a resounding defeat in New Zealand earlier this summer, but have received a boost with Kusal Mendis expected to play in Brisbane despite suffering a thumb injury in last week’s tour match.
Mendis’ role in the series will be key, given the tourists are already without Angelo Mathews through a hamstring injury.
Veteran Rangana Herath has also retired since spinning Sri Lanka to their first series victory over Australia in 2016, while up-and-coming tweaker Akila Dananjaya is suspended with a suspect action.
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Suranga Lakmal and 21-year-old Lahiru Kumara will lead the charge for the quicks, with Dilruwan Perera now their most dangerous spinner.
“(Kumara) is an exuberant young boy, he’s quick in our terms ... because he sometimes touches 148kph but he hits it at a pace of 140 on a more regular basis,” Ratnayake said.