Australia crumble in retro collapse to Sri Lanka
Australia collapsed on day four of the second Test against Sri Lanka, capitulating to an emphatic innings and 39-run defeat.
On a horror day for Australia, they conceded a 190-run first-innings lead as Dinesh Chandimal’s unbeaten 206 powered Sri Lanka to a record total of 554.
Australia lasted less than four hours trying to save the match as Sri Lanka spun their way to victory, levelling the series at 1-1.
Prabath Jayasuriya claimed 6-59 as Australia’s issues with left-arm spin were again exposed, making him the fifth bowler in history to take 12 wickets on debut.
Incredibly, Sri Lanka’s assault came a week after they lost the first Test in a little over two days and had three players ruled out with COVID.
For all the steps Australia had appeared to make in Asia in that first Test win and March’s victory in Pakistan, this was was a return to darker times.
They had two separate collapses of 4-25 and 3-5, including the dismissals of Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith in the space of four balls to Jayasuriya.
Big question marks now loom ahead of next February’s four-Test tour of India.
Travis Head was caught on the crease as a delivery spun past his bat and took the top of off stump for the second time in this Test.
The left-hander’s scores on this tour now read six, 12 and five.
With a career average of 21.3 in Asia, it’s questionable if he can be taken to India.
David Warner is also emerging as a point of concern after he was the first to fall lbw for 24. His last international century came in January 2020.
Marnus Labuschagne (32) offered the best resistance after his first-innings century, while Cameron Green (23) and Alex Carey (16 not out) also soaked up some time.
But ultimately, it was nowhere near enough.
Australia’s bowlers were also unable to build the same pressure as the hosts on a far better batting wicket than in the first Test.
Mitchell Starc was the one major exception with 4-89, while Mitchell Swepson showed signs of improvement, taking 3-103.
Nathan Lyon was made to toil hard for 2-194, sending down the most overs of his career with 64 while burnt by Australia’s poor use of reviews and missed chances.
Carey missed two stumpings off his bowling, including an extremely difficult chance with Chandimal on 10.
But the real turning point of the match was when Chandimal, the on 30, edged behind a ball off Starc on day three, with Australia out of reviews and unable to overturn the on-field call of not out. (Courtesy ABC News)
