The former Australia captain Tim Paine has expressed confidence in Australia’s all-rounder prowess, which casts doubt on Sri Lanka’s chances. Australia’s comprehensive performance in the first test has given a commanding win by an innings and 242 runs difference.
According to Tim Paine, Steve Smith’s leadership was instrumental, explaining as ‘close to flawless’ at the post-match conference. He also extended Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, debut centurion Josh Inglis, and bowlers Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon, Toddy Murphy and Mitchell Starc.
Paine has expressed doubts about Sri Lanka’s chances against in-form Australia. “I think Steve Smith said himself in the post-game press conference that the performance was close to flawless,” told Paine.
“That is from Travis Head at the start, Usman Khawaja controlling most of that innings, Steve Smith coming out and playing like the wizard he is in those conditions, and then Josh Inglis on debut to score a Test match 100 is a really special moment for him.”
“Then the bowlers, Kuhnemann, Lyon, Murphy and Starc were all spot on the money. When you have got players of that quality – a bit like the women’s team, play as well as they do – there are not too many teams that can go near them.”
“Sri Lanka at the moment, unfortunately, I cannot see them getting close to Australia on any surface,” he concluded.
Recently Travis Head was crowned the winner of the Allan Border Medal in the Australian Cricket Awards for his exceptional display across the formats. The left-handed batter could not receive the award as he is currently in Sri Lanka with the test squad.
The second match of the Australia tour of Sri Lanka 2025 will begin on February 06 at Galle International Stadium.
Sri Lanka Squad: Dhananjaya de Silva , Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka , Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake
Australia Squad: Steve Smith , Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head , Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
