Australia in Sri Lanka: Live coverage of second Test’s opening day in Galle
WA’s Cooper Connolly has earned his baggy green cap as Australia look to close out their Test series with a win.
Relive all the action here, with the first ball set for 12.30pm (WA time).
Kuhnemann from the other end
So no Webster with spin on straight away. Kuhnemann took nine wickets in the first Test.
He starts with a full toss which Karunaratne drives down the ground for one.
Big LBW Shout. Pins Nissanka on the crease but was probably just sliding down leg. Indeed umpires call.
Another appeal but this one was definitely going down.
Massive Appeal! And Smith reviews this time. This looks really close but it’s umpires call on hitting leg with about 45 per cent of the ball hitting it.
Niassanka probably lucky to get away with that
Here we go
Dimuth Karunaratne gets a guard of honour from Australia for what will be his 100th and final Test match.
But he won’t be on strike with Nissanka facing up.
Mitchell Starc with the new ball.
He’s down leg first up but gets it on the money next ball getting some shape back into the right-hander.
SHOT. Overpitched and Nissanka nails the cover drive for four.
Beaten. This holds its line to beat the outside edge.
Beaten Again. This straightens off the seam to beat the edge
Shane and Donna Connolly speak ahead of their son’s debut
Three changes for Sri Lanka
After their hammering in the first Test Sri Lanka has made three changes with Pathum Nissanka returning to the top of the order while Ramesh Mendis and Lahiru Kumara come in for Jeffrey Vandersay and Asihta Fernando.
That’s a harsh call on Vandersay who was arguably their best bowler in the first Test and also made 50 in the second innings.
Nishan Peiris keeps his place despite conceding 0/189 in the first Test.
A wonderful moment
It’s been a meteoric rise for Cooper Connolly with Simon Katich presenting him with his baggy green this morning.
His parents Shane and Donna are their to share the moment with him.
It will be interesting to see if/when Connolly is thrown the ball today having not taken a first-class wicket.
TOSS: Sri Lanka win and will BAT
The home side call correctly and opt to bat!
Steve Smith is confident there’ll be plenty of swing and spin early for the Aussie bowlers. Can they make some inroads in this first session?
AUSTRALIAN LINE-UP:
Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschange, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann.
Baggy Green #471
Connolly receives his cap from fellow WA product Simon Katich.
Side note: Katich made his Test debut in 2001 - more than two years before Connolly was born!
Ahead of the toss, Seven analyst Greg Blewett expects the pitch to be much drier - and more conducive to turn - than last week’s deck at the same venue in Galle.
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the second Test!
Australia are looking to close out the two-Test series after their dominant showing in the opener, but the big news from Galle is the selection of Cooper Connolly for his Test debut.
The 21-year-old has precious little first-class experience, but will swap in for Todd Murphy as the Aussies shore up their batting.
It looms as the sole change for the tourists, but we’ll know for sure soon. The toss of the coin is in just over 10 minutes.
