Steve Smith back in the blazer
Steve Smith’s first Test in charge since Australia’s tour of India in 2023.
Pat Cummins is back in Sydney, probably watching the game on his couch in the eastern suburbs, awaiting the birth of his second child and nursing an ankle injury.
Smudge looks sharp back in the blazer. Big day for him with 10,000 runs on the cards. One to get.
Steve Smith won the toss. Credit: Getty Images
Who did it better?Credit: Getty Images
Australia win the toss and bat
Steve Smith wins the toss and elects to bat in Galle.
Interestingly, Alex Carey is listed at six in the batting order, ahead of Beau Webster.
What batting order would you have picked?
Geoff Marsh presents Josh Inglis with his baggy green
From a proud West Australian to an adopted West Australian.
Geoff Marsh, former Test and one-day player and father of Shaun and Mitch, is out in the middle of Galle International Stadium presenting Josh Inglis with his baggy green. He becomes Australian men’s Test player No.470 off the back of 3095 first-class runs at an average of 36.41 with seven centuries.
He’ll bat at No.5 and won’t take the gloves in this match. Alex Carey will be behind the stumps.
Josh Inglis of Australia receives his cap from Geoff Marsh.Credit: Getty Images
Josh Inglis is Australian men’s Test player No.470. Credit: Getty Images
Todd Murphy marks his run-up
The word from the Galle press box is that off-spinner Todd Murphy is marking his run-up.
Looks like he’ll get the nod over Scott Boland. Australia to play only one specialist fast bowler in Mitchell Starc, with Beau Webster to send some overs down as well with his handy seamers.
Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann are in the XI.
Bold play. Aussies must think this deck is going to turn. We’ll have official confirmation at the toss.
Inglis gets nod as Konstas is dropped and Head rises up the order
By Daniel Brettig
Sam Konstas is set to be replaced by spin specialist Josh Inglis in Australia’s Test team against Sri Lanka, with Travis Head to open alongside Usman Khawaja.
Inglis has been a part of the white ball team for several years, and was included in the Test squad against India. He is considered an accomplished attacking player against slow bowling.
The decision to leave out Konstas runs contrary to the views of numerous observers, including Ricky Ponting and even Khawaja, who reckoned it was worth persisting with the 19-year-old at the top of the order for this series after his whirlwind first two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
Konstas had a one-on-one chat with head coach Andrew McDonald at the team hotel in Galle before training on match eve, and then spent the bulk of the team’s final session fielding. Inglis, by contrast, sprinted to the nets to get a hit in before afternoon showers brought an early end to preparation.
Josh Inglis will make his Test debut in Sri Lanka.Credit: Getty Images
Australia’s players have arrived at the ground
Mitchell Starc of Australia arrives on day one in Galle. Credit: Getty Images
Will Todd Murphy play?Credit: Getty Images
Who wins this Test?
The bookies have installed Australia as favourites for this opening Test at $2 compared to Sri Lanka at $2.40. The draw is $6.
Australia’s last series in Sri Lanka in 2022 was a 1-1 draw. The Aussies haven’t won a Test series in Sri Lanka since 2011.
Hello and welcome
G’day cricket fans.
Welcome to our live coverage of the opening Test between Australia and Sri Lanka in Galle.
It’s Tom Decent here, ready to go in the Coogee bureau. We’ve got cricket writer Dan Brettig in Galle, who’ll bring you all the latest news and analysis.
There’s a bit going on with team news, which we’ll go into in depth shortly.
The toss will be at 3pm AEDT and the first ball of this two-Test series will be sent down at 3.30pm AEDT.
Steve Smith examines the pitch in Galle.Credit: Getty Images
