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Pallekele: After a gap of four years since their previous tour in 2011, Australia are set to play three Tests on the Sri Lankan soil, starting at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium from Tuesday.
Due to the lack of experience of playing in Sri Lanka it is not wrong to assume the conditions will be almost be alien for Steven Smith-led side.
The unavailability of most of the quality Sri Lankan bowlers might go on to hurt the hosts in this series.
The duo of Dhamika Prasad and Dushmantha Chammera who have played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s bowling attack has been side-lined with injuries.
Keeping Australia's failure in UAE and India in mind, the series will showcase the battle between Rangana Herath and the buoyant Australian batting line-up. A total of three uncapped spinners – Lakshan Sandakan, Roshan Silva and Dhananjaya de Silva – have been included in the squad.
Prasad, Chammera, Nuwan Pradeep, Shaminda Eranga and Suranga Lakmal formed the nucleus of the Sri Lankan pace attack.
The England tour of Sri Lanka exposed the miserable state of the Sri Lankan batting line-up following the retirement of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
The side is yet to recover from that loss, leaving the skipper Angelo Mathews to regroup his side. The openers Kausal Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne are the only hope for Sri Lanka and Mathews where the scoring of runs is concerned.
Australia are boosting confidence with the return of David Warner, who has been declared fit for the first Test.
Australian bowling strength has only enhanced with the return of Mitchell Starc. He along with Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mitchell Marsh will form the pace attack of the visitors.
Teams news
Australia announce starting XI for 1st Test against Sri Lanka. Stephen O'Keefe has been selected as the second spin option ahead of fast bowler Jackson Bird
Australia XI: Joe Burns, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (c), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Stephen O'Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc
Sri Lanka (from): Angelo Mathews (c), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Rangana Herath, Dimuth Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Kusal Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Roshen Silva, Kaushal Silva
Match facts
July 26-30, 2016
Start time: 10:00 local (04:30 GMT)
