Australia secured a dominant nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second Test at Galle, clinching a 2-0 series win in just four days. While the Test series is over, the tour continues with the first of two one-day internationals in Colombo starting Wednesday.
As Daniel Brettig noted, Australia’s triumph at Galle, under the watchful presence of the historic Dutch fort, came after a tense eight-day struggle across both Tests. Nathan Lyon (4-84) played a pivotal role in the final session, taking key wickets before Usman Khawaja (27 not out), Travis Head, and Marnus Labuschagne (26 not out) finished off the job quickly, securing victory before lunch with just a nine-wicket margin. This solidifies Australia’s position as strong contenders for the world championship title.
Australia wrapped up the victory by chasing down the 75 runs required with Travis Head (20) being the only batsman dismissed. Usman Khawaja (27) and Marnus Labuschagne (26) ensured a swift conclusion, bringing home the series win in just 17.4 overs. This marked Australia’s first series win in Sri Lanka in 14 years, a remarkable achievement despite the absence of key players like Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Steve Smith’s performances were exceptional, with centuries in both Tests, and his leadership and tactical brilliance were highlighted throughout the series. Former Australian cricketer Greg Blewett praised Australia’s performance, noting that the side could not have played better. He also highlighted the importance of creating squad depth with several debutants, including Cooper Connolly, making their mark.
As Blewett pointed out, the squad mentality is crucial for Australian cricket, especially as a transition period looms with possible retirements following the Ashes series. It is encouraging to see younger players, or those with less experience, being given opportunities to gain valuable exposure.
At 5.06pm, victory seemed close as Marnus Labuschagne’s aggressive play had Australia just nine runs away from the win, with Labuschagne scoring 22 runs off 28 balls.
According to former batsman Simon Katich, the series was Australia’s to win, and the stats backed it up, with five centuries from Australian players compared to none from Sri Lanka. He praised the way the team adapted to the challenging conditions, transitioning from Australia’s bouncing pitches to Sri Lanka’s turning tracks. Katich believes the series was effectively decided in the opening session of the first Test.
By 4:50pm, Australia passed 50 runs, with Labuschagne showcasing his shot-making skills. With only 23 runs left to win, the pressure was on the Aussie batsmen to finish the job. However, there was added pressure on Marnus Labuschagne, who has been struggling for runs recently. Former Australian batsman Simon Katich noted that Labuschagne needed to show intent to retain his spot in the team, especially with his lean form over the past year.