Australia in Sri Lanka: Live coverage of second Test’s opening day in Galle

Just when Australia needed a lift the GOAT strikes again!

It skidded on from around the wicket and Karunaratne can’t bring the bat down in time as it goes off the toe end and back onto his stumps.

A timely breakthrough and great variation from Lyon.

Australia will be hoping the pitch breaks up more in this second session otherwise they could be looking at a long day.

Lyon to continue after the break.

He drops one short and wide that Chandimal cracks for four forward of point.

Connolly bowls the last over before lunch and it’s much better as he gets through a maiden.

Just the one wicket in the session as Sri Lanka have batted well in relatively calm conditions so far.

Lyon ripped one to remove Nissanka but Chandimal and Kuranaratne have played with a straight bat and put away the sweeps to put on 64 runs.

Australia have kept it tight but will need to be patient with the surface still looking a good one for batting.

A couple of overs before lunch and Smith throws the ball to Connolly coming from around the wicket.

He’s too full first up allowing Karunaratne to whip a single off his pads.

He lands a couple before Karunarante misses out on a full toss as Cooper goes too straight to finish for another single.

Three off his first over in Test cricket

Chandimal drives Webster in the air but just wide of cover for four to bring up the 50 stand.

He gets a single off an inside-edge as Sri Lanka continue to build at 1/76

Marcus Stoinis has announced his retirement from One-Day cricket on the eve of the Champions Trophy in another blow for their injury-hit squad.

He didn’t bowl at all in the first Test but is coming on early here.

He can bowl both seam and spin but will bowl seam-up here perhaps with the idea of creating some foot marks.

It’s largely unthreatening but he keeps it tight with just the two runs off it.

The last time Australia played with just three specialist bowlers was in Manchester in 2023 when England made 592 before rain saved Australia to force a draw.

It’s only early days but Australia would’ve probably thought the deck would be offering more assistance early.

Chandimal nearly chips one to Webster at short midwicket.

Chandimal advances and slicing one high as Kuhnemann gets one to turn away.

But it goes over cover point and dribbles away for four.

SIX! Much more confident stroke coming down and launching Kuhnemann over mid-off for six.

There’s a delay as they try and find the ball.

Good over for the home side.

Chandimal and Karunaratne have been largely untroubled since they’ve come together.

Australia playing with just three front-line bowlers with Connolly and Webster as all-rounder options who we expect to see given how the morning has gone.

The surface has settled a bit to with any turn being slow enough that the batters can negotiate without too much issue