SL vs AUS 2nd Test: Australia, the reigning World Test Championship holders, dominated Sri Lanka in the first Test with a crushing innings-and-242-run victory. Steven Smith crossed 10,000 Test runs, Usman Khawaja returned to form with a double hundred, and debutant Josh Inglis impressed with a century. The spin trio of Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Todd Murphy proved too strong for the hosts, with Kuhnemann taking nine wickets.
For Sri Lanka, it was a disappointing performance, with only Dinesh Chandimal showing resilience. With this being Dimuth Karunaratne’s farewell Test—his 100th match—the hosts will be eager to turn things around. Can they level the series, or will Australia complete a rare sweep?
2nd Test Match Details
Venue: Galle International Stadium, Galle
Date: February 6–10, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM IST
Series: Australia tour of Sri Lanka (2nd Test)
Head-to-Head Record
| Team | Wins | Losses | Draws | No Result | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 21 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 61.76% |
| Sri Lanka | 5 | 21 | 8 | 0 | 14.71% |
Galle Test Pitch Report
The Galle International Stadium pitch is known for assisting spinners, especially as the game progresses, offering slow, turning conditions that make batting increasingly difficult. Fast bowlers can also enjoy some early movement, but it is the spinners who tend to dominate in the later stages of the match. The pitch is expected to be dry, and as the game goes on, the cracks will begin to play a significant role. The average first-innings score is typically high, with teams looking to score 375 runs or more, while the average score drops significantly in the fourth innings.
Test Statistics at Galle
- Total Matches Played: 47
- Matches Won Batting First: 26
- Matches Won Bowling First: 15
- Average First Innings Score: 375
- Average Second Innings Score: 306
- Average Third Innings Score: 239
- Average Fourth Innings Score: 159
Weather Conditions
The weather forecast for the 2nd Test in Galle predicts mostly clear skies with temperatures ranging between 26°C (79°F) during the day and 21°C (70°F) at night. Rain is unlikely, ensuring ideal conditions for a full match.
Toss Impact
Given the pitch’s tendency to deteriorate as the game progresses, the team winning the toss may prefer to bat first, setting a strong total and taking advantage of the better conditions early on. However, the second-innings and third-innings scores tend to be quite competitive, so the team bowling first could also have an advantage in exploiting the surface’s turning nature as it begins to break up.
Head to Head: Last 5 Meetings
- 29-Jan-2025: Australia won by an innings and 242 runs
- 08-Jul-2022: Sri Lanka won by an innings and 39 runs
- 29-Jun-2022: Australia won by 10 wickets
- 01-Feb-2019: Australia won by 366 runs
- 24-Jan-2019: Australia won by an innings and 40 runs
SL vs AUS 2nd Test Lineups
Sri Lanka
K Mendis (wk), D Chandimal, D Karunaratne, A Mathews, AM Fernando, O Fernando, PHKD Mendis, D de Silva (C), NGRP Jayasuriya, JF Vandersay, N Peiris
Australia
AT Carey (wk), JP Inglis, Usman Khawaja, TM Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (C), BJ Webster, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy
Probable Best Players
Sri Lanka
- Best Batter: PHKD Mendis – Mendis has been in outstanding form, with 1096 runs in his last 10 matches at an average of 68.5, making him a crucial figure at the top for Sri Lanka.
- Best Bowler: NGRP Jayasuriya – Jayasuriya has been a lethal force with 43 wickets in 9 matches, maintaining a solid economy rate of 3.37, and will be key in breaking Australia’s batting resistance.
Australia
- Best Batter: Travis Head – Head has been in exceptional touch, scoring 693 runs in his last 10 matches at an average of 43.31 and an impressive strike rate of 90.7, making him one of Australia’s top threats.
- Best Bowler: Nathan Lyon – Lyon has been Australia’s most reliable bowler, picking up 37 wickets in his last 10 matches at an economy of 2.83 and a strike rate of 45.51, and will be instrumental in controlling the middle overs.
SL vs AUS 2nd Test Match Prediction:
Australia is expected to continue its dominant performance in the second Test against Sri Lanka. Given their comprehensive victory in the first Test and the team’s current form, Australia is likely to win the second Test as well.
Predicted Scores:
- Australia: First Innings: 450-500 runs
- Sri Lanka: First Innings: 250-300 runs
- Australia: Second Innings: 200-250 runs
- Sri Lanka: Second Innings: 150-200 runs
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