Usman Khawaja had to deal with Steve Smith’s spitting doosra in the nets at the stadium’s back a few hours before David Warner faced a bouncer from off-spinner Mahesh Theekshana in the middle at the Premadasa. And both appeared to have no idea how to respond to it. However, neither of Australia’s Test openers appeared overly alarmed or astonished by what had happened off the field. Or even the possibility that the next two to three weeks will bring more of the same.
Australia traveled to Sri Lanka anticipating “turning wickets,” as Warner stated at the conclusion of the fourth ODI. Even if it wasn’t, it had the appearance of a proclamation. He didn’t seem like a person from outside the subcontinent who had accepted being called to the stand for a spin trial. Warner appeared to be relishing, if not even anticipating, the challenge that will be presented over the two Test matches in Galle.
Every time a ball tore past his bat or soared off the ground while the several Sri Lankan spinners were in action, you could see it in his emotions as well. Warner was conversing with Niroshan Dickwella behind the stumps about it if he wasn’t grinning broadly. Not to mention his made-up surprise that the umpires did not call “one for the over” on Theekshana’s bouncer or the off-break that fizzed by over his shoulder.
Khawaja appeared to be enjoying his spin session in the nets thanks to Smith, who was essentially attempting to mimic what the Sri Lankan offies could aim to do in the Test matches. Australia’s top Test hitter, who was still wearing protective gear, concentrated on getting the deliveries he was throwing down as off-breaks to turn away from Khawaja as well as on getting the occasional one to go right through. One that evaded the left-defenses handers and struck the top of the middle stump did a lot more than simply straighten from the around the wicket angle. Khawaja and Smith were equally surprised by it because it was so unexpected. The seasoned pair came to the conclusion that a violent doosra that turns in the other direction with such dramatic effect was a rarity and wasn’t the kind you could truly prepare for, and Khawaja pondered if he would be better off playing more from his back foot. They then resumed their preparation for a raging turner by focusing on the more manageable parts, which typically include playing the ball’s line rather than the seeming amount of turn off the ground. Khawaja even stopped participating in Michael Di Venuto’s throwdowns at one point and just continued to face Smith. Only after being completely satisfied with his session did he leave, continuing to converse with his longtime hitting partner, who naturally went on to have a longer net of his own. You had the impression that the Australian team was still very much in the early stages of preparing for their anticipated interrogation by Lasith Embuldeniya and Ramesh Mendis in Galle as Smith eventually finished his roughly 90-minute session.
The fact that Sri Lanka defeated all odds to win the ODI series is the kind of boost that this nation has sorely needed for a while. It has given Sri Lankans all around the world hope that, despite how dismal their immediate future may appear right now, their people still possess the potential to battle their way out of even the most difficult and dire circumstances. Tuesday night at the Premadasa was an interesting experience. The bustle and excitement surrounding their squad were not only palpable but also contagious whether you were in the grandstand or the cheap seats. You longed to throw off your cloak of neutrality and start supporting the home team at that precise moment as they swayed to the Baila.
There was a terrible feeling of “Oh you can’t take this delight away from us too” among the 30,000 fanatical Sri Lankans around the pitch when the game finally reached its dramatic finish with skipper Dasun Shanaka needing to defend 5 runs off the last delivery. Naturally, when Matthew Kuhnemann skied the slower ball to short cover, the figurative roof fell off.
Despite the outcome, the ODI series may have ironically served as the finest form of practice for the Test trial in Galle for Warner and the Australian team, particularly those remaining for the Tests. And you would anticipate that players like Warner and Company would be enthusiastic about Friday’s somewhat pointless final ODI (June 24).
“As a result of our constant expectation of turning wickets, we have excellent practice building up to the Test series. We genuinely like that they are playing back-to-back innings on the wickets since that is what we want to practice on because the green nets prevent us from doing so. With these dustbowls, it’s a wonderful practice for us out there. Test matches in Galle will be intriguing since we already know what to expect there “added Warner.
In terms of their preparation for the much-awaited Test tour of India early in the following year, Australia’s performance during the two weeks in Galle would be heavily analyzed. And while it’s unfair to suppose that Pat Cummins & Co. will be met with rank turners and dustbowls from the Indians, they are more likely to encounter worse conditions here. Warner concurred, also.
“Extreme spin like this is unusual; these kinds of wickets are only seen here. India is totally different from other nations; they have good wickets and turn on day three and day four. Being busy is key. I once played in Dhaka on one of the poorest pitches I’ve ever played on and yet managed to score a hundred. It involves committing, focusing, and batting for extended periods of time.”
The Australians’ potential success in Galle will rely on how much they play the spinners with their feet and how little they do it in their minds, as was evident from the way Khawaja sought to modify his approach following the delivery that passed through his gate. Additionally, Khawaja began to play the off-spin far more off the back foot than he had at the beginning of his practice. After all, he used this method to great success in Pakistan. Warner, please.
“One-day cricket requires you to attempt and go for it, so being optimistic actually helps. Use your feet, get deep in your crease, and make a few tentative advances against them during the Test match series. We are waiting to see what they will present. These are events that we anticipate and that occurred in 2016; nevertheless, Rangana Herath is not present (on this occasion). There are undoubtedly additional spinners in their Test team, but this won’t be a surprise to us.”
The best formula for success when they embark on their coastal voyage down to Galle may, for the time being, despite the turnaround in the ODIs, lie in their focus on limiting their expectations while anticipating the worst but without becoming overawed by what lies ahead.
