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SL vs Aus, 1st Test, Galle - Cricket Live Score and Streaming.
Seven years ago, the island witnessed the battle of two spin wizards. Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne squared up and mesmerized the cricketing world. Both the champion spinners have now faded into the sunset, which makes this series of 2011 even more interesting. The urge to prove who is the best still burns bright in both teams. Watch Live Score
This will be Australia's first series since their devastating 3-1 Ashes series loss in early 2011. Sri Lanka lost the three Test series against England 1-0 thanks to a collapse in Cardiff. Worryingly for Sri Lanka though, it has been more than a year since they registered their last Test win. Their last Test win was against India at Galle in July 2010 and that marked the final Test match for Muralitharan, who ended up with 800 wickets.
After being whitewashed in the T20s, Australia bounced back superbly by winning the ODI series 3-2. Australia will breathe a little easy considering that Malinga, who had tormented them in the ODIs, has retired from Tests. With no Muralitharan to spin a web around them on spinning tracks, this batting line-up will look to take the initiative against a relatively inexperienced bowling line-up.
Usman Khawaja's chances for Galle have brightened after he stroked a delightful hundred in the warm-up game against the Sri Lanka Board XI. Australia will be heartened by Michael Clarke's consistency. Following up on his consistent ODI performances, he scored a century in the practice match to head into Galle with confidence.
The bowling would have also pleased the Australians and some new faces are all set to make their Test debuts. Trent Copeland served notice of his talent by picking up five wickets. Michael Beer and Nathan Lyon, the two spinners on this trip, also bowled well and these two will look to shoulder the burden on spinning tracks.
There is a lot at stake in this series for both teams. Dilshan will be aiming to give Sri Lanka their second Test series victory against Australia while Clarke will want Australia to get back to their dominating ways and defeat the Lions in their own den.
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Sri Lanka have won only one Test against Australia. This was achieved in Kandy in 1999 and it also resulted in their only series victory till date against the Aussies.
In the current Australian squad, only Ricky Ponting has played a Test in Sri Lanka. He has been part of two tours and in the 2004 series, he was the captain.
In the current Sri Lankan squad, only Tillekeratne Dilshan has scored a century against Australia in Sri Lanka. He scored 104 in the first Test at Galle in 2004.
Teams:
Australia (From): Brad Haddin(w), Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke(c), Michael Beer, Trent Copeland, Ryan Harris, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle
Sri Lanka (From): Tillakaratne Dilshan(c), Angelo Mathews, Shaminda Eranga, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardene, Suraj Randiv, Suranga Lakmal, Ajantha Mendis, Dhammika Prasad, Kumar Sangakkara, Seekkuge Prasanna, Prasanna Jayawardene(w), Tharanga Paranavitana, Thilan Samaraweera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chanaka Welegedara




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