GALLE, Sri Lanka, Feb 6, (V7N) — Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva won the toss and elected to bat in the second and final Test against Australia at the Galle International Stadium on Thursday.

The hosts, looking to bounce back from a crushing innings-and-242-run defeat in the first Test, made three changes to their playing XI. Opener Pathum Nissanka returned after recovering from a groin injury, while off-spinner Ramesh Mendis and pacer Lahiru Kumara were also brought in. Oshada Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Asitha Fernando made way.

For Australia, all-rounder Cooper Connolly made his Test debut, offering both lower middle-order batting and left-arm spin. Off-spinner Todd Murphy was omitted.

The match is also a historic one for Dimuth Karunaratne, who is playing his 100th and final Test before retirement. The veteran opener, one of Sri Lanka's most consistent batters in recent years, will look to sign off on a high note.

Playing XIs:

Sri Lanka:

Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Lahiru Kumara

Australia:

Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann

Match Officials:

  • On-field umpires: Joel Wilson (WIS), Adrian Holdstock (RSA)
  • TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
  • Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)

With Sri Lanka fighting to level the series and Australia eyeing a clean sweep, an intense battle is expected over the coming days in Galle.

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