Herath takes 4 wickets; Australia struggles to 146

It meant that 13 of the 20 wickets so far in the Test had fallen to spin, Lyon himself having claimed three and O’Keefe two in Sri Lanka’s innings, despite the fact that the pitch was offering just regulation turn.

But while Australia’s fast bowlers have been key to their success on home soil in recent years, their less celebrated spinners will have to step up to the plate against a Sri Lankan side who have been struggling of late.

Australia was then well served by handy contributions from the lower order, with Steve O’Keefe (23), Starc (11) and Nathan Lyon (17) all hanging around to swell the lead, and make a significant dent in a match dominated by bowlers and affected by the weather. We haven’t played them a lot, especially our bowlers.

The match is going to be played in Pallekele.

Australia wins in Sri Lanka.

The spinner was named alongside regular test spinner Nathan Lyon for Australia’s first test against Sri Lanka, which began yesterday in Kandy. Then, in his fourth over, O’Keefe extracted both spin and bounce to collect the edge off Mathews, who was taken at slip for 15.

But Australia recovered thanks to 60-run partnership between Voges and Mitchell Marsh, which was broken when left-arm wrist spinner Sandakan bowled right-hander Marsh with a straighter delivery for 31.

He has done really well in these conditions.

Muralitharan, 44, added that Sri Lanka’s cricket board had asked for his help only once since his worldwide retirement in 2011. We now need to put in consistent performances, both at home and away, to continue to be successful and keep the number one ranking. “The way we started was brilliant”, he said. We may have to work on a few different things.

Smith, who is yet to lose a test when leading the side, said he would also have batted first had he won the toss.

Australian umpires reported Muralitharan for a suspect action during his first tour to Australia in 1995 and again in 1999 – but he was cleared by the International Cricket Council after tests.

They are a very consistent team and a strong unit.

Sri Lanka was been dismissed for 117 in its first innings.

Mathews held back from naming his starting XI and was instead cursing a new round of injury woes to an already depleted squad.

Muralitharan is a hero in Sri Lanka after taking 800 Test wickets before retiring six years ago.

Australia lost openers David Warner and Joe Burns inside the first four overs of their reply but Usman Khawaja and captain Steve Smith steadied the ship, putting on an unbroken 59 to take the tourists to 66 for two at tea.

SRI LANKA: Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal.