Sri Lanka's Heaviest Test Defeat: A Day of Unacceptable Batting

Australia's Spin Trio Dominates as Sri Lanka Collapses

On a day that will be etched in the memories of Sri Lankan cricket fans for all the wrong reasons, the team suffered their heaviest Test defeat at the hands of Australia. The visitors, who had been made to follow on, were bowled out for a paltry 51 runs in the second innings, with the Australians taking 15 wickets in just two sessions.

Jayasuriya's Dismissal Symbolic of Sri Lanka's Lack of Fight

Prabath Jayasuriya's dismissal, which came after a wild swing against Nathan Lyon, was symbolic of the systemic lack of fight shown by the Sri Lankans. Despite being in a position to show some resistance, the team's specialist batting group failed to deliver, leaving Jayasuriya to face the music.

Australian Spinners Excel on a Breaking Pitch

The Australian spin trio, comprising of Lyon, Murphy, and Kuhnemann, excelled on a pitch that had started to break up by Day 4. They took advantage of the conditions to take 15 wickets, with Kuhnemann finishing with a five-wicket haul.

Sri Lanka's Attitude and Approach a Major Concern

The Sri Lankans' attitude and approach against the Australian spinners was a major concern. They batted with a defeatist attitude, attempting reverse sweeps and swinging for the fences without any intent or keenness to create any impression.

Key Dismissals

• Kusal Mendis: Dismissed twice in the same session, with his first wicket coming off a sweep attempt against Matt Kuhnemann.
• Angelo Mathews: Fell to a poorly executed reverse-sweep, which he tried to play without getting into the right position or picking the right ball to play it off.
• Kamindu Mendis: Got out after attempting a hoick against Mitchell Starc, despite the odds being stacked against him.
• Dhananjaya de Silva: Fell to an untoward shot while trying to repeat the shot off Kuhnemann he'd got a boundary with off the previous delivery.

Australia's Steve Smith: The Mastermind

Steve Smith was the mastermind behind Australia's victory, moving his fielders around and shifting them to perfection. He was having the time of his life, just like the rest of the Australians, even as Sri Lanka hurtled towards one of their lowest points as a Test team.