TOPIC:

Away  test matches in Asia are always tough.Good partnership by Green+Carey got us over 100 ahead.Great to see Lyon in the wickets.
Rain forecast for the remainder of the test.Sri Lanka almost on the equator,600kms north. Could expect monsoonal type rain..

Cameron Green is so fluent in his stroke making, disappointing for him not to get his first test century but he will get there. The runs that Cummins scored at the end were priceless as it pushed the lead over 100. Another 20 or so extra from the tail today will heap more scoreboard pressure on Sri Lanka. The home spinners were a bit all over the place and the Aussies were able to keep the runs flowing along at a good rate for a test.
If the Australian bowlers can bowl good lines and lengths and keep it tight, the pitch is providing enough assistance and there is no reason why they can't bowl out Sri Lanka for 200 or less in the 2nd innings. This would then give Australia a very modest chase to go 1 nil up.

Green batted beautifully for his 77....fluent and positive from the off....rotated strike and very unlucky to miss out on a well deserved 100. Head surely must be a no go for India....horses for courses stuff I reckon....though that probably means half that Aust line up don't go.....

Looks like SL are dying on their sword in the 2nd innings, go big or go home approach.....all the Aust spinners have to do is keep their heads, bowl in the good spots often enough and the wickets will come....

Would really like to see Hunt get a go, even at six initially, as he is an opener and well versed witj the new ball.....pity Pucovski is out for the India tour.....Head is good against the weaker attacks on Aus pitches, just hasn't got the technique nor temperament on the slow spinning  dust bowls on the sub continent....

Addit - however then there is Head the spin bowler.

Oouch Sri Lankan bowler Angelo Matthews has just tested positive to COVID -19.We all know how this all works now.Would expect teammates and possibly Aussies players also testing positive now.

I reckon Head just might play as the 3rd spinner now Freeze after that sheesh 4/10 I didnt think he had it in him with his modest offies but it was turning sharply and with some bounce you have to say!
Mike how was that massive 6 from Cummins that landed on the road outside the ground and onto the foot of the fort surrounding Galle Cricket Ground. Luckily there wasnt a car, motorbike or pedestrian in the vicinity at the time as it could have been a nasty accident.
Now we have to wait a week for the 2nd Test to start but gee I didnt see us winning in 2 days and a session that is for sure!

Considering how spin friendly the Galle track is and we assume the next Test pitch will serve up similar to this Test could we possibly drop Starc and go with another spinner like Agar and dare I say it Maxwell which would also bolster the batting line up?
Cummins and Starc didnt bowl much at all in the 1st Test whilst Green could partner Cummins as the seamer for a few overs with the new ball before the spinners are put to work for the majority?

Agree BH, Didn't really need that extra pace bowler given the conditions. If Agar isn't fit, probably go with Maxwell over Holland. I think the demolition of the Sri Lankan batsman today really showed the value of the innings of Khawaja, Green and Carey. Probably worth double the number of runs they scored. Mind you the Sri Lankan spinners are inexperienced and don't seem to have the control of someone like Herath who would have had fun on that pitch I reckon. I was surprised that Hasaranga and Theeksanka who were very effective in the ODIs were not considered for the tests. Apparently have been earmarked to play white ball cricket only.
As you said that six that Cummins hit out of the ground was very lucky that it didnt hit a car or pedestrian. Apparently some guy took off with it and it will probably fetch a few bucks in a hock shop! 

astonishing collapse by Sri Lanka especially in their own conditions - handed us the win and they're quite valuable points in the championship right now
At least we know what to expect pitch-wise for the next one

The Australians are now in trouble as Sri Lanka have dug in and are looking to occupy the crease until they have a substantial lead. Very disappointing first innings score of 364, particularly given that two batsman made centuries, the rest hardly troubled the scorers. Carey in particular needs to reflect on his dumb shot when Australia were cruising at 5-330 and all he needed to do was stay with Smith who looked like he wanted to bat for another fortnight. They left at least 100 runs out there and unless they can make significant inroads with the 2nd new ball may see them trying to hang out for a draw.
Massive credit to the Sri Lankan players for bouncing back in the way they have given all the unrest that is going on in their country at the moment which would have to be distracting.

Spot on Mike, we should have scored at least 450 on this pitch in the first innings but outside of Labuschagne & Smith the rest offered up nothing, and now with the ball we have hardly troubled the Sri Lankans.
Gee though Dharmasena has had a shocking series as an umpire, he has made some real howlers in both Tests!