Australia was firmly in control against Sri Lanka in the second test after reducing the host to 229-9 by stumps on day one Thursday. Half-centuries from Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis kept Sri Lanka in the game,

Alex Carey joins Steve Smith in raising his bat as a massive partnership puts Australia 73 runs ahead with seven wickets in hand in the first innings after day two of the second Test.

Australia expected the wicket in Galle to turn more than it did on day one after the tourists boldly chose to omit frontline spinner Todd Murphy for debutant all-rounder Cooper Connolly in what assistant coach Daniel Vettori labelled an “incredibly tough call.