COLOMBO (Reuters) – Australia captain Pat Cummins believes Cameron Green’s masterly 77 on a treacherous Galle track made all of the distinction within the opening check in opposition to Sri Lanka, which his aspect received by 10 wickets on Friday.
Replying to Sri Lanka’s below-par 212, Australia endured a top-order wobble of their very own to be 100-4 however Green solid half-century partnerships with Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey to safe their decisive first-innings lead of 109.
A spin-heavy Sri Lanka bought a style of their very own drugs as Nathan Lyon and Travis head routed them within the second innings, paving the way in which for Australia’s complete victory inside three days.
Green, who learnt his cricket on quicker pitches in Western Australia, was named player-of-the-match for what proved a decisive knock within the spin-dominated contest.
“Someone like Greeny has grown up on the WACA and over in Perth, it is so totally different to right here,” Cummins mentioned after Australia went 1-0 up within the two-test sequence.
“Players undergo their entire careers trying for a technique that works in these circumstances, and in his first knock he is discovered it.
“Really blissful for him, he was incredible, he was the distinction.”
While Green was a part of the Australia aspect who triumphed 1-0 in Pakistan earlier this 12 months, circumstances had been vastly totally different in Galle the place the ball turned viciously and touring spinners claimed all 10 Sri Lanka wickets within the second innings.
Green mentioned it was a particular knock contemplating the circumstances.
“Playing within the sub-continent you’ve got bought just a few unknowns how one can go about it however there are plenty of skilled guys within the change-room, just a few guys I can speak to to get a extremely good concept earlier than I am going on the market,” the 23-year-old mentioned.
On a wicket the place solely three batsmen managed half-centuries and none may convert them into 100, Green mentioned senior gamers suggested him to not retreat into his shell.
“Just a few guys mentioned simply to be proactive. If you go on the market simply defending, you get your self in bother. Looking to attain is the way you give your self the very best probability,” he mentioned.
“You’re going to get out in some unspecified time in the future so that you may as nicely play some pictures.”
Galle additionally hosts the second and last check from July 8.
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; enhancing by Toby Davis)
