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Sri Lanka vs Australia: Rain in Galle delays victory charge for Steve Smith's team

Rain on the covers in Galle.

For the third straight day, play ended early in Galle. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)

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Rain in Galle has forced an early stumps after Australia picked up two Sri Lankan wickets in the morning session on day three of the first Test.

Mitchell Starc had Kamindu Mendis (15) strangled down the leg side and captain Dhananjaya de Silva (22) sprinted past a Matthew Kuhnemann delivery to be stumped.

Former captain Dinesh Chandimal was a rare shining light for the hosts as he carried on to his 31st Test half-century and finished the day on 63 not out alongside Kusal Mendis (10*).

Sri Lanka still trails by a whopping 518 runs, but with more rain forecast for day four, may escape the series opener with a draw even if Steve Smith enforces the follow-on.

Not even one full session was played before the rain arrived and forced the players off for lunch about 15 minutes early.

The afternoon session was completely wiped but the clouds broke and the covers were briefly removed in preparation for a three-hour final session, but the downpour resumed soon after and play was ultimately called off more than two hours early.

Look back on day three of the first Test in our live blog below, and check out the full ScoreCentre.

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Live updates

First Test live: Sri Lanka vs Australia in Galle

By Chris De Silva

Stumps has been called on account of rain

By Jon Healy

And just like that, play has been called for day three …

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Sri Lanka is 5-136, trailing Australia by 518 runs heading into day four of the first Test in Galle.

Not even one full session was played today, although there was still enough time for the wickets of Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva.

With more rain forecast, especially tomorrow, we'll have to wait and see how this match will play out.

We'll be back on the blog tomorrow. So please join us then!

Busy day for the groundstaff

By Jon Healy

Groundstaff cover the cricket field in Galle.
(Getty)

If you thought the SCG crew had a tough job covering the wicket block, pity the guys in Galle having to cover the entire field.

This rain looks very settled in by the way.

I don't love our chances of getting back on today.

Draw or win

By Jon Healy

Hi Jon. I wonder if you might like to change the last sentence of your “follow on “ comment .You’ve said “if” Steve Smith wants to win. What else would he want?

- Phillip

Hi Phillip,

Probably fair, mate. But I merely meant if he wants to really force the issue or just play for the draw.

A look at a few ODI specialists for Australia

By Chris De Silva

Who is the best Australian player to be brilliant for Australia in ODIs but criminally underpicked in test matches? Any ideas?

- Pete

Hi Pete,

Michael Bevan is the obvious one that springs to mind here. He averaged 53.58 with the bat in 232 ODIs and won a couple of World Cups, but played just 18 Tests.

If we're talking about this current generation, Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell are two obvious ones. It's bizarre that neither has managed more Test matches, particularly Maxwell, given his all-round abilities.

Bad news, folks. The covers are back on

By Jon Healy

Covers on a cricket field in Galle.
This was during the lunch break, but it's how it feels in my heart right now. (Getty)

In case you were wondering why we weren't back blogging, it's because the rain has returned, and so too have the covers on the field in Galle.

It's not ideal.

What can happen for the rest of today and why Steve Smith has to enforce the follow-on

By Jon Healy

Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis run into each other.
(AP)

We have three hours of play left.

Australia could very easily have Sri Lanka all out by stumps — one wicket and they're into a very vulnerable tail. Jeffrey Vandersay is the best of the lot statistically, with three first-class 50s and an average of 15. He and fellow second-gamer Nishan Peiris don't have enough Tests for their international numbers to carry much weight, but Prabath Jayasuriya averages 8.4 from 18 Tests, and Asitha Fernando goes at 3s with a high score of 11 from his 21 games.

If Australia can take the last five wickets tonight, Steve Smith must enforce the follow-on.

Steve Smith gestures in the field during a Test against Sri Lanka.
(Getty)

His bowlers are mostly spinners, with Travis Head and Beau Webster also available and yet to be used. They've also had a long rest just now thanks to the rain, and will get another one from stumps to resumption on day four.

There is more rain forecast for days four and five, which will sap time out of the match but should give the bowlers more breaks. So, if Australia wants to win this, Smith has to send Sri Lanka straight back in.

Play is just over 20 minutes away

By Jon Healy

Day three is set to resume at 8:20pm AEDT.

Huzzah!

So that will be the end of the tea break, meaning an extended final session from 8:20pm to 11:20pm.

More combined XIs to come

By Jon Healy

What about a combined XI based on games only between Australia and Sri Lanka? Perhaps names like Mike Hussey, Rangana Herath also get a look in?

- Ben

Not a bad shout, Ben.

How about big Kurtis Patterson!

I think there will be more rain delays on Saturday and Sunday, so let's keep our powder dry on the combined XIs.

Surely we can't be far away from play

By Jon Healy

Umpires look at the field in Galle.
(AP)

Because the groundstaff in Galle commit and cover the entire field, there's no need to wait for the outfield to dry.

With the rain gone, play is hopefully imminent.

Sangakkara vs Gilchrist

By Chris De Silva

Hi Chris I think we have to remember that Sangakarra was a wicketkeeper/ batsman. A combined X1 would not need him for his batting so we are focusing on wicket keeping. Be really hard to go past Adam Gilchrist in my opinion.

- Phillip

Hi Phillip,

I think both Jon and I have gone Sangakkara as a solo bat as that's the role he played predominantly during his Test career.

Sangakkara played 86 of his 134 Tests as purely a batter and averaged 66.78 in these matches, scoring 9,283 runs.

Gilchrist is undoubtedly the best keeper-bat in Test history, so you've got to have both in the side.

Johnson and Malinga worth a run?

By Chris De Silva

A bowling attack of Murali, Warnie, Mitch Johnson, and Lasith Malinga would probably give batsmen nightmares…

- Watcher

Hi Watcher,

Johnson and Malinga are interesting calls. I don't think Malinga gets anywhere near a Test XI, because he barely played Tests for Sri Lanka.

He'd be a lock in a combined T20 XI that's for sure.

Johnson is a great, but there are that many great fast bowlers who have played for both countries (mainly Australia, let's be honest).

The covers are coming off in Galle

By Jon Healy

We've got a glimpse of sunlight and the tarps are being removed.

We'll keep you posted when we know more times of play.

Gotta give the people what they want

By Chris De Silva

Would Chris De Silva make the combined SL and Aus XI?

- Simon

Re combined XI - I'd have Chris De Silva behind the stumps - there's not much gets past you and I can't recall you ever dropping a chance...

- Mike

The people in the comments have gone a bit loopy because these are some of the suggestions coming through.

Fine, I'll captain, open the batting and bowling while also keeping when I'm not bowling.

Here's my combined XI

By Chris De Silva

Roast me in the comments people. I've gone for a modern-day team of players who pretty much played in my era (the 90s onwards), hence no Bradman, Lillee, Chappell et al.

  1. 1.Justin Langer
  2. 2.Matthew Hayden
  3. 3.Kumar Sangakkara
  4. 4.Ricky Ponting (C)
  5. 5.Aravinda de Silva
  6. 6.Steve Smith
  7. 7.Adam Gilchrist (WK)
  8. 8.Shane Warne
  9. 9.Mitchell Starc
  10. 10.Muttiah Muralitharan
  11. 11.Glenn McGrath

Pretty tough task to fit any Sri Lankans into this, to be fair, such is Australia's greatness.

The No.5 and No.6 spots could have also very easily gone to Steve Waugh, Allan Border or Mahela Jayawardene, who all have over 10,000 Test runs at very healthy averages.

Also honourable mentions to Pat Cummins, Brett Lee and Chaminda Vaas who were edged by Starc for the second seamer spot.

This side of mine is probably lacking a fifth bowler, but I think this attack would be fine being supplemented by Aravinda's very handy offies.

My combined AusLankan XI

By Jon Healy

At the behest of my co-blogger, I give you my contribution to the conversation.

But I've decided to make my job easier by  just going post-2000*.

  1. 1.Matthew Hayden
  2. 2.Sanath Jayasuriya
  3. 3.Kumar Sangakkara
  4. 4.Steve Smith
  5. 5.Ricky Ponting
  6. 6.Mahela Jayawardene
  7. 7.Adam Gilchrist
  8. 8.Shane Warne
  9. 9.Pat Cummins
  10. 10.Glenn McGrath
  11. 11.Muthiah Muralidaran

* Yes, I'm a coward. This is known

Murali the only Sri Lankan in a combined XI?

By Chris De Silva

Hi Chris . In my humble opinion , if you take the best players of all time , only Muralitharan would be in my pick. You could pick innumerable Australians who would occupy all the other positions and be better than a Sri Lankan equivalent

- Phillip

Hi Phillip,

While I agree that this XI would be dominated by Australian players, I think there are a few Sri Lankans who could make the team.

For example, it would be hard to leave Kumar Sangakkara, a man with 12,400 Test runs at an average of 57.40, out of this team.

Another weather update - not looking good (not for me)

By Chris De Silva

Sorry - just got off work to the news about the rain delay. Is play looking likely again today?

- Kelly

Hi Kelly,

Still a lot of time left in terms of play for today, so I wouldn't completely rule out a return.

But it also doesn't look like we'll be on the field any time soon.

Would Khawaja make an all-time Australia and Sri Lanka XI?

By Chris De Silva

Don't know about the rest of the XI but the ultimate Australia/Sri Lanka XI would definitely have Warne and Muralitharan... Khawaja has earned a spot too I reckon, and Sangakkara (he was the greatest).

- Doc

Hi Doc,

I'd have to say Warne Muralitharan and Sangakkara are all locks.

Khawaja is an interesting one. It'd be hard to go past Langer and Hayden as your openers, but Khawaja's got a sneaky great Test record now as well.