Australia seek Murali’s help as they take on weakened Sri Lanka

  Australia will be looking to local legend and one-time bogeyman Muttiah Muralitharan to inspire them to success on his home patch as the world’s number one Test team begins a three-match series in Sri Lanka later this week.

Steve Smith’s side will be desperate to reverse a poor recent away record against teams from the sub-continent when they will face Angelo Mathews men in in Pallekele on Tuesday, as India breathe down their necks in the race for Test supremacy as they edged closer to a first Test win against West Indies.

But while Australia’s fast bowlers have been key to their success on home soil in recent years, their less celebrated spinners will have to step up to the plate against a Sri Lankan side who have been struggling of late.

-Agencies