Australia decided to bat first in the second cricket test against Sri Lanka on Friday after the hosts were forced to make four changes when several players tested positive for COVID-19.

Among the changes, Sri Lanka has three debutants. Middle order batsman Kamindu Mendis, the highest run scorer in domestic first-class cricket last season, replaced Dhananjaya de Silva. The ambidextrous Mendis can also bowl right-arm off-spin and left-arm orthodox spin.

Spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who featured in the limited-overs series, also makes his test debut although he has not featured in a first-class game for four years. The third debutant is left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.

Fast bowler Kasun Rajitha is making a return to the side having missed the first test.

When COVID-19 tests were conducted on Tuesday, three players who featured in the first test — Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando and Dhananjaya de Silva tested positive. Praveen Jayawickrama had already been isolated having tested positive earlier in the week.

The good news for the Sri Lankans was that former captain Angelo Mathews has been cleared to play after testing positive during the first test.

Australia has already retained the Warne-Murali Trophy after winning the first test and a victory here would further consolidate its position as the No. 1- ranked team in world cricket.

Lineups:

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Kasun Rajitha, Prabath Jayasuriya and Maheesh Theekshana.

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (captain), Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson.

Umpires: Michael Gough, England, and Kumar Dharmasena, Sri Lanka.

Source: Associated Press
-Agencies