On Sunday, February 9, the visiting team Australia (AUS) concluded a successful tour of Sri Lanka (SL) by winning the second Test of the two-match series at Galle by a commanding nine-wicket margin. It is noteworthy that the play concluded early on Day 4 after the hosts’ 75-run target was chased down in the first session of the fourth Test.
Following the game, backup Australian captain Steve Smith praised his team’s overall performance over the course of the series. He emphasised the game’s versatility in particular, pointing out that hitters performed admirably against the Lankan Lions. He gave his bowlers credit as well, citing the training camp that helped them adjust to the conditions in the subcontinent.
“I thought the series was excellent. We performed admirably right away. It was amazing how well the hitters adjusted. The bowlers, including Mitchell Starc, all performed incredibly well. Then the spinners started working. Smith stated at the post-game ceremony, “We had a really nice training camp in Dubai before coming here.
I love being the captain here in the world: Steve Smith.
Steve Smith also went into further detail about the various tactics that various batters use in the red-ball setting. According to the temporary captain, the task was completed thanks to a variety of tactics, including excellent footwork and the usage of sweep shots. Furthermore, the Australian batting mainstay gave tribute to his partner Alex Carey, whose long-duration performance helped lead to yet another resounding triumph over Sri Lanka.
“Our hitters all have unique batting styles. [Alex] Carey and Usman [Khawaja] enjoy sweeping a lot, whereas Marnus [Labuschagne] and I use our feet. I’ve had a great time. What a fantastic bunch we have. Captaining in this region of the world is a lot of fun. every move you must make and every detail you must follow. I think Alex did a fantastic job. “Clearly, that collaboration helped us prepare for the game,” Smith said.
Smith’s record as Australia’s Test captain now stands at 23 in 41 games after the victory in the second Test. Having led in at least 30 Test matches, Smith has a 56.09% win rate, placing him fourth on the history of Australian red-ball captains. With two innings pitched and 272 runs scored, Smith finished the series as the second-highest run scorer.
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