SL vs AUS | I think they will do the job: Karunaratne backs Sri Lankan spinners ahead of Test series

After registering a historic win over Australia in the ODI series, Sri Lanka have started facing the Aussie challenge in red-ball cricket. 

When Sri Lanka played Test cricket last time in Bangladesh, the returns of their spinners turned out to be a major headache for the visitors' think tank. 

However, ahead of the first Test against Australia at Galle, the Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne has backed his spinners to play their roles perfectly throughout the series. 

In the pre-match press conference, Karunaratne revealed that the Sri Lankan spin-bowling coach Piyal Wijetunge has been working really hard with the spinners. As Karunaratne put it, the improvement of the Sri Lankan tweakers is evident from their bowling in the nets, which is why the gritty southpaw from Colombo expects them to do their job effectively in the two-match series. 

"Piyal Wijetunge, our spin-bowling coach, has been working hard with the spinners. Even playing them in the nets, I can see an improvement. I think they'll do the job we'll need them to do in the match," Karunaratne said. 

To note, Sri Lanka had their two experienced spinners, Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera, the last time they locked horns with Australia in a Test series at home, back in 2016. But this time, their spinners have collectively played just 27 tests, which indicates the lack of experience in the hosts' spin department.

Nevertheless, Karunaratne strongly believes that the Lankan spinners know how to bowl at home and can execute the plans properly if they do the basics right.  

“In 2016 we had Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera. We had experienced spinners. We've now got three pretty new spinners in the team. But we know what this pitch will do and how we need to bowl on it. If we do those basics well, we'll be able to win," the Sri Lankan captain added. 

Karunaratne also expected some real challenge from the Australian pacers, particularly Mitchell Starc, with the old ball as the Sri Lankan skipper reckoned the breeze to aid reverse swing.

Yet the veteran opener backed his batters to do well against Starc, citing that they have enough experience of playing against the ace New South Wales paceman.

"With the breeze here, reverse is definitely going to be a factor. Starc has done really well in these conditions and he knows how to use the crease as well. We have a few plans against him. Most of our players have played against him, so they have the confidence and the experience to play him," the Colombo-born concluded.