Travis Head, Steve Smith, analyse Galle pitch for second Test of the Australia-Sri Lanka series

Marnus Labuschagne’s status for the Second Test in Sri Lanka has become a key focus after the batter was shifted from his usual spot in the nets order at the side’s main training session.

Marnus Labuschagne is poised to keep his position in the Australian XI despite the batter being shifted from his usual spot in the nets order at the side’s main training session on Tuesday.

The Aussies are bracing for a wicket drier than the one employed in the first Test as Sri Lanka seeks to bring its spinners into the contest in a bid to secure a series-levelling win at Galle International Stadium.

Eyebrows were raised when Labuschagne - the sole member of the Aussie top six to miss out in the first Test - faced back-up pacemen Scott Boland and Sean Abbott in the middle rather than confront spin in the nets like most of the incumbent Aussie batters.

Labuschagne is typically among the first to bat in the main nets at a session two days out from a Test.

Marnus Labuschagne fields during an Australian nets session at Galle International Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

The Queenslander is averaging 30.40 across the past two years of Test cricket although he does have a Test century at this ground.

However it’s believed he will hold his spot in the side.

While the hosts will not go down the path recently employed by Pakistan in Multan of using the same pitch for consecutive Tests, the deck for the second Test - beginning on Thursday - is expected to turn more earlier in the match after the tourists amassed 6-654 declared in their first innings of the series opener.

Marnus Labuschagne looks on during the nets session. Picture: Getty Images

Aussies have their first look at the second Test pitch in Galle (which is separate to the first Test pitch). pic.twitter.com/Knz5yPW9p8

— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) February 4, 2025

After a couple of days off, the Aussies returned to the scene of their innings and 242-run first Test win on Tuesday for the side’s main training session.

They encountered a sandy-looking fresh pitch, a couple of wickets across from the first Test deck on the Galle square in what is an unusual set of circumstances given both matches are being played at the same venue.

READ MORE: From the scrapheap, to the top” Head’s road to the AB Medal

Australia's vice captain Travis Head said this pitch appeared spicier than the slow wicket used in the first match of this series. Picture: AFP

Australian star Travis Head said that while the pitch did not look as dry as the one presented for the first Test of the 2022 series between the sides - a match won by the Aussies inside seven sessions - it appeared spicier than the slow wicket used in the first match of this series.

“It probably looks a little bit dry but looks a really good wicket still. As we know, over the next couple of days we’ll see how that plays out and where we get to on the first morning. It probably looks like it’s got a little bit less grass on it than the previous Test. It looks really good at the moment,” Head said.

“It’s a lot different from the first Test (in 2022). I remember that one the ends being really, really dry and the middle being rolled very, very heavily to take Starcy (Mitchell Starc) out of the game. It looks traditionally a really, really good wicket. It looks like it will spin earlier but it looks at the moment like the first couple of days will be good for batting and then it will spin.

“Like we’ve said previously in the last couple of weeks, it’s just being able to adapt when that moment, that shift and what we’ve seen in the first Test was probably that day three moment where it shifted to heavy spin and we were able to capture the moments.”

Travis Head is coming off a brilliant summer. Picture: Getty Images

Head agreed that given the absence of grass on the wicket, it was probably ready to be played on even a couple of days out from the match.

“You could play on it right now and you’d be happy. You’ve got to take it for face value, look at it again tomorrow and then the next morning,” Head said.

“We’ve still got two days so I guess anything could play out in these conditions. The sun’s out now so it’s baking at the moment.

“It’s whether we can weigh up when that shift comes and be able to be ready and adapt to that. It looks like it’ll take spin early.”

Steve Smith, pictured inspecting the pitch, said Australia would not finalise its XI until the morning of day one. Picture: Getty Images

Australian skipper Steve Smith said after the first Test that the Aussies would likely wait until the morning of day one to finalise an XI for the second Test - just as they did last week - given the potential for conditions to change day-to-day in Sri Lanka.

Uncapped spinning all-rounder Cooper Connolly batted and bowled at length on Tuesday before having a chat with Aussie coach Andrew McDonald on the outfield.

Head meanwhile said he had enjoyed his celebrations with teammates after winning his maiden Allan Border Medal on Monday night.

“We had a very good night. It was nice that the boys pulled through,” Head said.

“Most of the boys came for a drink, it was nice to celebrate. I look forward to the next two days getting prepared but the likelihood is I probably won’t get another look at another one so I enjoyed the moment.”

Head confirmed he was likely to drop back into the middle order for June’s World Test Championship final, opening the door for Sam Konstas to return

Originally published as Travis Head, Steve Smith, analyse Galle pitch for second Test of the Australia-Sri Lanka series