On 9 February 2025 Australia’s men’s cricket team completed a resounding test series victory, two to zero, over Sri Lanka in the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy series played at Galle International Stadium, Sri Lanka.

Australia won both matches by large margins with days to spare. It won the first test by an innings and 242 runs, and the second, by 9 wickets.  Australia last won a series in Sri Lanka in 2011.

The planning and preparation for this series was the key to success. It was always going to be challenging on spin-friendly pitches so unlike conditions in Australia. The choice of a pre-test training camp in Dubai over a lead-up match in Sri Lanka proved the right call. From the first ball, Australia managed the conditions superbly and outplayed Sri Lanka.

This is a mature, talented, and confident Australian cricket team. That the victory was achieved without regular captain and fast bowler Pat Cummins and world-class opening bowler Josh Hazlewood is a credit to the players and support staff. The selectors also got it right with the selection of the squad for the series and the teams for the two tests.

Yet, the series also saw two test debutants in Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly as the team undergoes a managed, gradual regeneration. The young batting sensation of the recent Indian series, Sam Konstas, was not selected in the first test and returned home to play in a Sheffield Shield match in Brisbane.

No doubt the team benefitted from coming straight off the tough five test series in Australia against India, which Australia won 3-1. It was the Sri Lankans who looked under-prepared for the challenge, often throwing wickets away, bowling ineffectively and fielding defensively.

Australia’s batting was disciplined, diligent and patient. In the first test Usman Khawaja made a classy 232 runs that set up a huge first innings score and earned him player of the test. Interim captain (and former skipper) Steve Smith scored back-to-back tons in the two tests – 141 and 132. Josh Inglis made an impressive 102 and wicketkeeper Alex Carey hit a powerful 156 in the second test to win the player of that test. The Australians batted in long partnerships that took the game away from the Sri Lankans.

Australia’s spinners always looked more potent than Sri Lanka’s and they were backed up by brilliant catching, especially close to the wicket. Steve Smith, Beau Webster, and Travis Head were outstanding close to bat or in the slips.

Australia’s left-arm finger spinner Matthew Kuhnemann took sixteen wickets (at 17.18) in only his second tour of the sub-continent (the first in India in 2022-23) and stalwart right-arm off-spinner and former ACT Comet Nathan Lyon took fourteen wickets (at 22.5).

Kuhnemann has emerged as the front runner to replace Nathan Lyon as the Test team’s number one spinner when Nathan Lyon eventually retires, although that would seem a long way off given Lyon’s continued good form. Kuhnemann, however, was cited by the umpires of the second test for a “suspect illegal action” and will now face an International Cricket Council investigation into his bowling action.

Steve Smith led the Australians by example with his two big centuries, superb slips catching and masterful captaincy and leadership.  He deservedly won player of the series. Smith is back to his best batting. His technique against spin and his temperament were supreme. He participated in two large partnerships: 266 in the first test with Khawaja and 259 runs with Carey in the second. In the field his frequent bowling changes never gave the Sri Lankan batters time to get comfortable facing Australia’s bowlers.

From the Sri Lankan side, former captain Dimuth Karunaratne, bid his farewell to international cricket after playing his 100th test match. Fellow batter Dinesh Chandimal made two scores in the seventies, one in each test, and a 41. Angelo Matthews made 76 and 41, while Kusal Mendis hit 85 and 50 in the second test. Of the Sri Lankan bowlers, left arm orthodox spinner, Prabath Jayasuriya, was the best with nine wickets.

In the first test, on a slow spinning wicket, Australia, batting first, compiled a massive 654 runs for six wickets declared with 232 from Khawaja, 141 by Smith and 102 by Inglis. Australia’ spinners and quick Mitchell Starc then demolished Sri Lanka for 165 and 247. Kuhnemann snared nine wickets and Nathan Lyon, seven wickets, for the match.

By way of context, Australia’s 6/654 was not that far short of their all-time test record of 8/758, which was achieved against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1955 when Ian Johnson was captain and centurions included Neil Harvey, Keith Miller and Richie Benaud.

In the second test Sri Lanka made 257 and 231 in its two innings, while Australia made 404 in its first innings and 1/75 in its second innings to win. Smith made 131, and Carey, 156, in Australia’s first innings. Again, Kuhnemann and Lyon were the chief destroyers with seven wickets apiece.

Australia is well-placed in both generational renewal and form carrying into the World Test Championship final against South Africa, to be played in London commencing June 11 later this year, with more selection and leadership options than ever.