Australia will come in for a tougher examination from Sri Lanka in Galle when the second of the two-match Test series gets underway on Thursday.
The tourists wrapped up an emphatic victory by an innings and 242 runs inside four days when the sides met last week at the same venue.
But the pitch for the second Test is expected to be much more spin-friendly and that should suit the home side down to the ground.
Off-spinning all-rounder Ramesh Mendis has been recalled by Sri Lanka as seamer Vishwa Fernando and top-order batter Lahiru Udara are jettisoned from the squad despite neither featuring in the innings defeat.
Pathum Nissanka has also been recalled after missing the first Test due to injury, while fellow opener Dimuth Karunaratne has decided to call time on his career after this game, which will also be his 100th Test.
Australia are also expected to strengthen their spin options with the surprise inclusion of Cooper Connolly, who could receive his first baggy green cap.
But stand-in skipper Steve Smith has confirmed Australia’s top six will remain unchanged as Sam Konstas heads home early so he can play in the Sheffield Shield.
Sri Lanka to win - 7/4
After suffering the biggest defeat in their 43 years as a Test-playing nation, Sri Lanka will be desperate to hit back and they might have just the surface on which to do it.
Although the match is being played at the same venue as the first Test, the wicket is predicted to behave very differently.
In the days before the series opener, heavy seasonal downpours left an initially ‘tacky’ pitch which only began to take spin on days three and four.
Australia had already piled on their highest-ever Test innings total in Sri Lanka by then, declaring at 654-6, before they then took on the home team with their spinners as batting conditions became more challenging.
This match could play out very differently if Sri Lanka’s top order get first use of the wicket and make the Aussies toil in the field for a couple of days.
Before their 2-0 Test defeat in South Africa at the back end of last year, the Lankans proved too strong for New Zealand in consecutive matches at Galle.
If they can replicate that performance and get the rub of the green along the way, the hosts might be able to square the series.
Either team to win by an innings - Yes - 5/1
Galle is a unique venue in Test cricket for the amount of one-sided matches produced for the fans who line the walls of the old fort for a glimpse of the action.
Since 2022, five of the 10 Tests played at the ground have been won by an innings with two others decided by equally staggering margins - 10 wickets and 246 runs.
Only one of those 10 games could be considered close in modern terms and not all of the innings victories were secured by the team batting first.
Both captains are likely to bat if they call correctly at the toss, but Sri Lanka were able to win when batting second when they beat Australia in Galle three years ago.
Given the nature of the first Test, the odds about this one resulting in a landslide win one way or the other look too good to ignore.
Marnus Labuschagne Under 70.5 match runs - 5/6
Marnus Labuschagne was on top of the cricketing world in 2022 as he drew comparisons to the great Don Bradman when passing 3,000 Test runs at an average close to 70.
But the South African-born batter has struggled across the last two years and his average has plummeted to 46.90.
In Australia’s recent home Test series against India, he only passed 50 on three occasions in nine innings and failed to make any score higher than 72.
It was therefore concerning that he was unable to capitalise on the friendly batting conditions at Galle last week when others cashed in big time.
Labuschagne looked highly uncomfortable against leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who claimed his wicket for 20 after tossing one up that took the batter’s outside edge and was caught at slip.
The 30-year-old will face trial by spin again this week and will need to improve greatly to put on more than 71 runs.
Read more cricket betting tips and predictions on site
Sri Lanka - 7/4
Draw - 14/1
Australia - 4/7
View the full market and more odds for Sri Lanka v Australia second Test on site
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.