1st Test: Australia brace for trial by spin against Sri Lanka
The picturesque stadium, fringed on two sides by the Indian Ocean and adjacent to a 16th century Dutch-built fort, is where Sri Lankan spin stalwarts Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath routinely beguiled the touring batsmen. Led by man-of-the-series Herath in 2016, Sri Lanka's spinners claimed 54 of the 58 wickets on their way to a 3-0 rout of Steve Smith's team when Australia last visited. Australia's triumph in Pakistan earlier this year suggests they know what it takes to succeed in Asia, but their vulnerability against left-arm spin means the world's top-ranked Test team cannot take anything for granted.
