Australia have waited nearly eight months for their first Test since the Ashes, and they will have to wait a little longer after the start of the Galle Test was delayed by wet weather. The toss, scheduled for 9.30am, was delayed with the covers still on following overnight rain, and with some drizzle still around, there was no official word on when play would begin.
It was the seventh consecutive Test involving Sri Lanka that had been affected by rain, after their home series against West Indies was washed out late last year and then wet weather played a part on their tour of England. The Sri Lankans had trimmed their squad down to 12, with Lahiru Thirimanne, Seekkuge Prasanna, Shaminda Eranga and Dhammika Prasad left out.
The Australians had confirmed their starting XI, which included two debutants: the South Australia offspinner Nathan Lyon and the New South Wales seamer Trent Copeland. Usman Khawaja won the No. 6 position ahead of Shaun Marsh and there was no room for the left-arm spinner Michael Beer or the fast men Peter Siddle and James Pattinson.
