Australia face day-five test of character

Make no mistake, Australia have plenty to play for when the final day of the Test series against Sri Lanka begins at Colombo's SSC Ground this morning.

The series is already gone, but an immense test of character awaits the Australians on day five as they aim to avoid an embarrassing series sweep against the No.7 ranked Sri Lankans.

Steve Smith and his men face a daunting four-Test tour of India early next year and a final-day run chase against the Rangana Herath-led Sri Lankans represents an ideal chance to show they have the ability – technically and mentally – to get the job done in conditions that have for so long troubled Australian Test teams.

But the tourists will need to rewrite history to do so on a pitch where Nathan Lyon and Jon Holland were able to get deliveries spinning and popping on day four.

Already facing a deficit of 288, Australia appear set for another stint in the field under the baking Colombo sun when Dhananjaya de Silva and Suranga Lakmal resume with the score at 8-312.

"We don't want to declare," Sri Lanka batsman Kaushal Silva said after his superb century on day four.

"We want to score as much as we can, so that's the plan.

"If we have a really good target like more than 350, obviously we put them out of the game. That's what we need to do.

"From there we can attack. That's what we are planning."

Only once in Australia's history have they been able to post a greater fourth-innings score in Asia than the current deficit of 288.

That was in 2006 against a lowly-ranked Bangladesh side in Fatullah when Ricky Ponting led a powerful batting line-up with an unbeaten 118 to successfully chase 307, sneaking home by just three wickets.

Australia's next highest fourth-innings total in Asia was in Abu Dhabi less than two years ago when Steve Smith fell three runs short of a century in his side's total of 246 – a whopping 357 runs short of the target set by Pakistan.

"We've got to prove to ourselves that we can play in these conditions," Smith told reporters at the team hotel ahead of the final Test.

"To win the last Test match, that will give us a little bit of confidence.

"We're going to hopefully play with a little bit more freedom and courage and be willing to take the game on to hopefully get ahead of the game."

Darren Lehmann's side entered the series as heavy favourites against a young Sri Lankan side in transition, but the Australians had never been required to bat fourth in a record that had seen them lose just one match in their preceding 14 matches on the island nation.

But the two encounters in recent weeks have started with an incorrect call from captain Smith at the coin toss and his men forced to chase against a rampaging spin brigade.

A final-innings collapse of 5-22 in the first Test at Pallekele Stadium meant the visitors limped to a total of 161 to be 107 runs short of the target.

The trip to Galle went much the same way as Australia fell to 3-10 in pursuit of 413 and could only manage to post 183 when Sri Lanka wrapped up the series with a Test to play.

"We need some early wickets in the morning," Australia wicketkeeper Peter Nevill said last night.

"Hopefully (we're chasing) less than 300. It would be a difficult chase, but you've got a chance to win a Test match for your country tomorrow, so that's exactly what we'll be trying to do."

A win for the Australians will restore some pride on what has been a disappointing Test tour, as well as keeping the side in the hunt to retain their mantle as the world's top-ranked team.

But more importantly, it may just breed some much-needed confidence for the upcoming tour of India that looms large on the horizon.

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