Five things that could turn the first Test

It's day five of a Test match and all four results are still well and truly on the table.

The No.1 Test team in the world have their back against the wall and an unlikely challenger is full of fight and confidence.

Quick Single: Stage set for a day-five thriller

Does it get any better?

Here are five things to keep an eye on when play (hopefully) resumes at 2:15pm AEST today.

Smith’s restart

Australia captain Steve Smith will resume the final day of play unbeaten on 26 with his side needing a further 185 runs for victory.

The skipper’s dismissal on the morning of day two was admonished by Test great Allan Border, who described the shot that led to his downfall off Rangana Herath’s bowling as a "brain explosion".

Quick Single: Border laments Smith's 'wild hack'

However teammate Adam Voges – the other not out batsman to resume this morning – defended Smith at the close of play on day two.

"He (Smith) tried to take that risk early – if it comes off, it looks great,” Voges said. "It didn't come off today.

"If he hits that over the top then all of a sudden the field spreads a bit and then he can knock ones around.

"That's how he wanted to get into his innings."

Smith is almost certainly set for an early battle against spin on the final day, with his initial approach making for compulsive viewing.

Does he again look to attack in order to spread the field for easy pickings as the day progresses, or will the thought of the first innings dismissal result in a more conservative approach second time around?

The Sandakan Show

There are few more captivating sights in cricket than a spin bowler bamboozling the opposition's batsmen.

We’ve seen it already with the impressive debut performance from Lakshan Sandakan - seriously, check out this ball to bowl Joe Burns - and a wearing pitch will only increase the difficulty in facing the man with impressive accuracy and a vicious wrong-un.

Sandakan’s unpredictability makes for an ideal contrast to Herath’s methodical accuracy and the spin duo will likely send down a majority of the overs for the day.

Voges believes Sandakan became slightly easier to read as his first-innings knock of 47 progressed, but the left-arm wrist spinner will make even the best batsmen pay for any lapse in concentration.

Fan factor

If you’ve seen any imagery from this Test match then you’re well aware the Pallekele Stadium isn’t exactly at risk of bursting at the seams.

Barring day one when hundreds of excited schoolchildren helped boost the overall attendance, the local fans have been outnumbered by the touring Australian punters.

The location of the venue on the outskirts of Kandy, poor recent performances from the national side, the unkind weather and mid-week timing have all combined to ensure those who do attend have plenty of seating and hill space to choose from.

The fifth and final ODI between these two sides on 4 September is close to sold out, but with a thrilling finish on the cards and quite possibly a famous Sri Lankan win, could we see a raucous home crowd adding to a Test to remember?

SOK’s Test not over yet

Left-arm tweaker Steve O’Keefe was yesterday hit with the devastating news that his Test career was again on hold after a right hamstring injury had ruled him out of the remainder of the tour.

Quick Single: Unlucky O'Keefe hits another hurdle

Victorian spinner Jon Holland will today depart Australia to join the squad in Galle where he is likely to become Australia’s 444th Test cricketer, but O’Keefe may yet have a role to play in deciding the series opener.

O’Keefe has proven himself to be a more than capable batsman throughout his career and – among Australians – only Voges faced more balls than his 80 in the first innings.

Such is his attitude, O’Keefe remains determined to offer something with the bat should he be required on the game’s final day.

A lot would need to align for the much-loved member of the Australian team to be there when the winning runs are scored, but it would mark an incredible moment in a career riddled by misfortune up to this point.

Weather Watch

There hasn’t been a day in this Test match unaffected by the overhead conditions, with the local forecast for day five suggesting more of the same.

The rain should hold off long enough to allow sufficient time for a result, but the other factor that will come into play later in the afternoon is the element of light.

Days three and four were both brought to an early close due to bad light, with a Cricket Australia spokesperson confirming the decision not to use the ground’s floodlights sat with the home board.

We can only hope to avoid a situation where players and fans are prevented from seeing a result to this enthralling match due to the unavailability of light at the ground.

But sit back, relax and enjoy as Australia chase history and Sri Lanka dare to dream. It’s day five Test cricket and it doesn't get any better.