Aussies on the way to easing concerns

One the eve of the second Domain Test against Sri Lanka in Canberra, Australia captain Tim Paine fronted the press and fielded questions about three distinct concerns regarding his side. 

The first concern directly involved Paine, more specifically his dire record at the toss where before this match he had won just one from his eight Tests in charge.

Paine joked he had to change his ways or else suffer the same results, and change he did, opting to toss the coin with his left hand, a move that yielded immediate results.

The second concern regarded Australia's lack of centuries this summer. Australia's batters had gone four months and five Tests without posting a three-figure score and if they didn't manage the feat in Canberra's maiden Test they would join the Australian side of 1882-83 as the only team to go through a summer of three or more Tests without a century-maker. 

Paine implored his batsmen to be relentless and disciplined at the crease, to knuckle down and bat for sessions not hours. Those instructions went unfollowed by the top order; Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne were all out inside the first nine overs.

But Joe Burns and Travis Head followed Paine's command to the letter. Burns broke the century drought with his fourth Test hundred and batted through the day to post his highest Test score of 172 not out, while Head followed suit shortly after with his maiden Test ton of 161 in almost five hours.

"It's very special, it's always a nice feeling to make a century for your country," Burns said after play.

The third and final concern involved the form of spearhead Mitchell Starc. 

The left-armer has been below his best this summer, which has brought on calls from former Test players such as Shane Warne and Michael Vaughan to have the 51-Test veteran dropped for the first Ashes Test in six months' time.

With Australia's batsmen dominating on day one, Starc got to put his feet up on Friday but his turn will come tomorrow to put to bed any concern about his ability at the highest level. 

Speaking on Thursday, Paine said Starc will take the new ball and is hopes the 29-year-old returns to his devastating form. 

"He’s not 100 per cent at his best but I think that’s a sign of how good a bowler he is that he's still finding ways to pick up wickets at certain times," Paine said of Starc, who has taken 15 wickets this summer. 

"Like I said post-Brisbane Test, when he gets it right he’s going to be devastating. 

"Hopefully it will be this Test straight up tomorrow morning or potentially some reverse swing when he is devastating. Hopefully there’s a chance of that happening here."

Domain Test Series v Sri Lanka

Australia: Tim Paine (c/wk), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Jhye Richardson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne, Vishwa Fernando

First Test: Australia won by an innings and 40 runs

Second Test: February 1-5, Canberra