A Test played out against a backdrop of a political revolution and protests outside of the Galle ground. After Australia won the first Test in two and a half days, they fell flat in the second. A score of 364 batting first wasn't big enough even after Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne centuries, before Dinesh Chandimal's 206 batted Australia out of the game. The end came quickly, with Australia bundled out in 41 overs and beaten by an innings and 39 runs.
2023: 91 all out in Nagpur
A pitch that was made for India's spinners played out exactly as manifested in Nagpur. Australia were under the pump from the moment they fell to 2-2 in the third over. In all 16 Australian wickets were lost to spinners, as the tourists made scores of 177 and 91 to lose by an innings and 132 runs. The 32.3-over capitulation in the second innings left Australia down 1-0 in the series, and remains the biggest loss under Cummins.
2024: The India domination
The knives came out for Cummins, coach Andrew McDonald and the selectors after they were thrashed by 295 runs by India at the start of the 2024/25 summer. After players were rested from white-ball duties, Australia were bowled out for 104 and then let India reach 6-487 (declared) in their second innings. It was ugly, but Australia and their management would have the last laugh as they come back to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.
2026: The Bangladesh shocker
Australia had lost a Test to Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2017, but never did it seem likely the world's No.1-ranked team could be defeated by them on home soil. Until August. Not only were Australia beaten, but they were thoroughly outplayed. Bowled out for 198 in Darwin, they then had no answer as Bangladesh powered their way to 426 in reply en route to a nine-wicket win.
2026: The Gqebehra nightmare
There is no shame in losing to South Africa at home, but the way the innings-and-31-run defeat happened for Australia this week was ugly. They should never have been in a situation to lose the match after having South Africa 6-110 on the third morning after a wet opening two days. But somehow the tourists let the Proteas recover to 9-425 (declared), before being bowled out for 99 in their lowest first-innings score in almost a decade. Asked to follow-on for only the third time since 1988, Australia's second innings was better but the damage was already done.
31°C