Nine’s Wide World of Sports
AUSTRALIA: 1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Travis Head, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith (C), 5. Josh Inglis, 6. Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), 7. Beau Webster, 8. Cooper Connolly, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Matthew Kuhnemann
SRI LANKA: 1. Dimuth Karunaratne, 2. Pathum Nissanka, 3. Dinesh Chandimal, 4. Angelo Mathews, 5. Kamindu Mendis, 6. Dhananjaya de Silva (C), 7. Kusal Mendis (WK), 8. Ramesh Mendis, 9 Prabath Jayasuriya, 10. Nishan Peiris, 11. Lahiru Kumara
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
Nathan Lyon made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Galle in September 2011.
As he was brought on to bowl, then-skipper Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey came up to him and gave him three pieces of sound advice he's carried with him for the rest of his career.
With that advice fresh in his mind, he would famously dismiss Kumar Sangakkara – who at the time was No.1 ranked Test batter – with his very first ball.
On Saturday afternoon at the same venue, he had Dinesh Chandimal brilliantly caught by a diving Beau Webster to become the third Australian behind Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563) to take 550 Test wickets.
"It is something I'm extremely proud about," Lyon said after play.
Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of Dinesh Chandimal – his 550th Test wicket. AP
"And to do it here at Galle, which obviously holds a pretty special memory for me and my career, is a very special moment.
"Looking back at my debut, I was pretty raw and didn't really know what I was doing.
"I just remember Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey coming up and saying 'just have fun, trust your skill and bowl your best ball'.
"They're three things that have stuck with me throughout my whole career, and I'll keep doing that until the day I retire – but that's a long way away.
"So I'll keep enjoying it, keep trusting it and keep bowling my best ball and see how we go."
The Aussies need to take two more Sri Lankan wickets on day four, before chasing what will likely be a small target to clinch a dominating series sweep.
A young Nathan Lyon and Ricky Ponting in 2011. Getty
Hello and welcome to Wide World of Sports' LIVE coverage of day four action in the second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle.
The hosts will resume at 8-211 with a lead of 54 runs, with Kusal Mendis and Nishan Peiris the two men at the crease.
On a wicket that's continuing to deteriorate, the Aussies will be hoping to take the final two wickets quickly to avoid one of those awkward, small-ish chases that can bring even the best teams undone.
Play will resume at 3.30pm (AEDT). Follow along for all the updates.
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Sri Lanka v Australia day four LIVE: The Ricky Ponting advice that's carried Nathan Lyon past 550 Test wickets – Nine
