Dusty Test pitch blasted after Aussie win

Monday, 5 September 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

GALLE, Sri Lanka — Rival captains Michael Clarke and Tillakaratne Dilshan blasted the dry wicket in Galle after Australia beat Sri Lanka by 125 runs in the first Test on Saturday.

Clarke, celebrating his first win as Australian captain, said he had never played on a tougher pitch than the dustbowl prepared at the Galle International Stadium.

“Day one felt like day five out there,” Clarke said after his team took the lead in the three-Test series, Australia’s first in Sri Lanka since 2004.

“I hate to see a Test match being determined by the toss. It was obviously prepared for their spin bowlers and that backfired. I guess I was just fortunate I won the toss.”

A disappointed Dilshan said he did not expect to play on such a dry surface.

“Usually, the wicket here is good for both the seamers and the spinners, but I think it was too dry and made batting difficult,” he said.