Aussies' unique welcome in Kandy

Australia's cricketers have received a warm – and unique – welcome in Kandy, scene of the opening Test from July 26, after the touring party arrived in the central Sri Lankan city from Colombo earlier today (Thursday).

A delighted David Warner took to social media to show the lengths hotel staff had gone to for the visit of the world's No.1 Test team, as well as the Sri Lankans, with the two sides set to square off over three Tests on the island nation for the first time in four years.

After the Aussies received an elaborate welcome at the Earl's Regency, with music playing and people clapping, Warner posted the below picture on Instagram with the caption: "We just arrived in Kandy and here are the room keys. Very creative! On point."

The Australians will be in Kandy for the coming 10 days before heading to Galle for the second Test, and will be in the company of local legend Muthiah 'the Kandy man' Muralidaran, whose role as a spinning consultant with the tourists has already raised some eyebrows among his countrymen.

Warner's recovery from a broken finger has been carefully monitored, with the 29-year-old missing the warm-up outings but nonetheless batting in nets sessions.

Coach Darren Lehmann confirmed the left-hander would be fit to take his place at the top of the order next week, and look to build upon what has quickly become a magnificent Test record.

"He's been batting the last couple of days so I can't see a problem," Lehmann said of Warner, who has now scored 16 hundreds in 51 Tests and is averaging 50.06.

"I assume he'll bat, I haven't really spoken to the medical staff but they normally come up to me if there's some sort of issue, so we're expecting him to play."

Australia wrapped up an innings victory inside two-and-a-half days against a Sri Lanka Board XI in Colombo yesterday, with Steve O'Keefe returning man-of-the-match figures of 10-64.

Lehmann all but confirmed O'Keefe would return to the Test XI for next week's series opener, accompanying Nathan Lyon in a dual spin attack in conditions expected to favour the tweakers.

Quick Single: O'Keefe sweetens for Kandy call-up

"I think we would probably be leaning towards two spinners the way conditions are," Lehmann said. "We know what we're going to get with (O'Keefe). He's been excellent for New South Wales and had a lot of success in (Sheffield) Shield.

"He's worked really hard, he's a lively, buzzing-around character for us and played exactly the role we wanted him to play here in this game (in Colombo).

"He bats really well, fields really well and complements Nathan with spinning (the ball) the other way.

"We think that's the way to go.

Quick Single: Belief beats numbers for hungry Lyon

"Obviously India do it there with (left-armer Ravindra) Jadeja and (off-spinner Ravi) Ashwin, and most teams have spinners going both ways.

"So for us, that's important."

After being rested for the practice match, Josh Hazlewood looks set to take his place for the first Test.

"He's had a fair bit (of cricket), he's been in the West Indies and played the two-dayer and had a good bowl there," Lehmann added.

"And having a look at the (Colombo) wicket, it's probably not what we're going to get in Kandy, there will probably be less grass than that so (we'll) give him a bowl on the flatter wickets there.

"He's fine and ready to go, (we're) just making sure he's right."

Sri Lanka meanwhile have named a 15-man squad for the series opener, with Angelo Mathews' squad considerable underdogs against the Australians. 

Sri Lanka 15-man first Test squad: Angelo Mathews (c), Dinesh Chandimal (vc), Dimuth Karunarathna, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshane Silva, Nuwan Pradeep Fernando, Vishva Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal.