The most talked-about element of the second Sri Lanka-Australia Test in Galle has been the protests demanding the resignation of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, not cricket.
Protesters on Saturday marched around the Galle International Stadium and on the ramparts of the Old Fort, visible from the ground. However, the situation did not deter the Australia batsman, Steve Smithfrom doing his job.
“The country is clearly in turmoil and people are out of control,” Smith said in a cricket.com.au video released on Sunday.
“We could clearly hear it, we could still hear it, but it didn’t really play a role in anything in the game.”
Smith’s 145 in the first innings lasted 369 minutes and 272 balls, and was crucial from Australia’s point of view in the Test as it took the visitors to a total of 364.
The 33-year-old said that he did notice the protesters when they reached the venue, but they did not distract them.
“I saw them there this morning but no…..it’s a fair way to be honest, it’s the other way around…. didn’t really pay much attention to it.”
The Australia vice-captain continued, “Obviously, there is a lot of wind in here and it is quite outside…. There’s not a lot of people here so you can hear a lot but like I said… (it) really didn’t get through. To participate in what was going on for or in between.
Months-long protests over the deteriorating economic situation in Sri Lanka reached a climax on Saturday as protesters stormed the presidential residence.