Steve Smith lashes out at Australia's spin bowlers after crushing 229-run loss to Sri Lanka

Galle: Australia skipper Steven Smith on Saturday asked his spinners to step up their game in the sub-continent after his side`s crushing 229-run loss to Sri Lanka in the second Test in Galle.

In a match where Sri Lankan spinners Dilruwan Perera and Rangana Herath wreaked havoc on a typical sub-continent track, their Australian counterparts had little impact.

Perera bagged six wickets to help bundle out Australia for 183 after lunch on the third day as Sri Lanka registered their first Test series triumph against the visitors since 1999.

Herath set up the win for the hosts with his maiden Test hat-trick which helped dismiss Australia for a record low of 106 in their first innings.

In contrast, Australia`s Nathan Lyon (4/158) and debutant Jon Holland (2/133) just got six wickets between them in the course of the match which saw 24 wickets fall to spinners.

"They didn`t get many wickets did they? We need to find ways to bowl differently to how we bowl our spin in Australia as well," Smith said.

"You look at the Sri Lankan spinners or any of the subcontinent spinners, they bowl that side seam on the ball where they can go up and down with their speeds and trajectory," he added.

Australia`s batting card also didn`t read a pretty picture in the two Test matches with Smith`s 55 being the top score in Pallekele and David Warner`s 42 in the first innings standing out in Galle.

"Yeah it certainly needs to be looked at. If there are guys that can play spin well in these conditions then it`s certainly got to be a chance," Smith said.

Australia`s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc stood out with his career-best figures of 11-94 on a track which provided little assistance for fast bowlers.

"I thought all of the fast bowlers did a pretty good job for us in this game, but to be fair, it shouldn`t be them taking the wickets. It should be our spinners getting the job done," said Smith.

"For Jon Holland in his first Test, he was obviously a little bit nervous and you can excuse that a little bit. The spinners have to find a way to get wickets and keep the runs dry on these surfaces.

"We`ve gone at over four an over for both Test matches, so we`ve got to find a way for the spinners to get wickets in these conditions," he added.