Steven Smith backs Jon Holland at the end of disappointing Test series against Sri Lanka

Australian captain Steven Smith described the ongoing series against Sri Lanka as “disappointing" but has backed spinner Jon Holland to come good in the final Test. Australia will be looking to avoid a 3-0 whitewash as they take on Angelo Mathews' side on Saturday.

Speaking about Holland, Smith said: "I was watching him bowling [at training]. In Australia, he's got quite nice shape on the ball. He gets over it and gets good drop. He's dropped his arm path a little bit since being here.”

The Australian captain was also sympathetic while talking about the left-arm spinner’s performance on debut.

"It's hard to do just before you play your first Test, when you only come in a few days before the game when you weren't originally here," he said. "He didn't have a great deal of time to find the right way to bowl in these conditions and having watched him, he's certainly dropped his arm down a little bit and he's getting around the ball which I think is crucial for these conditions. It looks like the seam he's presenting looks a lot harder to play."

2-0 down in the series and having lost eight consecutive Tests in Asia, Smith admitted that it was "disappointing".

"It has been disappointing," he said. "We have got a lot of work to do to change the way we play in these conditions. Having said that, I thought we made some good strides in the second innings [in Galle]. The way we were proactive in our thinking, the way we went about it.

"As long as we can take that into the first innings of this Test match, and try and make it go a for bit longer - I think looking at the wicket it is going to be another tough one to bat on. It looks like it is going to be pretty dry again, and take a fair bit of spin, so if you can bat for a day, I dare say you will put yourself in a reasonable position."

Smith's approach to spin

David Warner's recent u-turn and the fact that Australian batsmen have started to try different things has meant they have understood the importance of not letting the batsmen settle. Smith himself admitted that the batsmen's attitudes have changed since the start of the tour.

"I think you still have to try and bat time. I guess that is what Test cricket is all about. At the same time, you do need to be proactive in your thinking, finding a way to get off strike, get down the other end and if you are down there, you can't get out. Or, you shouldn't get out!"

He also added that the lack of such wickets in Australia make it difficult to immediately adapt to the conditions. The Australian captain spoke about the need to re-invent yourself and get outside the "comfort zone".

"In Australia, you don't get balls that are turning like they are here and skidding on, everything's pretty consistent. So it's finding a way I guess and getting outside your comfort zone," he said. "It might be about sweeping or coming down the wicket or getting deep in your crease.

"Sometimes it's easy to do in the nets and when you get out in the middle there are guys around the bat, there's the pressure of the game, it's a whole different ball game. It's just having the courage and faith to sometimes take a risk you may not take in Australia and different ways of thinking to get around different situations."