Australian skipper Aaron Finch named the visitors’ playing XI for the 1st ODI of the 5-match series against Sri Lanka at the pre-series press conference a short while ago.
Australia’s playing XI will be as follows:
Aaron Finch ©, David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Josh Hazlewood
The only additions to the team that took on Sri Lanka in the final T20I are Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins, who were not in the T20I squad. Carey was also part of the Australia A side that played Sri Lanka A in a couple of One-Dayers last week.
Mitchell Starc will continue to sit out due to injury; the left arm quick suffered an unusual injury to his left index finger while bowling in the 1st T20I.
HIGHLIGHTS – Sri Lanka ‘A’ vs Australia ‘A’ – 1st One Dayer
In further injury news, Kane Richardson, is to take no further part in the tour, after he reportedly suffered a significant hamstring injury during the 3rd T20I. Scott Boland has been named as his replacement. Richardson had earlier been named as a cover for Starc for the ODIs, after initially not making the squad.
Both Starc and Mitchell Marsh are expected to be fit come the 3rd ODI in Colombo, while Cameron Green is also not expected to be bowled in the 1st two games, if he makes the match day playing xi, seriously limiting the visitors’ options with the ball.
HIGHLIGHTS – Sri Lanka ‘A’ vs Australia ‘A’ – 2nd One Dayer
According to Finch, the visitors will continue to go with the solitary front-line spinner in Ashton Agar for this game, with the pitch still looking fresh and not as worn as you would usually see in Sri Lanka. Glenn Maxwell (off spin) and Marcus Stoinis (medium pace) along with Marnus Labuschagne (leg spin) are expected to fill the 5th bowler’s quota for the side.
