After dethroning Australia from the no.1 ranking in the Tests, Sri Lanka will start the five-match ODI series as favourites when the five-match series gets underway at R. Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
Lately, the current world champions, Australia have been in prime form in 50-over cricket, winning the tri-series in the Caribbean but their frailty to play spin during the Tests will be further exploited by the hosts. Sri Lanka, ranked no. 6 in ODI cricket will have to beat the no.1 ranked team, 4-1 or 5-0 if they are to move up the ladder.
After a disastrous limited-overs campaign in England where Sri Lanka lost the ODI series 3-0, the islanders will once again rely heavily on spin-bowling and their in-form batting unit to deliver the goods. Half of the 16-man squad are capable spin bowlers and at least 4 spinners in the starting line-up is a surety to topple the Aussies.
Both teams have brought in many ODI specialists to their respective squads and will be in a positive mindset regarding Sunday’s opening match which is the first of two games in Colombo before the contest continues with two matches in Dambulla and wraps up in Pallekele on September 4. All five games will be day/night encounters.
The 3-0 whitewash in Tests has certainly demoralized the Australians but they will be tough to beat in the ODIs despite the Sri Lankans having the home advantage and momentum which they gained from the last few weeks playing red-ball cricket.
The last time the Australians were in Sri Lanka, they won the ODI series, 3-2 but this time around they are up against a charged-up outfit led by their charismatic skipper Angelo Mathews, “It’s a new series, a new start for us. The past is history, we need to be at our very best to beat Australia.” He said at the pre-match press conference.
“You’re always looking ahead. We have got a pretty solid one-day side who have performed well over a long period of time. The Champions Trophy is the carrot, but at the end of the day we want to win a game in Sri Lanka for a start, so that’s probably prime importance for us, and to play well.” Australian head coach Darren Lehmann said before the opening game.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The weather will be perfectly fine throughout the day for an exciting game of cricket. The pitch will be another batting paradise, as always the case at Khettarama but will take some turn to frustrate the visitors.
Photo Album: Sri Lanka Team Practices Ahead of 1st ODI
Sri Lanka
With Tillakarathne Dilshan coming back into the team after missing the England tour due to personal reasons, he will automatically slot into the opener’s role replacing Danushka Gunathilake who made 142 runs in 5 games in England.
Sri Lanka will be tempted to play both spin-bowling all-rounders, Dhananjaya De Silva and Milinda Siriwardana in the starting XI alongside leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna and left-arm chinaman Lakshan Sandakan, who is expected to make his ODI debut. Both Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal will play as genuine seamers ahead of Thisara Perera.
Probable XI – TM Dilshan, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (Captain), Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya De Silva, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal.
Australia
With the likes of Glen Maxwell (dropped due to inconsistent performances) and Mitchell Marsh (sent back to prepare for the South Africa Test series) not being a part of the squad, the visitors will have a lot to ponder to finalize and balance the playing XI. Young left-hander Travis Head and all-rounder James Faulkner could earn recalls while left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc who took 24 wickets in the Test series and leg-spinner Adam Zampa will hold the key once again for the visitors.
Probable XI – David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith (Captain), George Bailey, Travis Head, Mathew Wade, James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazelwood.
