COLOMBO: Organizing Australia’s first three-format tour to Sri Lanka in six years has been more difficult than usual due to the country’s continuing political and economic crises. For Sri Lankan cricket fans, the visit of reigning T20 champions is a pleasant sight as they look forward to the 2022 T20 World Cup under new coach Chris Silverwood. Two T20I series took place in February, with Australia winning 4-1 despite a series that was closer than it seemed, with one match won in a Super Over.
As a result of Sri Lanka’s Melbourne victory, Australia demonstrated that they are not invincible, despite having won 10 of their previous 11 matches, including their World Cup title, despite the absence of six World Cup champions. Since then, Australia has won a one-off Twenty20 match in Pakistan despite playing without nine of its starting XI, while Sri Lanka fell to India 3-0 in India in February.
Nuwanidu Fernando and Matheesha Pathirana, two brand-new recruits, have been chosen to Sri Lanka’s team. Nuwanidu was the highlight of Sri Lanka’s development squad’s recent trip to England. This is Pathirana’s second chance to work with Lasith Malinga, who served as his bowling coach during the IPL with Chennai Super Kings. Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, the hosts’ senior bowlers, are expected to undergo a spin trial against Australia’s top order.
Despite Tim David’s exclusion from the World Cup team, Australia have announced an almost full-strength and stable roster for the series, with only Cummins (resting) and Adam Zampa (parental leave) absent. Before defending their championship at home, the visitors are counting on Aaron Finch and Steve Smith to get some much-needed T20I experience.
After his performance for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, Wanindu Hasaranga has cemented himself as the clear leader of Sri Lanka’s attack and will be closely scrutinised by his opponents. In the tournament, he finished one wicket short of purple cap winner Yuzvendra Chahal with 26 wickets taken at 16.53 and an economy rate of 7.54.
After contracting Covid-19 midway through the February series against Australia, he played in just two games, although he still managed to record 3 for 38 and 2 for 33. In the World Cup match against Australia, he went 2 for 22. For the first time they’ve encountered him in Sri Lankan weather conditions. He might be the key to unlocking the mysteries of the series. To see whether his IPL experience has benefited him would be intriguing.
To get “everyone off his back,” Aaron Finch remarked before departing for Sri Lanka that he needed some runs. The Australian captain scored a half-century and was awarded Player of the Match in his last T20I game against Pakistan. But a shaky IPL season, in which he appeared in just five games and scored only one notable goal, did nothing to allay mounting concerns about his form.
Outside of camp, many are concerned about more than just his lack of runs. His movement patterns and the way in which he was dismissed are also creating alarm. Andrew McDonald and the selectors are confidence in Finch’s ability to start and lead Australia’s World Cup defence later this year, and they’re pleased with how he’s going. Sri Lanka’s performance might remove some of the burden.
Most likely, the assault will be led by Hasaranga, Theekshana, and Dushmantha Chameera, with Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, and skipper Dasun Shanaka providing the rest of the overs. Nuwanidu Fernando might make a debut, which would extend the batting order, and Pathum Nissanka or Kusal Mendis could join Danushka Gunathilaka at the top. Nine changes were made to Australia’s T20I squad for the match against Pakistan in April, as confirmed on Monday.
During the ODI series, most of Australia’s first-choice players were either resting or injured. All that’s left of Lahore’s roster are Finch and Marcus Stoinis. Only Cummis and Zampa aren’t accessible, leaving the majority of the top players. New Zealand captain Aaron Finch said that Josh Inglis was “very stiff” to lose out on a place in the middle order. Australia will field only one spinner and revert to a seven-batter, four-bowler lineup.
