Given how badly they’ve lost their way over the past 5-6 years, it’s hard to believe that Sri Lanka were once second only to Australia as a big-tournament team. Between 2007 and 2014, they reached 2 50-over World Cup finals and 3 T20 World Cup finals. And though they won only 1 of those – the T20 World Cup final against India in 2014 – everyone feared them in the big competitions. 

But since the retirement of a clutch of stalwarts and no thanks to some pathetic administration, Sri Lankan cricket is at one of its lowest ebbs. In this Cricket World Cup Super League cycle, they have won just 6 of their 18 matches so far, losing 11. They will hope that newer faces like P. Nissanka and C. Asalanka can revive the batting, while the likes of W. Hasaranga and M. Theekshana deliver the spin trickery that always made the Lankans so dangerous.

Australia go into this series without M. Marsh, who has a calf strain, M. Starc, who cut his finger while brushing against his spikes on his follow through and K. Richardson, who is ruled out with a hamstring injury. The other batting heavy hitters are all present.

The last time these two sides met in Sri Lanka, nearly 6 years ago, Australia won 4-1. It’ll need some incredible displays from the home side to prevent a similar result this time. 

Match Details

• Match: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st ODI
• Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
• Date & Time: June 14, 2022, at 2.30 PM IST
• Live Streaming: Sony Six Channel and Sony LIV app

SL vs AUS 1st ODI Probable Playing XIs 

Sri Lanka Team

P. Nissanka, D. Gunathilaka, K. Mendis (WK), D. Chandimal, C. Asalanka, D. de Silva, D. Shanaka (C), W. Hasaranga, C. Karunaratne, D. Chameera, M. Theekshana

Australia Team

A. Finch (C), D. Warner, S. Smith, M. Labuschagne, G. Maxwell, M. Stoinis, A. Carey (WK), A. Agar, P. Cummins, J. Richardson, J. Hazlewood

Sri Lanka vs Australia Head-to-Head ODI Record

	Sri Lanka Won	Australia Won	Tied/NR
Overall	32	61	4
In Sri Lanka	14	13	3
Last 10 Matches	2	7	1

Weather Report

It’s likely to be fairly cloudy and cool at the start of play, with the temperature around 27°C. The players will, however, have to cope with extremely high humidity. 

SL vs AUS 1st ODI Pitch Report

In the series against Zimbabwe earlier this year, a total of 250 was crossed 5 times in 3 matches, with both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe topping 300 once. But that’s usually been a rarity, with just 9 300-plus scores in 28 matches here. The average first innings score in the last series was 284 runs.

Toss

Teams batting second have a slight edge at this venue, with 16 wins against 12 losses. The high humidity and cloud cover should be an even greater incentive to bowl first.

Top Fantasy Picks for SL vs Aus 1st ODI Match

Sri Lanka

• C. Asalanka is yet to score a century in this format, but 5 half centuries (4 have come in the last 6 matches) from 11 ODIs suggest that has what it takes to make it at the highest level. His 472 runs so far have come at a healthy average of 42.90 and a good strike rate of 89.90.  
• D. Shanaka may seem a little inexperienced in the 50-overs format having played only 37 ODIs, but he is not just captain of this side. His lower-order hitting, which has seen him hit a century while scoring at a strike rate of 95.46, and his medium pace bowling has partnership-breaking value (12 wickets at an average of 36.5).
• W. Hasaranga is a talented spinner and a more than handy lower-order batter in ODIs. In 29 ODIs, he has taken 29 wickets and also scored 546 runs. Hasaranga has picked up 7 wickets in his last 5 ODIs and 5 wickets in the just concluded T20 series.

Australia

• D. Warner will be playing an ODI for the first time since getting injured in Nov 2020. In 128 ODIs, he has scored 5455 runs at an average of 45.45 including 18 centuries. Warner scored the most runs in the recent T20I series with 130 runs and made 106 runs in his only innings at this venue.
• G. Maxwell, like Warner, will be playing his first ODI since late 2020. He had considerable success in his last 6 ODIs, scoring 353 runs including 1 century and 3 half-centuries. Although he hasn't played an ODI in Sri Lanka, 202 runs against them in six matches have come at an incredible strike rate of 154.19. His bowling is also crucial to the balance of the team. 
• J. Hazlewood was the best bowler in the last series against Sri Lanka, picking a total of 8 wickets in three matches, with best figures of 4/12. In 12 matches of the Indian T20 League 2022, he took 20 wickets, which is the second-highest number of wickets for Bangalore this season.

Suggested Howzat Team for Sri Lanka vs Australia Fantasy Cricket

• Wicketkeepers: A. Carey, K. Mendis
• Batters: C. Asalanka, D. Warner, M. Labuschagne
• All-rounders: W. Hasaranga, G. Maxwell, D. Shanaka
• Bowlers: P. Cummins, M. Theekshana, J. Hazlewood

• Captain: M. Labuschagne/W. Hasaranga
• Vice Captain: C. Asalanka/P. Cummins

NOTE: The Howzat dream team above is just a suggestion. You can select your own team from today’s fantasy match prediction and play all the fantasy cricket matches of the Australia Tour of Sri Lanka 2022. Also, don’t forget to make any necessary changes to your team once the actual playing 11 is announced by each team (30 minutes before the start of the match) as some players you have selected might not be part of the team playing.

Download one of the favorite fantasy apps and select your own team, Howzat!