Australia heads to Sri Lanka looking for their first series win there since 2011, as they ramp up their preparation for the World Test Championship Final. Sri Lanka are an improving side and have been excellent at home in recent years, so this will be a tough challenge for the Aussies.
Sri Lanka vs Australia: 1st Test Preview & Betting Tips
Galle, Wedneday 29th January, 3:30pm AEDT
Sri Lanka
Squad: Dhananjaya de Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake
Sri Lanka will need to find a new opener after it was confirmed Pathum Nissanka will miss the first Test due to a groin strain. Oshada Fernando and Lahiru Udara loom as the possibility to fill the vacancy, however it is expected that Nissanka will be available for the second Test. Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (side strain) and Kamindu Mendis (split webbing) also come in under an injury cloud, but are expected to play after travelling with the team to Galle.
Sri Lanka had an up and down 2024, which finished with a 6-4 record from 10 Tests. Sri Lanka began with three straight wins against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, before being hammered in the first two Tests of a three match series away against England. Sri Lanka rallied in the final Test of the series to beat England by 8 wickets, in one of their best wins in recent memory. Sri Lanka would then go on to hammer New Zealand at home 2-0, before being smashed by South Africa 2-0 in South Africa. Their closest margin by runs was 63 runs and wickets was by five wickets, as typical with sub continent sides apart from India, they tend to play high variance games home and away.
The biggest positive of 2024 for Sri Lanka was the rise of Kamindu Mendis, who has had an outstanding start to his Test career after debuting against Australia in 2022. In 2024 Mendis was the fourth highest run scorer in Test cricket despite only playing 9 Tests, scoring 1049 runs at an average of 74.92. Mendis scored 5 centuries and 3 half centuries, and is a massive key to Sri Lanka’s hopes in this series.
Australia
Squad: Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
Australia heads to Sri Lanka without captain Pat Cummins who will miss the tour due to the impending birth of his second child. Steve Smith takes the reins as captain, with the selection strategy a fascinating one ahead of the first Test. Do they go down the route that they did in the back half of the 2023 tour of India, using Travis Head as an opener to get ahead of the game? Or will they back in youngster Sam Konstas who has yet to prove himself against spin?
It is likely Australia goes with a three prong spin attack after Matt Kuhnemann completed a full training session in Galle during the week. Kuhnemann is set to line up alongside Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy, meaning it’s likely Mitchell Starc will be the only specialist seamer, with all-rounder Beau Webster to chip in with some overs. If Head gets the nod to open the batting then Josh Inglis and Nathan McSweeney will be in the frame to take the number five spot.
Australia shook off a horror loss in the opening Test to rampage home to a 3-1 series victory over India. Led by Travis Head (448 runs at 56), Steve Smith (314 runs at 34.88), Pat Cummins (24 wickets at 21.36) and Scott Boland (21 wickets at 13.19), the Australians booked their place in the World Test Championship Final. In 2024 Australia finished with seven wins, one draw and two losses and currently sit as the number one ranked Test team in the world.
Match Prediction
Sri Lanka have been a formidable side at home over the past three years, winning ten of their fourteen Tests at home. Across that timespan they have won five series, drawn one and lost only one series. Australia’s last two tours to Sri Lanka produced a 1-1 draw in 2022 and a 3-0 defeat in 2016, you have to go back to September 2011 where Australia last tasted victory in Sri Lanka, with a 1-0 win in a three match series.
Australia has shown an improvement with the bat against spin over the last few years, however they have shown a capacity to collapse in a session, which will cost them the series if they have one given it’s just a two-game series. The battle between Prabath Jayasuriya and Australia’s batsmen will go a long way to deciding this Test match, if Australia can nullify his influence, they should win this Test.
There is rain expected throughout the Test, including a storm on day 4 which may limit the influence of spin slightly, which will play into Australia’s hands. Like they did in the first Test at Galle in 2022, Australia will adapt to the conditions and find a way to win.
Prop Bet
Travis Head played a crucial role in Australia’s last tour to the subcontinent in 2023 against India. After being moved to the top of the order in the second innings of the second Test, Head produced scores of 43, 9, 49*, 32 and 90. Head scored 235 runs at an average of 47 with a strike rate of 68.71, and will no doubt be a key factor in the series, especially if he opens the batting.
Travis Head Australia Top Run Scorer
$4.50
