The two-Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia will kick-off from January 24 with the first test scheduled to take place at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Both teams are coming into this game after a devastating run in their previous Red ball series. Sri Lanka were taken down in their last 2 match Test series against New Zealand by 0-1, while the hosts were defeated at their home by India 2-1 in a four-match series.
Both teams have had a horrific run in the last year or so, Australia are still struggling with their batting composition ever since the ban imposed to Steve Smith and David Warner.
They have tried many players at different slots since then like Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw and the latest one being opener Marcus Harris but the stability is missing both at the top and middle-order.
They tried a new opening combination of Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris against India, Aaron Finch’s miserable form did not produce the goods expected from him which has led him being axed for this series.
Now with a new opening duo of Marcus Harris and Joe Burns, Australia will look to work on their mistakes which they committed last year and come up with positives.
Sri Lanka has suffered numerous injury troubles before the start of this tour including a big blow in the form of the former skipper Angelo Mathews.
His depreciating fitness level has hindered him once again after he suffered a grade two strain in his left hamstring in the first Test against Newzealand which took place at Christchurch in December 2018.
Apart from him, pacer Nuwan Pradeep has also got a hamstring injury due to which he won’t feature in the Test series. He sustained a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring in the warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI.
When – January 24, 08:30 AM IST
Where – The Gabba, Brisbane
Sri Lanka Squad:
Australia Squad:
Sri Lanka (Probable)
Niroshan Dickwella, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, D Perera, D de Silva, S Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara. (Doubt: Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Sadeera Samerawickrama, Dushmantha Chameera)
Australia (Playing XI)
Tim Paine, Joe Burns, Marcus Harris, Kurtis Patterson, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jhye Richardson.
Sri Lanka Fantasy Picks
Australia Fantasy Picks
Make AUS vs SL Dream11 Team as per your discretion from the squad listed in the article.