Australia is set to visit Sri Lanka to participate in a 2-match test series, as a part of World Test Championship cycle. Both teams will be led by stand-in captains due to the unavailability of their regular leaders. For Australia, Steve Smith will assume the captaincy in place of Pat Cummins, who is absent due to paternity leave and an ankle injury. On the Sri Lankan side, Dhananjaya de Silva will lead the team, stepping in for regular captain Dimuth Karunaratne.
Live Streaming Info
Fans can tune in to watch Aus Vs Sri live on Tens Sports and A Sports in Pakistan and Sky Sports Network in the UK. This match will be streamed at 9:30 am PST, 10:00 am IST, and 4:30 am GMT.
Team Analysis
The biggest asset for the Aussie team is their fearsome pace battery. Despite Pat Cummins’ absence, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland form a potent trio, supported by all-rounder Cameron Green. Starc, with 336 Test wickets, continues to be a lethal force in subcontinental conditions, exploiting reverse swing. Hazlewood, boasting an economy rate of just 2.78 in Tests, offers consistency and control, especially with the new ball. The pace unit’s unique ability to adapt to varying conditions makes them a formidable challenge for Sri Lanka’s batting lineup, particularly on Galle’s spin-friendly yet pace-assisting surfaces early on.
Additionally, Australia’s batting order exhibits immense resilience and dominance. Their resilience is anchored by the in-form Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. Labuschagne, with an incredible Test batting average of 54.16, has been the bedrock of the Australian lineup, excelling in both defense and counter attacking play. Smith, a veteran with 9,376 Test runs, is known for his ability to grind opposition bowlers in challenging conditions. Travis Head, a recent standout in Asian conditions, adds further depth to the top order. This cohesive batting unit, adept at weathering spin and pace alike, is primed to neutralize Sri Lanka’s spin threat and post competitive totals.
The hosts and their recent track record of losing test matches on home grounds is not convincing. Sri Lanka’s main weakness lies in their fragile top-order batting, particularly against pace. Pathum Nissanka and Nishan Madushka have struggled for consistency, with Nissanka averaging just 25.6 in his last five Tests. Their inexperience could expose the middle order early, putting extra pressure on key players like Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva. This vulnerability could be exploited by Australia’s world-class fast bowlers.
However, light should be highlighted upon what is obvious. Sri Lanka enjoys a significant home advantage in the Test series against Australia, thanks to Galle’s spin-friendly pitches that suit their world-class spinners like Prabath Jayasuriya and passionate home crowd. The familiarity with local conditions helps their batsmen tackle Australia’s formidable pace attack.
Match Insights And Conclusion
For the Australia vs Sri Lanka 1st Test, the key impact players include Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc for the guest lineup , given their expertise in batting and reverse swing. For Sri Lanka, Prabath Jayasuriya and Dhananjaya de Silva stand out, with the former excelling in spin and the latter contributing as a dependable all-rounder. If you want to watch Aus Vs Sri live, scroll above and click on the link provided.
