Australia and Sri Lanka go head to head in the first of three T20 Internationals at the MCG this Friday.
The fifth-ranked Australians take on the eighth-placed Sri
Lankans in the first of three Twenty20 Internationals this week, with both
eager to ward off the challenging rigours of a jam-packed touring schedule.
Lankans in the first of three Twenty20 Internationals this week, with both
eager to ward off the challenging rigours of a jam-packed touring schedule.
This busyness has forced absentees – and necessitated change
– across both squads, while the Aussies have taken the approach even further by
appointing two coaches for the three-match series.
– across both squads, while the Aussies have taken the approach even further by
appointing two coaches for the three-match series.
Australia v Sri Lanka | Friday, 17 February
2017 | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 10:40
2017 | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 10:40
To Win Match
Australia 29/100 | Tie 35/1 | Sri Lanka 26/10
Australia
Scheduling labelled as “very, very poor” by David
Warner will see the hosts conclude this three-T20I affair a mere day prior to
starting a Test series in India.
Warner will see the hosts conclude this three-T20I affair a mere day prior to
starting a Test series in India.
Such a tight diary, therefore, has left the home side
without several stars – including Warner, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja and
Mitchell Starc – and reliant on the bulk of their bench strength.
without several stars – including Warner, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja and
Mitchell Starc – and reliant on the bulk of their bench strength.
With head coach Darren Lehmann, too, already in India, Justin
Langer and Ricky Ponting will step into the coaching breach against Sri Lanka –
and will have newish names like Ben Dunk, Michael Klinger, Ashton Turner,
Andrew Tye, Jhye Richardson and Billy Stanlake at their disposal.
Langer and Ricky Ponting will step into the coaching breach against Sri Lanka –
and will have newish names like Ben Dunk, Michael Klinger, Ashton Turner,
Andrew Tye, Jhye Richardson and Billy Stanlake at their disposal.
The late omission of Chris Lynn due to injury will require
Ben Dunk to shoulder plenty of responsibility. The 2016-17 Big Bash League’s
leading run-scorer hardly tasted international cricket against South Africa in
2014, but three years later, is a lot more refined – and up to the task.
Ben Dunk to shoulder plenty of responsibility. The 2016-17 Big Bash League’s
leading run-scorer hardly tasted international cricket against South Africa in
2014, but three years later, is a lot more refined – and up to the task.
T20 International cricket is an appropriate breeding ground
for the country’s future stars, particularly in the fast-bowling ranks. While
an injury-free Pat Cummins could soon be pushing for longer-format honours
again, Tye, Stanlake and Richardson will be keen to make a name for themselves
– in the shorter stuff, for now – in Melbourne and beyond.
for the country’s future stars, particularly in the fast-bowling ranks. While
an injury-free Pat Cummins could soon be pushing for longer-format honours
again, Tye, Stanlake and Richardson will be keen to make a name for themselves
– in the shorter stuff, for now – in Melbourne and beyond.
Sri Lanka
The islanders’ recent tour of South Africa was a
disappointing trip in the wake of heavy defeats in the Tests and ODI series.
Those losses flanked triumph in the T20I series, though, and opportunity knocks
for Sri Lanka to build on this.
disappointing trip in the wake of heavy defeats in the Tests and ODI series.
Those losses flanked triumph in the T20I series, though, and opportunity knocks
for Sri Lanka to build on this.
They’ll be without captain Angelo Mathews, whose stand-in
Upul Tharanga has struck form at a key juncture. Confidence with the bat will
bring him inspiration as a leader, but here’s hoping his primary role with the
willow, therein, doesn’t start to slide.
Upul Tharanga has struck form at a key juncture. Confidence with the bat will
bring him inspiration as a leader, but here’s hoping his primary role with the
willow, therein, doesn’t start to slide.
While the handling – or mismanagement – of Dinesh Chandimal,
who has effectively been sent back to club cricket is questionable, the void
will offer others the opportunity to bed in for the future. Ongoing high hopes,
then, for Niroshan Dickwella – a budding master blaster in his own right.
who has effectively been sent back to club cricket is questionable, the void
will offer others the opportunity to bed in for the future. Ongoing high hopes,
then, for Niroshan Dickwella – a budding master blaster in his own right.
A key tour fixture against a Prime Minister’s XI will
provide Sri Lanka the chance to experiment with personnel – and a couple of
combinations. Equal amounts of hard yards and leniency for the returning Lasith
Malinga, however, must be a priority. The slingy pace ace has not played
international cricket in almost a year – and the hard and fast conditions
and big boundaries on offer in Australia, particularly at the MCG, will suit
his bid for a full resurgence.
provide Sri Lanka the chance to experiment with personnel – and a couple of
combinations. Equal amounts of hard yards and leniency for the returning Lasith
Malinga, however, must be a priority. The slingy pace ace has not played
international cricket in almost a year – and the hard and fast conditions
and big boundaries on offer in Australia, particularly at the MCG, will suit
his bid for a full resurgence.
Verdict: Sri Lanka, 26/10
Australia have not played a T20I since September 2016, when
they had a plethora of stars to select – and were a lot less fragmented and
under-resourced due to an increasingly busy touring schedule.
they had a plethora of stars to select – and were a lot less fragmented and
under-resourced due to an increasingly busy touring schedule.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be buoyed by this year’s T20I
success against South Africa – and will be relatively familiar with similar
conditions experienced in Australia.
success against South Africa – and will be relatively familiar with similar
conditions experienced in Australia.
Written by Jonhenry Wilson for @Hollywoodbets.net
