Deadline: October 27, 2019 at 9 AM IST
Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Pitch report
The average first and second innings scores at the Adelaide Oval read 169 and 150 respectively. To put things into perspective, the pitch favours the batsmen, and runs will come thick and fast if bowlers don’t maintain the right lines and lengths.
Teams
Probable XI for Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Turner, Alex Carey (wk), Aston Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa
Probable XI for Sri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Perera (wk), Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Malinga (c), Nuwan Pradeep
NOTE: Pick your fantasy cricket team wisely.
Fantasy team
We have opted for a fantasy team on the basis of players’ impact, recent performances, and credit points.
You can also check players’ performances in the last 5 matches. Tap on the players’ images to get the data while making your fantasy team.
Note: You can now select 1-4 wicketkeepers, 1-6 batsmen, 1-6 all-rounders, 1-6 bowlers.
Wicketkeepers: Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera
Batsmen: Aaron Finch, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, David Warner (vc), Steven Smith
All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Danushka Gunathilaka
Bowlers: Lasith Malinga (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Mitchell Starc
Players to watch out for
The last time Lasith Malinga played international cricket he took 4 wickets in 4 balls, becoming the only player to do so in both limited-overs formats. He is 36 but doesn’t seem so when he bowls those toe-crushing yorkers with his sling-shot action.
Although David Warner had a difficult time in the 2019 Ashes, let us not overlook the fact that he was the second-highest run-scorer in the World Cup and the highest in the 2019 IPL. If anything, he is a different player in shorter formats.
In the absence of mainstay players, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga collected the bulk of the runs and wickets respectively in Pakistan, creating more competition in the team, proving that their bench strength should not be taken for granted.
Glenn Maxwell has scored the most hundreds (3) for Australia in T20Is. He is often the player to watch out for even when he is out of form.
Steven Smith’s record in the shortest format isn’t as spectacular as it is in Tests, but he is Australia’s crisis man across formats. He is that kind of a batsman who reaches a half-century before anyone realises it.
Match prediction
Sri Lanka have a phenomenal record Down Under, having won 5 of 6 T20Is in Australia. Their 0-3 victory over Pakistan, the No. 1 T20I team, has already boosted their confidence. On the other hand, Australia have not played any limited-overs cricket since the 2019 World Cup. If anything, defeating the revamped and confident Sri Lankan team will be an uphill task.
Squads
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steven Smith, Kane Richardson, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa, Alex Carey (wk), Ben McDermott, Billy Stanlake, Andrew Tye
Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (c), Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shehan Jayasuriya, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Danushka Gunathilaka, Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Mendis, Kasun Rajitha, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan
Also, get to know the tips & tricks on how to play fantasy cricket
