Deadline: October 30, 2019 at 1:40 PM IST
Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane
Pitch report
The average first and second innings scores read 178 and 152 respectively at the venue. While the lowest registered score is 114, the highest chased is 161 for 4 by Australia against South Africa. To put everything in perspective, the pitch favours the batsmen.
Teams
Only 4 players got to bat – of which 1 played only a delivery. Such was the top three’s dominance on Sunday that Steven Smith never took the crease.
Probable XI for Australia: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Turner, Steven Smith, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa
Sri Lanka dropped the likes of Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, and Isuru Udana for the series opener. Whether they will keep the same XI or change the team composition, is a question only time can tell.
Probable XI for Sri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Kusal Perera (wk), Oshada Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Malinga (c), Kasun Rajitha, 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.
Wicketkeeper: Kusal Perera
Batsmen: Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Turner, Oshada Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, David Warner (c)
All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Danushka Gunathilaka
Bowlers: Lasith Malinga, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc
Players to watch out for
Glenn Maxwell batting at No. 3 has made matters worse for Sri Lanka, giving no time for their bowlers to find right lines and lengths. Before him come the devastating pair of David Warner and Aaron Finch. While Maxwell has scored the most hundreds (3) for Australia and Finch has the highest T20I score (172) to his name, Warner finally scored his maiden T20I century on Sunday.
None of the Sri Lankan batsmen could get going, but they will take it on the chin and move on. Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Wanindu Hasaranga, who starred on the Pakistan tour, will be itching to make amends.
Match prediction
Although Sunday’s loss was embarrassing for Sri Lanka, it was only their second defeat in seven matches Down Under. For that matter, they have never lost a T20I series in Australia.
On the other hand, the home team were spectacular in all the departments. The batsmen posted a titanic score and then the bowlers wrapped up the matter by a margin of 134 runs.
Sri Lanka will have to reminisce about their recent victory over Pakistan, the No. 1 team in T20Is and draw some confidence. If anything, it was their bowlers who let them down in the first match. They couldn’t find their lengths when David Warner launched an onslaught. And if at all Australia bat first again, Sri Lanka might face the same fate.
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