Calm SL ready for Australia’s rebound

Big Picture

A poor opening stand for Sri Lanka, wickets for Mitchell Starc, ragging turn, catches at short leg, and problems with bowlers’ foot holes – had an Australia fan run naked across ground, the first ODI would have been almost exactly like the Test series. The teams, though, had swapped roles. It was Australia’s attack that had the discipline to squeeze regular wickets out. It was Australia’s top order that outlined the ideal approach on such tracks, by attacking early in their innings, and scrapping later on. And it was Sri Lanka that suffered the batting collapse.

Colombo was swept up in the good vibes generated by the Test whitewash. Angelo Mathews and the team management remain confident the young players who did well in the longest format would hit their stride in the ODIs as well. In addition, there was excitement over freshly-unearthed talent. Amila Aponso out-bowled more experienced spinners in his debut match, and several of his deliveries turned so much they wound up at slip.

But Sri Lanka, who have lost their last four ODIs, have to come from behind now. And Australia, having proven they are the best team in the world on high-scoring tracks, don’t appear too out of place in low-scoring conditions.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia: WWWLW
Sri Lanka: LLLLT

In the spotlight

Dinesh Chandimal hasn’t quite been his usual exuberant self at the crease in his last two matches, but his returns have been crucial. He only struck three boundaries on Sunday, but went on to top-score in the match, with 80 not out. Having been in good touch in England as well, hitting half-centuries in each of the last four matches there, he now has the chance to become the first Sri Lanka batsman to six successive fifties. Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan had all scored five-in-a-row.

They would not put it in such strong terms, but Sri Lanka do not rate David Warner against offspin – at least not at the beginning of his innings. Offspin claimed his wicket four out of six times in the Tests, Dilruwan Perera bagging him thrice. They gave Dilshan a run at Warner in the first ODI, and though the batsman fell to seam bowling, Sri Lanka would likely try it again. With only one fifty in seven international innings on this tour, Warner would want to correct his relatively modest record in Asia.

Teams news

With Nuwan Pradeep ruled out of the series, Sri Lanka would likely to stick with Thisara Perera as their frontline seamer. Seekkuge Prasanna may replace Lakshan Sandakan, but more likely the same XI that played on Sunday would be retained.

Sri Lanka (possible): 1. Kusal Perera, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Milinda Siriwardana, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Dilruwan Perera, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Amila Aponso

Australia may also retain the same XI.

Australia (possible): 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Matthew Wade (wk), 5 George Bailey, 6 Moises Henriques, 7 Travis Head, 8 James Faulkner, 9 Mitchell Starc, 9 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Adam Zampa

Pitch and conditions

The surface did not look quite as dry as the one used on Sunday, but this being Khettarama, and the opposition being Australia, it would be a surprise if the pitch did not offer substantial turn.

Stats and trivia

• If Dinesh Chandimal scores another fifty, he joins Andrew Jones, Kane Williamson, Mohammad Yousuf, Asif Iqbal, and Mark Waugh, at second on the list of most fifties on the trot. Javed Miandad holds the record with nine consecutive half-centuries.
• In eight innings in Asia, David Warner averages 26.25 with a strike rate of 70. His career average and strike rate are 38.71 and 93 respectively.
• Sri Lanka have lost seven of their last nine completed ODIs against top-ten opposition.

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