Australia vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I: Aaron Finch vs Lasith Malinga and other key battles
AUS vs SL, 1st T20I: Finch vs Malinga and other key battles
Australia will play four-Test series in India, exactly a day after the T20I series against Sri Lanka, at home, will wrap up. Agreed it is a rare sight, but do you not think it is good for the game? That the fans will get to enjoy more cricket and that too its different formats. However, given the top guns will be busy preparing for the longest format, Aaron Finch will captain the team in the shortest format. Let us have a look at the key battles of the series opener at Melbourne
Aaron Finch vs Lasith Malinga: The last time Malinga played international cricket was in Asia Cup 2016, almost a year ago. He was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury. Given the time he spent off the field, he will be raring to bowl the deadly, toe-crushing yorkers, especially to his former Mumbai Indians teammate Aaron Finch.
On the other hand, the last time Aaron Finch played an international T20 was in ICC World T20 2016, nearly 11 months ago.
Finch has a reputation of going great guns right from the word go, be it any format. Hence, without a shadow of doubt, he will try to reduce Malinga to rubble in his comeback match. But let us not disregard the fact that Malinga is reputed as one of the best bowlers in the fastest format of the game.
Upul Tharanga vs Adam Zampa: This is a battle between a southpaw and a leg-spinner. This is a battle between a stalwart and an emerging player.
Tharanga scored a resounding 119 in the fourth ODI against South Africa. With an international experience over a decade, selectors announced him the captain of this T20 side, as Angelo Mathews was injured during the previous series. Australia vs Sri Lanka: Michael Klinger set to make T20I debut at Melbourne
On the other hand, Zampa’s economy reads 5.96 in T20Is, the format that is completely batsman-oriented. When he will be pit against the experience Tharanga, it will be interesting to see whether he manages to contain the onslaught.
Travis Head vs Nuwan Kulasekara: For most Indians, Kulasekara is the one who conceded the winning six to MS Dhoni in ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. But very few remember that he was the No. 1 bowler in ICC ODI rankings. But he has been off colour this season, so much so that he conceded 74 off 10 overs in the fourth ODI against South Africa. But let us not forget he bowls excellently in the block holes, outside the off stump (there comes a lot of ‘but’ when articulating Kulasekara).
He will be up against the explosive Head, who uses the long handle to blasting effect. Whether Kulasekara keeps a lid on the runs or Head takes him to the cleaners, is a question only time will tell.
Kusal Mendis vs Pat Cummins: Kusal Mendis is one of the rare cricketers who can play attacking cricket with proper cricketing shots. There is no slog or a reckless heave. He simply relies on timing. Given he is a top-order batsman, he is likely to face off with the pacer Cummins, who is armed with a natural out-swinger.
On bouncy tracks, Cummins will fashion a two-slip cordon to produce an outside edge off Kusal Mendis.
James Faulkner vs Milinda Siriwardana: All-rounders play the most pivotal role in this format. He plays as an extra batsman as well as bowler, if the specialists fail to fire. And this where Faulkner and Siriwardana come in to play.
Faulkner needs no introduction. He is the second fastest Australian to score a hundred in ODIs. He has won many matches with his back-of-the-hand deliveries, be it 20- or 50-over cricket. Siriwardana, on the other hand, bowls slow-left arm orthodox. He, like Faulkner, can play big shots under pressure.