Published: Feb 17, 2017, 12:15 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 17, 2017, 12:15 AM (IST)
Let us drop the bombshell at the beginning: Sri Lanka have played 3 T20Is in Australia — at Perth in 2010-11, and at Sydney and Melbourne in 2012-13. At Perth Suraj Randiv had restricted Australia to 133 for 8 before Sri Lanka eased their way to a 7-wicket win with 21 balls to spare. The Sydney match was a bizarre one, for despite not losing wickets and David Warner slamming a 62-ball unbeaten 90, Australia finished on 137 for 3. Sri Lanka chased down again, this time by 5 wickets, with 7 balls in hand. And at Melbourne Mahela Jayawardene and Thisara Perera tonked their way to take the tourists to 161 for 4; in the end Australia needed 5 off the last ball, but Glenn Maxwell swung and missed off Thisara and managed only a bye. Full Cricket Scorecard: Australia vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I at Melbourne
In other words, Sri Lanka have played 3 T20Is in Australia and have won all 3: they hold a cent per cent record in the country. Australia do have a 4:3 advantage away from home, but the overall numbers still read 6:4 in Sri Lanka’s favour.
Both sides have been hammered by South Africa in recent past, though not in the 20-over format. Sri Lanka even won the T20I series on South African soil against all odds: on either side of the series they were whitewashed by the hosts, first in the Tests, then in the ODIs. Australia, on the other hand, had faced the same fate, being whitewashed in South Africa in the ODIs and losing the Test series to them at home. READ: Australia vs Sri Lanka: Michael Klinger set to make T20I debut at Melbourne
However, though history speaks in Sri Lanka’s favour, recent records certainly favour Australia. Though they were whitewashed in the Test series in Sri Lanka in end-2016, they won the ODIs 4-1 and T20Is 2-1. In other words, they have a clear dominance over Sri Lanka in recent past in limited-overs cricket, that too at their den.
The Australian perspective: Cricket Australia have come up with a queer schedule this time. As Aaron Finch will lead his men at Melbourne, so will Steven Smith at Mumbai, to play their warm-up match before the series in India. In other words, two Australian sides will be playing simultaneously, in different continents. READ: Australia vs Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga recalled for T20I series
The Australian side, despite being deprived of Smith, David Warner, and Glenn Maxwell, can still boast of Finch himself, James Faulkner, and Adam Zampa. On the other hand, Pat Cummins will return to T20Is after 18 months, Ben Dunk after 26, and Tim Paine after almost six years. The squad also has three uncapped (across formats) players — domestic stalwart Michael Klinger (currently 36), Ashton Turner, and the nearly unheard-of Jhye Richardson. A genuinely quick bowler, Richardson can run through sides, as he made evident in the BBL final this season: his 3 for 30 earned him the Player of the Match award in the final and was instrumental in Perth Scorchers clinching the title. With the equally fast and hostile Billy Stanlake also in the side, Sri Lanka should anticipate some serious pace and bounce.
Backing up the two fast men will be Cummins, Zampa, and (if he plays) the mysteriously overlooked Andrew Tye, while Faulkner and Moises Henriques can be more than a handful on their days. Finch will find support in Ben Dunk and Travis Head, while Klinger is more or less certain to get an eye-in. Whether they opt to leave out Paine and make Dunk keep wickets will be seen, but this will be a batting firepower and a potent bowling attack to watch out for. READ: AUS vs SL, 1st T20I: Finch vs Malinga and other key battles
The Sri Lankan perspective: Angelo Mathews’ injury and Dinesh Chandimal’s axing have left two massive voids in the Sri Lankan middle-order. Ever since he has decided to return to the top of the order Upul Tharanga has been among runs, and has forged an explosive opening pair with Niroshan Dickwella. Dilshan Munaweera, playing after four years, played a brisk cameo in the match against Prime Minister’s XI, as did Milinda Siriwardana.
Despite all that the middle-order does not really ooze confidence. Between them, Seekkuge Prasanna and Asela Gunaratne had helped seal the decider against South Africa, while Chamara Kapugedara has shown glimpses of his talent for the umpteenth time in his career. However, if Australia make those early inroads, the inexperienced middle-order may crumble.
Uncapped Vikum Sanjaya had an excellent outing against Prime Minister’s XI, taking 3 for 26. Nuwan Kulasekara will bring all his experience to the party, and will probably be supported by a band of all-rounders.
However, all that pales into insignificance when one considers that the fact that this will be Lasith Malinga’s comeback match — after almost a year. Malinga sits at the fourth place in the all-time T20I wicket-takers’ list (after three Pakistanis) and had led Sri Lanka to a World T20 title, but there is more to him than that. READ: Australia vs Sri Lanka: Ben Dunk replaces Chris Lynn for T20I series
That golden mane, slinging action, those toe-crushing yorkers, everything has contributed towards Malinga’s emergence as one of the most spectacular bowlers in limited-overs cricket. Just to see him back in action will be a spectacle worth it. In the tour match he bowled D’Arcy Short with the fourth ball of the match and finished with 4-0-26-1, which means he is in decent form.
Just as remarkable will be Klinger’s international debut after an 18-year domestic career, whose inclusion was probably triggered by his unbeaten 49-ball 71 in the BBL final last month. A battle between the two seasoned veterans will probably be the highlight of the series.
Squads:
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Tim Paine (wk), Ben Dunk (wk), Travis Head, Michael Klinger, Ashton Turner, James Faulkner, Moises Henriques, Pat Cummins, Billy Stanlake, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Jhye Richardson.
Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga (c), Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Mendis (wk), Chamara Kapugedara, Dilshan Munaweera, Asela Gunaratne, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Sachith Pathirana, Milinda Siriwardana, Vikum Sanjaya, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga.
Time: 7.40 pm local | 2:10 pm IST | 8:40 am GMT
