After a humiliating series white-wash in the Test series, Sri Lanka will be up against Australia in the limited overs format for a 2-match ODI series. The encounter between the nations can be seen as a major event for Australian players to gear up ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 fixtures, which are scheduled to be held later this month. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are not part of the coveted ICC tournament this time around.
Even though Sri Lanka have the home advantage in their favor, the team would look forward to playing some scintillating cricket and coming back to winning ways. In addition to the Test series loss against Australia, the Lankans were also outperformed by New Zealand by a 2-1 ODI series defeat on the Blackcaps’ home turf.
Major miss for Sri Lanka ahead of ODI clash against Australia
The Sri Lankan team management has recently announced a 16-member squad for the ODI series against Australia. In a shocking turn of events, the decision-makers had opted to keep all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe out of the squad. The Sri Lankan all-rounder had proven to be a handy batter and a pace option for the home side in the past. However, the decision is seen as a tactical shift to make the team more adaptable to the home conditions where pitches have turned out to be more spin-friendly.
The Sri Lankan team management also supposedly wanted to add an extra spin option to the team given their lack of variety and the subsequent struggles the team had to suffer against quality Australian batters at Galle during the Test series. In light of the recent developments around the Sri Lankan team for the ODI series against Australia, here is Sri Lanka’s best-playing XI for the upcoming white-ball challenge.
Sri Lanka’s best playing XI for the ODI series against Australia
1. Avishka Fernando
- Role: Opening batter
- Strength: Can provide a solid start to the team and score runs during power-play overs.
- Impact: Fernando has the ability to score some quick runs early on in the game and provide the team with the base to either set high targets for Australia or early momentum during a run-chase.
2. Pathum Nissanka
- Role: Opening batter
- Strength: Can prove dynamic with the bat
- Impact: Nissanka can develop a steady innings and hold the wicket on the other end to allow other batters a more free hand.
3. Kamindu Mendis
- Role: Top-order batter
- Strength: Can bat with technique and temperament required against quality bowling unit.
- Impact: Kamindu can turn out to be the pivot of the Sri Lankan batting order. He can hold on to the innings and rotate strikes and go for the big shots as well.
4. Charith Asalanka
- Role: Batting all-rounder
- Strength: Can bat up the order to score big runs and be handy with the ball, particularly during the middle overs
- Impact: The leader of the Sri Lankan side, Asalanka, can play a dynamic role in the team scoring crucial runs on the board and a reliable bowling option during the middle overs of the game.
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5. Kuasal Mendis
- Role: Wicket-keeper batter
- Strength: Provides depth to the batting line-up and scores some crucial runs on the board.
- Impact: Ability to develop crucial partnerships with lower-order batters and tailenders.
6. Wanindu Hasaranga
- Role: Batting all-rounder
- Strength: Wanidu Hasaranga can be a crucial support to both the top-order and the lower-order of the team and can develop important partnerships with them to put runs on the board for the team.
- Impact: He can be a viable spin option for the team apart from his batting prowess.
7. Janith Liyange
- Role: Batting all-rounder
- Strength: Ability to hit the ball and attack the opposition’s bowling unit to score some quick runs
- Impact: A safe, and disciplined bowling option with a remarkable economy rate in the ODI format adds value to the team apart from his ability to bat.
8. Asitha Fernando
- Role: Pacer
- Strength: Provides early breakthroughs to the team and can utilize early support from the pitch to swing the ball and trouble the rival team’s batters.
- Impact: Can prove detrimental to the batters with his pace and ability to swing the ball.
9. Eshan Malinga
- Role: Pacer
- Strength: Ability to bowl quickly and trouble the batters with lateral seam
- Impact: Eshan can restrict batters, particularly during the death overs, and force them to commit mistakes which leads to breakthroughs for the Sri Lankan side
10. Lahiru Kumara
- Role: Pacer
- Strength: Provides crucial support to spinners during the middle overs and ability to restrict batters with his remarkable line and length.
- Impact: Lahiru can adapt to the situation and bowl alongside more traditional bowlers or with part-timers on the early end. His line and length can trouble batters on any given day.
11. Dunith Wellalage
- Role: Spinner
- Strength: Can prove instrumental with his spin against Australian batters and provide crucial breakthroughs to his team.
- Impact: His wicket-taking ability can prove detrimental to the Australian batting line-up and can get some quick breakthroughs for Sri Lanka.