By Rex Clementine 

Former Australian captain Vic Richardson had an interesting advice to his grandson Ian Chappell, “If you ever go onto captain Australia, don’t lead like a Victorian.’  Victoria is the second smallest Australian state and its people in Richardson’s time were said to be too traditional. The current Australian captain Aaron Finch is also a Victorian and turns up for Geelong Cricket Club, a familiar place for Sri Lankans who live in Melbourne. Under Finch, Australia have enjoyed unprecedented success. Despite their excellence in ICC events, Australia had not won a T-20 World Cup until last year and it was achieved under Finch’s captaincy.

Although he would deny, Australia start the three match T-20 series as firm favourites. Sri Lanka are ranked lowly ninth and would be playing a qualifying round in this year’s World Cup while Australia are defending their title.

Ideally, you’d be saying that as Sri Lanka have about ten T-20 Internationals before the World Cup, they should be using this to prepare for the mega event later this year. That would be being realistic but can Dasun Shanaka’s team punch above their weight.

The two team’s last meeting was in Dubai during the World Cup and it was a close contest with David Warner’s dropped catch costing Sri Lanka dearly. Kusal Janith Perera was the wicketkeeper who grassed the chance on that occasion and not having a full time keeper and expecting your batsman to do one of cricket’s toughest jobs could come back to haunt Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka entered the last World Cup struggling to qualify but finished the competition as feared opponents. Since then, the team has made further progress and their bowling looks solid with Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana, who made his IPL debut before representing Sri Lanka, forming the nucleus of the attack.

Sri Lanka’s bowling certainly looks world class while batting has improved tremendously. Their transition following the exodus of several legends has been slower than what people would have liked but you sense that the team is gradually turning things around. There are signs that Sri Lanka could go onto become a force in white ball cricket again. A series win against the Aussies will help them to improve their T-20 rankings. Ideally, by the time the Asia Cup is over and leading into the World Cup if Sri Lanka can be ranked among the top five teams, that will be a huge satisfaction.

Australia are a well balanced side. They have the firepower of David Warner and Finch top of the order while Steve Smith steadies the ship. The explosive Glen Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh are deadly in the middle order while Matthew Wade puts the finishing touch lower down the order.

Their pace is in good hands with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood sharing the new ball while Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson are the two lead spinners.

This will be also the first time since the pandemic that the gates have been opened for fans without restrictions and full houses are expected for the three T-20 games.

Australian T20 squad:

Aaron Finch (Captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner and Matthew Wade.

Sri Lanka T20 squad:

Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanindu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Praveen Jayawickrama and Lakshan Sandakan.

Schedule:

June 7:

First T20, RPS  

June 8:

Second T20, RPS  

June 11:

Third T20, Pallekele  

June 14:

First ODI, Pallekele  

June 16:

Second ODI, Pallekele  

June 19:

Third ODI, RPS  

June 21:

Fourth ODI, RPS 

June 24:

Fifth ODI, RPS 

June 29 :

July 3: First Test, Galle 

July 8-12:

Second Test, Galle