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Sri Lanka vs Australia 1st Test preview: how the teams will line up

Look at that face. Is this whole fiasco really his fault? (AAP Image/Carol Cho)
Roar Rookie
21st July, 2016
11

After a five-year wait, the Aussies finally return to Sri Lanka – and what a series this could turn out to be.

With the first Test in the fourth Warne-Muralitharan series set to begin on July 26th, here is a view of both squads and the potential line-ups for the Pallekelle Test.

The Australian squad
The Australian Test squad, as ever, look extremely strong in all facets. With the emergence of Steve O’Keefe in the warm-up game against a Sri Lankan XI, they look to have a handy spin combination whose performance could prove crucial to the outcome of the series.

The batsmen, too, are proving that they can perform in the subcontinent, with the likes of Usman Khawaja, David Warner and Steve Smith expected to solidify their reputations as accomplished players of spin. In the aforementioned warm-up game, the lowest individual score bar Nathan Lyon’s eight was 25 from Marsh and Nevill, proving that the whole team are comfortable in what can often be testing conditions for Antipodean visitors.

The Sri Lankan squad
With a spate of injuries throughout the national pool, the Sri Lankans find themselves in the unenviable scenario of missing their top three pace bowlers, a loss of even more experience in an already fresh-faced side.

This has led to a game-by-game squad selection, and the 15 men put up for the first encounter features five uncapped players, four of whom were called up from the Sri Lanka A team which is currently touring England. The performances of the senior players will prove key, with Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal and the wily Rangana Herath expected to lead from the front.

In a bowling attack light of experience, Herath will undoubtedly be the main man, and a good showing from the Lankan batting is crucial if they hope to give themselves a fighting chance.

Predicted XIs
Australia’s line-up looks settled and is highly likely to stay the same from their last series in New Zealand in February, bar James Pattinson (who is not in the squad) and Jackson Bird (who is certain to be swapped out for Mitchell Starc).

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Australia
1. David Warner 2. Joe Burns/Shaun Marsh 3. Usman Khawaja 4. Steve Smith (c) 5. Adam Voges 6. Mitchell Marsh 7. Peter Nevill (wk) 8. Steve O’Keefe 9. Mitchell Starc 10. Nathan Lyon 11. Josh Hazlewood/Jackson Bird

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are a team whose final combination is almost impossible to predict, but what is certain is a debutant among the line-up, with at least one player expected to make their bow.

Dilruwan Perera or the uncapped Lakshan Sandakan are expected to fight it out for the second spinner’s role behind Herath, and they may opt for the exciting Vishwa Fernando over Suranga Lakmal to partner Nuwan Pradeep with the new ball.

Sri Lanka
1. Dimuth Karunaratne 2. Kaushal Silva 3. Kusal Mendis 4. Dinesh Chandimal (wk) 5. Angelo Mathews (c) 6. Kusal Perera 7. Dhananjaya de Silva/Roshen Silva 8. Rangana Herath 9. Dilruwan Perera/Lakshan Sandakan 10. Suranga Lakmal/Vishwa Fernando 11. Nuwan Pradeep

On paper, the Australians far outweigh the inexperienced Sri Lankans, but don’t expect the home team to go down without a fight. With the support of the crowd and knowledge of the conditions, anything is possible. Still, it is hard not to rate the Aussies, and expect them to win this quite comfortably.

Prediction: Australia to take a 1-0 lead

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