Australia face Sri Lanka at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the first of a three-match series. Follow the live scores and blog of this Twenty20 from 7:20pm (AEDT).
The Australians are still seeking to make an impression at international level in the shortest format of the game, with the ICC only ranking them at No.5, while the tourists are even lower, coming in at No.8.
For a side that has been at the top of the world in both Test and ODI formats for 30 years, the home team’s lack of success in T20 cricket is a matter of much frustration. In six T20 World Cups, they have made it through to just one final.
Perhaps the blame lies solely with Cricket Australia. This series is a prime example, being scheduled while Australia’s leading players are in India preparing for a four-match Test series, which begins a day after the conclusion of the third T20 match.
However, with so many stars missing, some of the best players from the recent Big Bash League have a chance to demonstrate what they can do on the international stage.
All three of the leading run scorers in the BBL get a chance: Ben Dunk, Michael Klinger and Aaron Finch – the latter being the skipper for the series.
The BBL’s leading wicket taker, Sean Abbott, who claimed 20 victims, has been omitted, although the champion Perth Scorchers pair of Jhye Richardson and Andrew Tye received a call-up.
Australia defeated Sri Lanka in their most recent series, which took place in Sri Lanka in early September 2016. The tourists won the two fixtures by 85 runs and four wickets respectively. Prior to that, Sri Lanka had won the previous five T20Is between the two countries.
Sri Lanka have travelled to Australia directly from South Africa, where they were thrashed in the ODI series, but they managed to record a 2-1 success against the Proteas in the T20Is. Although it should be noted that the South Africans rested most of their leading players for those fixtures.
Be sure to join The Roar for our live coverage and scores of the first T20 between Australia and Sri Lanka from 7:40pm (AEDT).
maverick
Roar Rookie
They see potential in stanlake.potential is good enough for playing for Australia atm.Now You don't need to put in performance in domestic cricket years after years like Klinger to get picked.All u need is potential,that will help one getting selected even though he hasn't made his debut for his state.
jamesb
Guest
Congrats Sri Lanka. As for Australia, why did they only pick one specialist spinner? And Finch's captaincy was average.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Sri Lanka are 1-0 ahead and will take on Australia in the second of three T20Is on Sunday, February 19. Till that time, have a good time...later.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That's been an excellent game of T20I cricket. Goes right down to the last ball... ...and in the end Sri Lanka win it by a whisker. Should have sealed it off earlier but for a bit of a wobble. Well batted by Gunaratne who got to his fifty after Dickwella and Munaweera had provided them with the kind of start they needed. Earlier, Finch, Klinger and Head had pulled Australia to 168 which looked par on this surface but the inexperience of the Aussie bowling made it rather difficult for the hosts.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Paine is up to the stumps and there's a fielder close in as well to try and collect the throw. Think all fielders are inside the circle...could have one behind for the pull I feel. Anyway, here we go, Tye in to bowl to Kapu, who gets a very full ball and drills it through the covers for a four! Sri Lanka win by five wickets off the last ball!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Another short ball, another pull and this is connected, gets him for a couple. The throw isn't the best and that allows the batsmen to come back for the second. One needed from one. Will we still see a Super Over?
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And another attempted pull and another mistimed shot. No pace on it and Prasanna struggles to time it. They still manage to pick up a single. 3 off 2 needed.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Short ball and Kapu pulls it away to fine-leg for a single. Four needed off three.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Appeal for a run-out. Prasanna wanted to pull it but missed and is called through for a single. Paine misses the striker's end but Tye does well to collect it at the non-striker's end and flicks the bails off... ...but the batsman is in. 5 off 4 needed
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Beaten! First ball, slower ball, shorter too but an attempted pull connects just the air. Six needed from five.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The last two overs have cost Australia 12 runs. Six apiece. Andrew Tye with the ball for the 20th.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
An attempted swipe is missed by Prasanna and while there's an appeal for lbw, given not-out. Run through for a single. Six needed from six.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Another slower ball from Faulkner that's outside the off and keeps low. Beats the cut shot and that's a dot... ...a full-toss is crashed through the covers but just for a single. Seven needed from seven.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Slower ball attempted by Faulkner and it slips out of his hand...goes wide outside the off and is called by the ump. Prasanna taps the next delivery to the leg-side for a single. Eight needed from nine.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Short from Faulkner and a mistimed pull helps Kapugedera gets a single. 10 needed from 10.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
James Faulkner will bowl the 19th with five fielders inside the circle. And now mid-off goes back. On strike is Siriwardene, who gets off with a single to the off side. 11 from 11 needed.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Replays suggesting the ball was missing the leg-stump... ...but Prasanna comes in and cuts the second ball he faces to the fence. A poor fielding effort from Henriques at backward point. A single to round off the over which costs him six. Two wickets too. And Sri Lanka need 12 from 12.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Given! Whoa, Turner has a second... ...and it's Siriwardene who has been given out, lbw. Might have been missing leg-stump but he's walking back and suddenly, Sri Lanka have lost two wickets in three balls. 17 needed from 15.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Change in the bowling. Ashton Turner comes on and... ....and is it a wicket? Looks like a stumping. Gunaratne was looking to reverse sweep it but looks it was slightly shorter for him and his foot is outside the crease as well. The bat's in the air and Turner has Gunaratne's wicket. Four down and bit of an opening for Australia. 18 needed off 17.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Just 18 needed from 18 deliveries now. Cummins has finished his spell too, conceding 29 from his four. Gunaratne and Siriwardene are still around. Stand of 60 from 6.2.