Oceania’s great team Australia has suffered a huge blow to their campaign due to the defeat by Zimbabwe. After losing to weaker teams, the match against the host team has become do or die for the Australian team.
Australia are still awaiting the return of their captain Mitchell Marsh, who was ruled out in the early stages of the match. Travis Head is leading them in his absence. Australia will take on the Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lankan team at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on February 16.
This article contains a detailed preview of the AUS vs SL T20 World Cup match, which also highlights the best probable players, head-to-head records, weather report and Pallekele International Stadium pitch report.
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AU vs SL T20 World Cup Match Preview:
Match date: Australia vs Sri Lanka match will be played on Monday 16th February.
venue: This match will be held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Time: The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 pm Indian time.
Australia vs Sri Lanka Teams:
Australia team: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnman, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa. Reserves: Sean Abbott, Steve Smith
Sri Lanka team: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Zenith Perera, Charith Asalanka, Zenith Liyange, Pawan Rathnayake, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Velalej, Mahish Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Mathisha Pathirana, Ishan Malinga.
Australia vs SL Probable XI:
Australia Probable Playing XI: Australia: Mitch Marsh (captain)/Steve Smith, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnman.
Sri Lanka Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pawan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Vellaage, Mahish Theekshana, Mathisha Pathirana and Dushmantha Chameera.
Key battles of Australia vs SL T20 World Cup match:
steve smith vs mahesh thekshana
Mitchell Marsh’s return date has not been announced yet, with Australian great Steve Smith having been sent to Sri Lanka to play for him after his batting collapse in the World Cup. Smith has been in great form in the BBL and Mahesh Theekshana will handle the new ball and will be a master of spinning the ball on slow pitches. Steve Smith will not be offered his ideal bounce to which he has adapted in Australia.
Tim David vs Dunith Velez
Australia’s batting specialist and big-hitting batsman Tim David is back from his hamstring injury and will be up against one of the finest spin bowling units. Dunith Velazquez proved to be an important spinner for them and will gain more importance in the absence of Hasaranga, and he will be crucial for his team during the middle overs, the phase when Tim David is mostly known to dominate.
Kusal Mendis vs Adam Zampa
Sri Lankan wicketkeeper batsman Kusal Mendis has been Sri Lanka’s highest run scorer. With two half-centuries in the last two matches, Kusal Mendis is the only survivor of the Lankan batting line-up. Leg spinner Adam Zampa is Australia’s only hope with the ball in the upcoming do-or-die game. When Zampa failed, Australia failed to take wickets, as was evident in the game against Zimbabwe.
Dasun Shanaka vs Nathan Ellis
The Lankan captain has been one of the most exceptional finishers of the Sri Lankan team along with all-rounder Kamindu Mendis. Shanaka had scored strong runs for them in the last game with a quick half-century. Nathan Ellis is known for his abilities with the ball in the death overs. Ellis has great variety with the white ball, as he often captures the full pace of the ball in the final overs. Shanaka, who is a power hitter, might make a mistake trying to launch it into the stands.
AUS vs SL Key Players:
Major players of Australia: Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David and Adam Zampa.
Major players of Sri Lanka: Dunith Velalage, Pathum Nissanka, Mathisha Pathirana, Kusal Mendis and Mahesh Theekshana.
AUS vs SL T20 World Cup 2026 Match—Free Live Streaming & Telecast Details:
TV broadcasting in India: The Australia vs Sri Lanka match will be telecast live on Star Sports Network across India.
Online Live Streaming in India: ICC T20 World Cup 2026 matches can be live streamed on JioStar app with an active subscription.
Australia vs SL T20 World Cup Match Weather and Pitch Report – Pallekele
Australia vs SL: Weather report in Kandy
According to AccuWeather, temperature fluctuations in Kandy will be very high, as the city is often surrounded by huge clouds. Rain will not affect the evening’s play; However, dew can play a significant role in the second innings of the game, so the team winning the toss will definitely choose to chase at this venue.
AUS vs SL: Pitch report at Pallekele International Stadium
Pallekele International Stadium is a friendly batting track in Sri Lanka; However, the extra green turf often provides massive help to the fast bowlers who take the new ball to them in the powerplay. The average first innings score was around 170-180 runs, and spinners could also be effective on this track, especially during the middle stages.
AU vs SL head-to-head records:
In T20Is, Australia has a better win ratio than Sri Lanka. According to ESPNcricinfo, these two teams have played 26 T20 matches together, of which Australia won 16 and Sri Lanka won only ten of them.
Australia and Sri Lanka have faced each other in 5 matches in the T20 World Cup. On 4 of these occasions, Australia emerged winners and Sri Lanka could only manage one win, the last time coming in the year 2009.
|
Competition |
total number of matches |
australia won |
sri lanka won |
Drag |
tie |
no results |
|
overall |
26 |
16 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
In ICC T20 World Cup |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Last 5 T20I matches |
5 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
AUS vs SL Last 3 Matches Results:
8 June 2022 – Australia vs Sri Lanka Series – Australia won by 3 wickets (Sri Lanka 124/9; Australia 126/7).
11 June 2022 – Australia vs Sri Lanka Series – Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets (Sri Lanka 177/6; Australia 176/5).
25 October 2022 – ICC T20 World Cup, Perth – Australia won by 7 wickets (Australia 158/3; Sri Lanka 157/6).
Australia vs SL T20 World Cup Match—Conclusion:
Australia looks stronger than Sri Lanka on the team sheet in every aspect of the match. However, after the loss to Zimbabwe, Australia’s form has been a major concern, especially the lack of strike bowlers in their team and their top order not being in good form. Sri Lanka will get full advantage of spin bowling, which has really troubled the Australian batsmen. However, Australia will leave no stone unturned as they will play this match as a do or die contest.
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