Australia vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Match Tips - Aussies master the conditions in Sri Lanka
Australia is set to face Sri Lanka in the 1st Test match, banking on their veteran players, especially Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja, to excel in their bowling and batting roles respectively. The pitch at Galle is expected to favor spin, likely benefiting Lyon’s bowling specialty. Australia aims to leverage its experienced squad, though the final-eleven remains a critical decision due to variable pitch conditions. Both teams have different recent forms, with Australia performing strongly against India, while Sri Lanka had a mixed record in previous matches.
- Australia vs Sri Lanka predictions
- First ball between Australia vs Sri Lanka is at 3:30 PM AEDT, Wednesday, January 29
- Australia to claim the first test victory in Sri Lanka
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Veterans to lift Australia past Sri Lanka. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
Australia vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Match Tips
Australia will rely on their veterans to claim victory in the first test against Sri Lanka with both Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja hitting their bowling and batting totals.
- Australia vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Match Tips
- Head to Head
- Australia Form
- Australia Squad
- Sri Lanka Form
- Sri Lanka Squad
- Australia vs Sri Lanka Frequently Asked Questions
There is a real uncertainty about the series in Sri Lanka heading into the first test in Galle with the pitch conditions forcing Australia to lean on their experience and versatility with 11 genuine bowling options on hand.
The final-eleven will be an interesting decision as now that they have their feet on the ground they will likely have a better idea of what to expect. That being said, in 2022, the pitch in the first test was for the spinners, while just one week later Galle produced a flat track for the pacemen.
Australia will lean on their experience with both bat and ball and we will see the veterans stand up in the opening test.
The pitch is likely to have turn which gives Nathan Lyon his time to continue tallying up wickets in the hunt for his individual records. Lyon has the highest Bowler Wicket Total at 4.5, which he will surpass considering he will have the ball in his hands the ost of any.
Usman Khawaja faired the best of the openers in Sri Lanka in 2022, showing the most consistency over the four innings at bat. Expect a controlled performance from the 38-year-old, scoring over his total of 53.5 runs in the match.
Head to Head
Series Played: 13
Australia: 11
Sri Lanka: 2
Draw: 1
- The most recent series was drawn 1-1 in Sri Lanka, in 2022.
- Australia have won 3 of the last 5 test series against Sri Lanka.
Australia Form
Australia come into their trip to Sri Lanka on a high after a 3-1 series victory over India during the summer in Oz. It was a dominant performance from the world’s number-one ranked team in test cricket, with their pace attack once again indefensible as the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland tearing through the Indian batsmen.
Australia welcomed the return to form of their captain for this series Steve Smith who scored two centuries and a total of 314 runs. However, the little general was upstaged by India’s number one nemesis Travis Head who also scored two centuries and a total of 448 runs in 9 innings at bat.
Australia’s squad does look a little different to who faced India with Pat Cummins not making the trip, awaiting the arrival of a new-born. Cooper Connolly is the new face on tour, with selectors hoping his left-arm orthodox action will pass the conditions in Sri Lanka.
Australia Squad
Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
Sri Lanka Form
Sri Lanka last played test cricket back in November 2024 where they were washed in the series 0-2 on the Proteas home soil.
South Africa found runs at will against the Sri Lankan bowling attack, scoring over 300 runs in 3 of their 4 innings played. The bowling attack did not have much to say in the series with strike rates between 47.0-66-0 runs.
With the bat there were no real standouts throughout the series either with only 3 players reaching a half century with Dhananjaya de Silva reaching the milestone twice, however only having a high-score of 59. Pathum Nissanka had the highest score for Sri Lanka, scoring 89 in the opening innings of the second test.
It has been a different story for Sri Lanka when playing at home, winning a two-match series against New Zealand in September last year and also getting the better of Afghanistan back in February, 2024.
Sri Lanka Squad
Dhananjaya de Silva (capt.), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake.
Australia vs Sri Lanka Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Australia vs Sri Lanka start?
First ball between Australia vs Sri Lanka is at 3:30 PM AEDT, Wednesday, January 29
What channel is Australia vs Sri Lanka on?
You can watch Australia vs Sri Lanka on Channel Seven, Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports
Verdict
Australia will rely on their veterans to claim victory in the first test against Sri Lanka with both Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja hitting their bowling and batting totals.
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