 Sri Lanka will play Australia in the first of the five ODIs to be played
at the Pallekele ground near Kandy. It is the same venue at which the two teams
played in the two match T20I series, that the Lankans had gone on to win 2-0.
While there is a considerable change in the Australian line-up they will know
that they need to learn the lessons that the side had to endured in the T20Is.
The Aussies looked like the spinners' bunnies and fell away to the spin of Ajantha
Mendis, who rather surprisingly, did not play in the first T20I. When he did play
in the second game, he scalped six wickets and the side was bowled out after an
excellent start.
Click for Live Score Card of Sri Lanka v Australia
Not that the Aussies wouldn't have known that they would have to play spin in
the Lankan land, but the fact of the matter is that they did not do anything to
dispel the notion that they will struggle to get going.
Shane Watson played rather well in the second game and would have won
the game on his own before he got out in the second T20I. The rest of the side
fell away in a heap and the side was left eight runs short.
Australia will have a new captain in Michael Clarke, who replaces Cameron
White. White did not have a good time earlier this year and is not a part of
the ODI squad, which will have Watson opening with Haddin or Shaun Marsh, and
with the likes of Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey to follow.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have two special bonuses for the ODIs.
There is an entry of Lasith Malinga and Upul Tharanga to the side, after
it had been deemed that they wouldn't be able to play in the T20Is. Malinga
was injured while Tharanga had been banned because of his doping related offence.
The spinning department will be looked out for, and this time, one can rest
assured that there will be a chance given to Suraj Randiv as well. Life
will be made difficult for the Aussies.
Sri Lanka should go into the game as favourite, especially given that it will
be played on the same pitch where the two T20Is were played. This will mean that
the scoring could become more difficult.
|
