 The Australian tour of Sri Lanka will begin with a T20 game at Pallekele
on Saturday. The match will be a night game and begin at 1900 hours local time.
This will be the first of the two T20Is that will be played in the series, with
the second match to be played on Monday.
Australia will be led by Cameron White, who is only in his third
game in this format as the captain of the side. However, it will be an important
couple of games for the captain who has already shown poor form in the past
and was dropped from the ODIs. A good couple of performances, both, as a captain
as an individual batsman will go a long way in ensuring that he could come back
into the reckoning.
Click for Live Score Card of Sri Lanka Vs Australia
This will also be an important series to see who owns the early momentum. A 2-0
win for the home side, for example will boost their confidence to a high level,
especially given that the side will be preparing pitches in the ODIs and the Tests
to assist their own bowlers.
The Aussies will have some other youngsters in the squad as well, what with
the likes of Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson and Steve O'keefe
trying to perform to the best of the abilities to get noticed. A good performance
or two could also win them an IPL contract, which will mean that they will look
to go all out against the home team.
Sri Lanka, which will be led by Tillakaratne Dilshan, will hope to continue
their good form in this format of the game. The home conditions will be of immense
help obviously, as will be the fact that most of them would have been properly
rested.
Dilshan was in cracking form in the Test series against England before an injury
pulled him out of the third Test and by the time he had returned, he had lost
his form. It will be interesting to see how he bats in the series.
On the other hand, the side will miss the presence of Lasith Malinga,
who has been injured and will miss the two T20is in order to get fit in time
for the ODIs. The rest of the side is on expected lines, with Mahela Jaywardene
expected to open the batting for the home side.
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