Australia will take on Sri Lanka in the 14th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on October 16th. This will be the 12th World Cup meeting between the two sides, with Australia holding a commanding 8-2 lead over Sri Lanka.
Both teams have struggled so far in the tournament with loss each of their two games. Australia suffered a crushing defeat against rivals South Africa in their last match. Sri Lanka were also hammered by Pakistan in their previous game. This is a crucial match for both sides to resurrect their World Cup campaigns. Australia holds the edge historically but Sri Lanka has the talent to beat any top side on their day.
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Overview
Defending champions Australia have not yet hit their stride at this World Cup. After a loss to India, they were crushed by South Africa, bowled out for just 177. Their vaunted batting order failed to fire while the bowling also proved ineffective.
Skipper Pat Cummins has struggled for runs but the return of David Warner boosts the batting. The bowling possesses world-class performers like Cummins, Starc and Zampa who are capable of better displays.
Australia cannot afford any more slip-ups at this stage. They will hope their seasoned stars can step up to get their stuttering campaign back on track with a win over the Lankans.
Overview
Like Australia, Sri Lanka is also yet to find their rhythm and have been largely disappointing so far. Their bowlers leaked over 400 runs against South Africa and Pakistan, exposing serious bowling frailties.
The batting has flickered with Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva and Sadeera Samarawicrama making centuries and half-centuries. But Sri Lanka needs bigger stands to set or chase down sizeable targets.
There are concerns over the fitness of key pacer Matheesha Pathirana after he struggled in the last game. Sri Lanka must address their bowling woes quickly before the wins start drying up.
But the Lankans have the talent in players like Mendis and Wellalagel to get back on track. Overall, Australia will be slight favorites for this crucial tie.
vs. Starting XI
Expected Starting XI for Australia:
- David Warner
- Travis Head
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steve Smith
- Glenn Maxwell
- Marcus Stoinis
- Alex Carey (wk)
- Cameron Green
- Pat Cummins (c)
- Mitchell Starc
- Adam Zampa
Expected Starting XI for Srilanka:
- Dasun Shanaka (c),
- Kusal Perera,
- Pathum Nissanka,
- Sadeera Samarawickrama,
- Charith Asalanka,
- Dhananjaya de Silva,
- Kusal Mendis (wk),
- Dunith Wellalage,
- Matheesha Pathirana,
- Dilshan Madushanka,
- Kasun Rajitha /Lahiru Kumara.
Australia could give Mitchell Marsh a go to strengthen the middle-order. Sri Lanka may rest the injured Pathirana and bring in Chamika to add pace.
Both teams will likely field familiar combinations otherwise. The key will be for the senior players to stand up after recent failures.
See the confirmed starting lineups below an hour before the match starts.
vs. Head-to-Head
In World Cups, Australia dominates Sri Lanka with an 8-2 win-loss record in their 11 meetings so far. This includes a 87 runs win in their last World Cup clash during the 2019.
Overall in ODIs, Australia holds a substantial 63-36 lead against Sri Lanka from 103 matches. But, Sri Lanka has won 3 of their last 5 completed ODI matches against Australia.
Australia’s excellent record is built on strong batting performances over the years from the likes of Warner, Finch, Smith and Maxwell. Their bowling attack led by the likes of Starc and Zampa also matches up well against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka also have the X-factor players in Mendis, de Silva and Hasaranga to take down any top side. If they click in unison, Sri Lanka can certainly challenge Australia’s dominance over them.
Weather & Pitch Report
The match will be played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The weather is expected to be humid and warm with temperatures around 32-34 deg Celsius.
The Lucknow pitch tends to be on the slower side which aids spinners. The odd ball may grip and turn early on. Batting can be challenging against the newer ball before becoming easier as the innings progresses.
Dew is likely to form during the second innings under lights. The shorter square boundaries also encourage aggressive batting. Both teams have quality spinners who can exploit the surface.
Batsmen able to play late and use their feet against spin will thrive. Taking the pace off with cutters and slower balls will also be key for pacers. Considering the venue’s nature, a first innings score around 270-280 could be par.
With dew around, the captain winning the toss may prefer chasing. Overall, the conditions slightly favor Sri Lanka but Australia has the firepower to prevail if they bat smartly. A moderately low-scoring affair appears probable.
Australia vs. Sri Lanka Prediction
This is a crunch game for both Australia and Sri Lanka. Considering home advantage and Sri Lanka’s struggles, Australia might be slight favorites.
The Aussies have a world-class bowling attack capable of running through any lineup. The likes of Warner, Smith and Maxwell can also pummel attacks once set.
But Sri Lanka possesses enough match-winners in Mendis, Hasaranga and Kumara to challenge Australia. Their spinners could also prove tricky for the Aussies to negotiate.
The key will be which batting unit holds their nerve better. The team batting second under lights also has a clear edge.
It could go down to the wire but Australia should just about manage to edge out Sri Lanka and get their first points on board.
Prediction: Australia to win a close contest by 3-4 wickets.
AUS vs. SLA Betting Tip
David Warner could prove a handy bet for top match scorer if he returns to opening. Glenn Maxwell is worth backing to score over 40 runs to boost Australia’s middle-order. Kusal Mendis has the flair to succeed against Australia’s bowling. Consider betting on him. Josh Hazlewood should pick up wickets on this surface. Back him as top bowler.
With dew around, consider betting on the team chasing to win the match. A moderately low-scoring affair is likely. Bet on under 280 total match runs. Back Australia’s batters to hit less than 15 boundaries as scoring could be tricky.
It is hard to pick a winner but Australia should narrowly edge out Sri Lanka in a tight low-scorer.
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If you want to check out our other Cricket World Cup match predictions, you can find them on our site. In the meantime, you can check out how to bet on the Cricket World Cup.
