The ongoing political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka has meant the build-up to Australia's first three-format tour to the island nation in six years has been quieter than it might have been otherwise. But the arrival of the reigning T20 world champions is a welcome sight for Sri Lankan cricket fans who are hoping their team can be more competitive in the lead up to the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia under new coach Chris Silverwood.
These two sides met in a five-match T20I series in February with Australia winning 4-1 although the series was a little closer than it appeared with one match decided in a Super Over. Sri Lanka's win in Melbourne proved Australia are not invincible despite having won 10 of their previous 11 including the World Cup triumph, albeit Australia were without World Cup winners David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for that match. Australia has since won a one-off T20 in Pakistan with nine of their first-choice XI missing, while Sri Lanka lost 3-0 to India in India in February.
Sri Lanka have named newcomers Nuwanidu Fernando and Matheesha Pathirana in the squad. Nuwanidu starred on the recent tour of England with Sri Lanka's development squad. Pathirana made headlines in the IPL playing for Chennai Super Kings and will get the opportunity to work with Lasith Malinga in this series, who is the bowling coach once again. But it looks as though the hosts will back their senior bowlers in with Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana set to conduct a spin trial against Australia's top order.
