Australia vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I, Brisbane: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

Riding on the high of a 3-0 sweep of Pakistan at their own den, Sri Lankans received a rude shock in the first T20I, at Adelaide. David Warner (100* in 56 balls), Aaron Finch (64 in 36), and Glenn Maxwell (62* in 28) first took Australia to 233/2, Kasun Rajitha going for a near-absurd 4-0-75-0. No Sri Lankan then reached 20 as the Australians, led by Adam Zampa (4-0-14-3) and Mitchell Starc (4-0-18-2), restricted them to 99/9 – a run fewer than Warner’s score.

It will not be easy for Sri Lanka to turn things around against a batting line-up as destructive as this (Ashton Turner barely got a chance, and Steven Smith, Alex Carey, and Ashton Agar did not bat at all). Batting first may not help either, for the Australians were electric on the field and very difficult to score off. They will be without Mitchell Starc in the second match, but as a replacement Kane Richardson is a more than potent.

Every single Sri Lankan batsman, on the other hand – Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, their all-rounders – can cut loose and change courses of matches single-handedly.

The bowling, too, has to be more imaginative: they did not vary their pace or length enough to make run-scoring any difficult for the Australian trio. Lasith Malinga has to take lead here.

All in all, however, Australia will take field as firm favourites here.

Head to head

Sri Lanka hold an 8-6 lead. Despite the defeat at Adelaide, they lead 5-2 on Australian soil, though Australia have won the last two matches. However, Sri Lanka have not lost a single bilateral T20I series on Australian soil.

Key players

Glenn Maxwell (Australia): It has been perhaps a tad late, but Australia seem to have finally figured out how to make the best use of one of the most destructive batsmen in the T20I format. Sri Lanka may be facing more trouble here.

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka): The chips are down, his team needs a comeback, and who else to lead by example than the captain himself? The only bowler to take a hundred wickets in Men’s T20Is will have to make early inroads to give Sri Lanka a semblance of a chance.

Likely XIs

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steven Smith, Ashton Turner,
Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa.

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Perera (wk), Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Malinga (c), Nuwan Pradeep.

Prediction

Australia to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.