Sri Lanka tour of Australia rain a threat as series gets underway

By Amindha de Alwis

Sri Lanka will face Australia in the first game of their five-match T20I series versus the T20 world champions at the SCG in Sydney today.

The teams’ preparation for the series has been marred by inclement weather, with the tourists having to conduct most of their training sessions indoors as a result.

Despite not having any warm-up fixtures as part of their preparation either, Interim Head Coach Rumesh Ratnayake said that Dasun Shanaka’s side has managed to make the most out of what they had available to them and are ready for today’s match should the weather (which is predicted to be adverse) play ball.
“There are no warm-up games like we used to envisage in previous tours, but with the preparation we have had, we have maximized with the little bit we have had. I will not give that as an excuse. The preparation for us has been very little but that will suffice,” Ratnayake said.

He further mentioned that while bouncy tracks can be expected in Australia, the team is adaptable to playing on whatever surface they encounter.

“When you come to Australia, you expect good bouncy tracks but even though Sydney is a pace-friendly pitch, things have changed, things can change, and we are adaptable to anything. Whatever the wicket is, our players will be up to it. They have to be prepared to take on the best in the world on whatever wicket,” he said.
While remaining tight-lipped on who Sri Lanka has chosen to partner Pathum Nissanka at the top of the order, Ratnayake did confirm that Dinesh Chandimal will take up the gloves for the opening game. Chandimal is likely to bat in the middle-order following his successful run in December’s Lanka Premier League where he made a number of valuable contributions for the Colombo Stars.

Australia is set to hand a maiden international cap to 26-year-old Josh Inglis, who captain Aaron Finch revealed will bat at number three. Australia’s playing eleven will feature nine of the eleven from their T20 World Cup Final victory over New Zealand in November, with Ben McDermott coming in for David Warner being the only other change.

The powerfully built McDermott makes a return to the side after having topped the run-charts in the recently concluded edition of the Big Bash League with 577 runs, including two centuries.