Sri Lanka’s T20 captain Dasun Shanaka believes his team’s world-class bowling line-up can rein in the World Cup-winning Australian batting line-up, starting with the first T20 International at the R. Premada Stadium today.

Sri Lanka failed to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates last year but were widely lauded for the promise shown during the tournament, with the Australians beating Sri Lanka on the way to winning their first World Cup in the format. 

Some of that momentum Sri Lanka gained from their performances at last year’s World Cup has been slowed down by series defeats away to Australia and India, winning just one of eight T20Is since. 

Shanaka attributed that slide to missing key players in those series, some due to Covid-19 protocols and others through injury, adding that he believed that had his team been at full-strength, they would have had more post-World Cup wins. 

“I don’t think there was a lack of performance from the batsmen in this last two series, but it was that a few of them were not available for us. If we had our full side, I believe we could have won both series,” Shanaka said. 

The triumvirate of Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera, all of whom were part of the recently concluded Indian Premier League season, will pose the biggest threat for the visitors, and Shanaka made no effort to play down their importance in the opening match of this three-match series. 

“We have a world-class bowling attack that has been playing together since the T20 World Cup last year. I believe they will make a special contributions in this series,” Shanaka said.  

With no specialist keeper expected to play, Kusal Mendis is likely to continue as wicket-keeper, with Charith Asalanka slated to remain at number there. 

Australia, meanwhile, have picked three pacemen for the first T20I, hoping their World Cup-winning formula will work in their favour again. 

With conditions in Colombo likely to suit fast bowlers, Kane Richardson is recalled for the rested Pat Cummins and joins Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the attack. 

Skipper Aaron Finch included just one specialist spinner in Ashton Agar, with Adam Zampa back home for the birth of his first child. 

Cummins and Zampa are the only absences from the XI that won the world title in Dubai last year. 

Finch said that he had been tempted to pick a second spinner, but decided to stick with one because of the conditions in Colombo. 

“The square is quite green, there's been a lot of rain and the outfield is heavy,” Finch said yesterday. 

“We expect a little spin, but it's not a dry surface by any stretch, that's the reason for picking one spinner.” 

All-rounders Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Marsh and Marcus Stoinis will fill the fifth bowler's role. 

“It's a similar structure to what we went with in the World Cup,” Finch added. 

(Agencies) 

Australia XI: 
Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Josh Hazlewood. 

Sri Lanka squad:
Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan. 

Standby: Jeffrey Vandersay, Niroshan Dickwella 

Photo: Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga (Pic courtesy SLC)