AUS VS SL MATCH PREDICTION & ANALYSIS
Cricbuzzteam, In the thrilling world of cricket, the clash between AUS vs SL promises to be an exciting showdown. After experiencing tough losses in their initial matches, both teams are hungry for a victory in the 14th game of the ICC ODI World Cup. The battleground for this contest is the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, and the action is scheduled to kick off at 2 pm on the 16th of October. Let’s delve into the details and analyze what might unfold.
The Downfall of Australia
Australia faced a massive setback in their previous match against South Africa, suffering a 134-run loss. Batting first, South Africa posted a formidable total of 311 runs, primarily thanks to Quinton de Kock’s century. Australia’s Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc managed to claim two wickets each, but their pursuit of the target didn’t fare well. At one point, Australia found themselves at 70 for the loss of 6 wickets, and even though Marnus Labuschagne’s heroic 46-run effort attempted a rescue, Australia was eventually bowled out for a mere 177.
Sri Lanka’s Stumble
Sri Lanka, too, had a tough outing in their last match, where they couldn’t defend an imposing total of 344 runs against Pakistan. Kusal Mendis and Samarawickrama’s centuries had put them in a strong position, but Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique and Mohammed Rizwan responded with centuries of their own to secure a six-wicket win for Pakistan. Prior to that, Sri Lanka had already faced a 102-run defeat against South Africa.
Australia vs. Sri Lanka: Recent History
Australia and Sri Lanka locked horns earlier in June, with Australia winning by four wickets. In the last game of a five-match ODI series, Sri Lanka set a target of 161 runs for Australia. Despite losing four wickets for just 50 runs, Alex Carey’s unbeaten 45 ensured Australia’s victory, although Sri Lanka won the series 3-2.
Historical ODI World Cup Stats
In the ODI World Cups, Australia boasts a commendable record against Sri Lanka, winning eight out of eleven encounters.
AUS vs SL, Teams Preview
Australia Preview
Australia finds itself in an unusual situation, having lost their first two games in a World Cup for the first time since 1992. Their batting, in particular, has been subpar, failing to breach the 200-run mark. Opening the innings will be David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, both of whom have struggled against Sri Lanka in the past. While Warner averages just above 35, Marsh has scored only 64 runs in four games against Sri Lanka.
Steve Smith has an average of 38 against Sri Lanka but has been consistent, with four half-centuries in ten innings against them. Marnus Labuschagne, the leading run-scorer for Australia, will be the key player to watch. Despite an average of just 23 against Sri Lanka, Labuschagne is in good form, averaging 55 in his last ten games. Australia’s middle order has been a concern, managing only 36 runs while losing six wickets in two games. Glenn Maxwell, despite a slow start, is the only batter with an average of over 40 against Sri Lanka in more than five games.
In the bowling department, Josh Hazelwood has been Australia’s leading wicket-taker, but Mitchell Starc is the bowler to keep an eye on. Starc boasts 27 wickets against Sri Lanka in 14 games at an average of 18.88. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa, with one wicket in the sfirst two games, may provide the much-needed spin support that Australia has lacked so far.
Key Players: Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins
Australia Predicted Playing XI:
- David Warner
- Mitchell Marsh
- Steven Smith
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Josh Inglis (wk)
- Glenn Maxwell
- Marcus Stoinis
- Pat Cummins (c)
- Mitchell Starc
- Adam Zampa
- Josh Hazlewood
Sri Lanka Team Preview
Sri Lanka’s bowling unit needs to step up after failing to defend 344 runs in their previous game. The batting, on the other hand, has been impressive. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera are set to open the innings. Nissanka scored a half-century in the first game and looks promising.
Kusal Perera, with a century and a half-century in the last two games, has been in excellent form, amassing 198 runs at a strike rate of 166. Kusal Mendis, with an average of over 60 in the last ten games, will be the player to watch, especially after being named the Player of the Series against Australia in June. Sadeera Samarawickrama, who scored a century against Pakistan, will partner with Mendis in the middle order.
However, beyond these key players, Sri Lanka’s batting lineup appears fragile. Their bowling unit hasn’t fared any better, managing only nine wickets while conceding 773 runs in two games. Dilshan Madhushanka leads the wicket-taking charts for Sri Lanka with four wickets. Key bowlers Maheesha Pathirana and Dunith Welalage have struggled, conceding 185 and 147 runs respectively in the last two games.
Key Players: Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dilshan Madhushanka
Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kusal Perera
- Kusal Mendis
- Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk)
- Charith Asalanka
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Dasun Shanaka (c)
- Dunith Wellalage
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Matheesha Pathirana
- Dilshan Madushanka
Weather Conditions
The weather in Lucknow is expected to be sunny, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 33 degrees Celsius. The wind will be blowing from the west at 10-11 km/h. Historically, Indian pitches are known to be batting-friendly, with the potential for spin assistance as matches progress.
Venue Details
The 14th ODI of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 will be hosted at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The venue can accommodate up to 50,000 spectators and has witnessed 1 Test, 10 ODIs, and 9 T20Is. Notably, South Africa posted the highest total (311) against Australia in the last game played at this ground.
Toss: To Bowl
In the ten ODIs held at this World Cup, teams chasing the target have emerged victorious seven times. The average first innings score is 228. Therefore, the team winning the toss is likely to choose to bowl first. An interesting fact is that in this World Cup