T20 World Cup: Australia’s batters face wily Sri Lanka spinners in tricky clash | Cricket News – Times of India
Looking impressive in a World Cup after a long time, an inexperienced but young and energetic Sri Lanka will look to upset Australia when they clash in the T20 World Cup in Dubai on Thursday.
Both teams have won their opening games. The Lankans looked at ease while downing Bangladesh, while the Aussies slugged out a win against South Africa.
TOI takes a look at the key factors in this Group 1 game…
Early signs of Lankan resurgence
A bunch of rookies, fresh faces brimming with, seem to have infused raw energy and verve in the Lankan outfit. Written off after a disastrous tour to England that saw them lose all their white-ball games and three of their top players suspended for breaking covid norms, the Lankans subsequently gave a decent fight to India at home in the white ball series and even won the T20I series against the heavily depleted visitors. While it may be too early to call this the resurgence of Lankan cricket, the signs are all good.
Lanka’s spinners vs Aussie batters
Historically, a battle between Sri Lanka and Australia has always been about Lanka’s spinners and the Aussie batters. Lanka’s ace in the pack could be a 21-yearold off-spinner answering to the name of Maheesh Theekshana, who took eight wickets in the first round. The young tweaker leaves batters confused with his faster ones, which generally crash into the stumps or pads. Along with ace leggie Wanindu Hasaranga, Theeksana, who has recovered from an injury which forced him to miss the last game, could cause a few headaches to the Aussie top order batters, who aren’t enjoying the best of form.
David Warner, sulking since he was dropped from the XI by Sunrisers Hyderabad, failed in the first game against South Africa. Skipper Aaron Finch, returning from a knee surgery and Mitchell Marsh, playing a new role at No 3, too got out early as the Aussies, having slipped to 38 for three, made heavy weather of a 119-run target before scraping through by five wickets.
Aussie pacers vs Lankan batsmen
This is another key battle which could decide the fate of this game. Playing his first T20 World Cup, Mitchell Starc looks sharp, and so do his pace-bowling colleagues Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. The deadly trio can destroy any batting line-up on their day, and be too hot for the largely inexperienced Sri Lankan batting line-up to handle.
The Lankans will hope that Charith Asalaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who smashed half-centuries in their successful chase against Bangladesh, fire again. Openers Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka, the talented Avishka Fernando, Hasaranga, who slammed 71 against Ireland, and skipper Dashun Shanka all combine to give the Lankan batting a decent look.
Both teams have won their opening games. The Lankans looked at ease while downing Bangladesh, while the Aussies slugged out a win against South Africa.
TOI takes a look at the key factors in this Group 1 game…
Early signs of Lankan resurgence
A bunch of rookies, fresh faces brimming with, seem to have infused raw energy and verve in the Lankan outfit. Written off after a disastrous tour to England that saw them lose all their white-ball games and three of their top players suspended for breaking covid norms, the Lankans subsequently gave a decent fight to India at home in the white ball series and even won the T20I series against the heavily depleted visitors. While it may be too early to call this the resurgence of Lankan cricket, the signs are all good.
Lanka’s spinners vs Aussie batters
Historically, a battle between Sri Lanka and Australia has always been about Lanka’s spinners and the Aussie batters. Lanka’s ace in the pack could be a 21-yearold off-spinner answering to the name of Maheesh Theekshana, who took eight wickets in the first round. The young tweaker leaves batters confused with his faster ones, which generally crash into the stumps or pads. Along with ace leggie Wanindu Hasaranga, Theeksana, who has recovered from an injury which forced him to miss the last game, could cause a few headaches to the Aussie top order batters, who aren’t enjoying the best of form.
David Warner, sulking since he was dropped from the XI by Sunrisers Hyderabad, failed in the first game against South Africa. Skipper Aaron Finch, returning from a knee surgery and Mitchell Marsh, playing a new role at No 3, too got out early as the Aussies, having slipped to 38 for three, made heavy weather of a 119-run target before scraping through by five wickets.
Aussie pacers vs Lankan batsmen
This is another key battle which could decide the fate of this game. Playing his first T20 World Cup, Mitchell Starc looks sharp, and so do his pace-bowling colleagues Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. The deadly trio can destroy any batting line-up on their day, and be too hot for the largely inexperienced Sri Lankan batting line-up to handle.
The Lankans will hope that Charith Asalaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who smashed half-centuries in their successful chase against Bangladesh, fire again. Openers Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka, the talented Avishka Fernando, Hasaranga, who slammed 71 against Ireland, and skipper Dashun Shanka all combine to give the Lankan batting a decent look.
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