Sri Lanka vs Australia, SL vs AUS 2025, Today Reddy Anna Book Match Prediction

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Sri Lanka vs Australia, SL vs AUS 2025, Today Reddy Anna Book Match Prediction

SL vs AUS Match Prediction & Analysis

After convincingly winning the two-match Test series, Australia will take on Sri Lanka before they head to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The ODI will be played at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 12th February from 9:30 am onwards. These matches will be the last chance for both teams to refine their strategies and finalize their best playing combinations ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Australia beat Sri Lanka in both Tests earlier. In the first Test, they won by 9 wickets after Steve Smith and Alex Carey scored centuries. On the other hand, they posted a massive victory by an innings and 242 runs with Khwaja hitting a double ton followed by Smith scoring his consecutive century. Matthew Kuhnemann picked up 16 wickets in two Tests. His form has raised Australia’s hopes for the upcoming Champions Trophy where most of the pitches will be Spin-friendly.

Sri Lanka have excluded seam-bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe from their squad for the two-match ODI series against Australia at home. This remains the only change from the squad that recently toured New Zealand. Sri Lanka is currently on a 10-match winning streak and has won six out of the last six bilateral series at home. They can spoil the mood of the visitors before they head to the Champions trophy.

Both teams last played against each other back in the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023. Batting first, Sri Lanka were bowled out to 209 even after putting a 125-run stand for the first wicket. Adam Zampa took four wickets for 47 runs. Dilshan Madushanka scared the Aussie side when he picked two top-order batters in the fourth over of the match. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis scored half-centuries to help their side win by 5 wickets.

Sri Lanka has 4 wins and a tie in the six ODIs played in 2024 at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Sri Lanka Preview

Sri Lanka will go ahead with the same eleven players that played against New Zealand. Pathum Nissanka will open the innings with Avishka Fernando. Nissanka has 766 runs in the last 17 ODIs played in Sri Lanka. This includes a 210-run knock along with two hundreds and five fifties. His partner averages just above thirty. Kusal Mendis will come at number three. He will be the batter to watch out for. In 2024, Mendis scored 742 runs at an average of 53. Out of this 638 runs came in Sri Lanka at an average of 58. He has a fifty-plus score in every three games he has played.

Kamindu Mendis will partner up with skipper Charith Asalanka and Janith Liyanage in the middle. Mendis averages above 50 in the last 6 ODIs he has played. Asalanka has been in terrific form with the ball and the bat for the last two years. In 16 games he has scored 605 runs at an average of 51. With the ball, he has 14 wickets in the last 14 games he has bowled in Sri Lanka at an average below 20. Liya nage also averages above 45 in the middle. He can fix his place in the team for the upcoming year if he survives the Aussie attack.

Wanindu Hasaranga will lead the bowling attack with Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Eshan Malinga, and Asitha Fernando. Hasaranga has 56 wickets in 24 games he played since 2023 at an average of 16.39. He will be the bowler to watch out for. Whereas Theeksana has 59 wickets in 37 innings at an average just above 23. Wellalage who missed the last ODI against NZ can be a good addition to the playing eleven. The bowling all-rounder has 18 wickets in the last 12 games played in Sri Lanka.

Key Players: Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pathum Nissanka.

Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:

Charith Asalanka(c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga, Maheesh Theekshana.

Australia Preview

Australia will be looking forward to the series as a practice for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Matthew Short will open the innings with Jake Fraser-McGurk. The duo has failed to impress in the last five ODIs with their cumulative batting average below 25. Travis Head might be picked above Fraser-McGruk. Head missed the series against Pakistan. But he has 248 runs in the last 4 ODIs he played at an average of 82. Surprisingly, Head is the only Aussie batter to have a century since the start of the last year. He will be the player to watch out for.

Steven Smith will come at number three. Smith has been their leading run-scorer since last year. He has 306 runs in 10 ODIs at an average of 43. Josh Inglis will come in the middle with Aaron Hardie, Alex Carey, and Marnus Labuschagne. Inglis has 219 runs at an average of 36 since the last year. He had helped Australia win the World Cup game against Sri Lanka. Both Hardie and Labuschagne have less than 150 runs each in the last 7 innings. Australia might include Glen Maxwell who is currently out of form. Alex Carey has 164 runs in the four ODIs he played since the start of the last year with an average of 82.

With Adam Zampa not being picked up and Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood withdrawing from the squad, Mitchell Starc will lead the bowling attack with Nathan Ellis and Sean Abbott. Starc has 8 wickets in the last 6 ODIs at an economy of 7. On the other hand, Abbott has 7 wickets in 8 ODIs. Tanveer Sangha is the only spinner included in the squad. But Australia will rely on Head, Labuschagne, and Maxwell to finish the spinner quota. Head has picked 6 wickets in the last two ODIs.

Key Players: Travis Head, Steven Smith, Mitchel Starc.

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

Travis Head, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis.