Sri Lanka vs Australia 2025: Match Preview, 1st ODI
Sri Lanka are set to host Australia in a two-match ODI series, starting on February 12.
Sri Lanka will look to bounce back from the recent 2-0 Test series loss as they face Australia in the first ODI of the two-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, February 12. With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaching, Australia will look to fine-tune their squads and regain momentum for the 50-over format. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka unfortunately didn't manage to qualify for the prestigious event.
The Aussies are coming off a dominating performance in the longest format of the game. They crushed the hosts by an innings and 242 runs in the first Test, Sri Lanka’s worst-ever defeat—before sealing a nine-wicket win in the second match.
Despite missing out on the upcoming Champions Trophy, Sri Lanka has opted for stability in their squad, making just one change from their tour of New Zealand earlier this year. Bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe has been dropped, while spinner Jeffrey Vandersay makes a return, who was impressive in the first Test against Australia.
The tourists, however, have made some changes due to injuries and retirements. Captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Marsh are all sidelined, while Marcus Stoinis has retired from ODIs. Their replacements include Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson, and Tanveer Sangha. The side has a bit of experience playing at this venue, having played three matches there in 2022 (for one win and two losses) and twice in 2016 (one win and one loss).
Match Details
| Match | Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st ODI |
| Venue | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Date & Time | Wednesday, February 12, 10:00 AM (IST)) |
Pitch Report
Speaking of the pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium, the tropical environments offer a dry surface, and batters would look to make the most of the pitch. However, as the pitch gets older, it slows down, and then the bowlers could make a big impact on the game. The pitch tends to deteriorate, leading to variable bounce and sharp turn, challenging batters’ technique. Visible cracks further add to the unpredictability, making shot-making tough. While shorter formats see a relatively stable bounce, longer formats can become more demanding for batters.Head-To-Head Record
| Matches | 104 |
| Won by Australia | 64 |
| Won by Sri Lanka | 36 |
| No Result | 04 |
| Tied | 00 |
| First-ever Fixture | Jun 11, 1975 |
| Most-recent Fixture | Oct 16, 2023 |
SL vs AUS Probable XI:
Sri Lanka:Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando.
Australia:
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