World Cup 2015 Group A Match 32 Australia vs Sri Lanka Preview; Sri Lanka’s real test

World Cup 2015 Group A Match 32 Australia vs Sri Lanka Preview; Sri Lanka’s real test:

Date: 08 March 2015          Time: 0900 IST
Venue: Sydney

Australia

Australia have had a great batting practice match against Afghanistan in which they made a World Cup record 417/6. David Warner, Steven Smith and Glen Maxwell all had a blast and got the maximum out of the 50 overs they got to play. But against Sri Lanka, they face the threat of spinners against them. Knowing their weakness against spin, Sri Lanka will use every spinner they have in the team against Australia. While they did have a good game against Afghanistan, Australians need to get more focus on the Sri Lankan batting line up. They chased 300 odd runs losing just 1 wicket against England in no time.

Australian bowling will be at hand to deal with the triple threat of Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene. All 3 of them have hit a century and won games on their own; they are in top form and 2 of them are playing their last World Cup and will do everything to win the title before saying good-bye. But the Mitchells Johnson, Starc and Marsh will look forward to crashing the Sri Lankan party.

Quick Link : Watch: Dale Steyn take the best catch of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

Australian batting will be aware of the threat that Lasith Malinga presents to their line-up. Also the presence of Herath and he will get support from Prasanna and Dilshan to trouble the Aussie batting.

Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankans are coming of a big win against England. Sangakkara and Thirimanne made centuries and Sri Lanka chased down 309 with relative ease.

SriLanka batting has no problems with their form, but they would have to be cautious of the Australian pace power consisting of Mitchell Johnson, Starc and Hazlewood. But Sri Lanka have the batting capabilities to handle them. Sangakkara, Tharanga, Jayawardene, Dilshan all have experience in facing such speed and scoring runs against them.

Lankans would like to bolster their bowling with some more spinning options to aid Herath and Dilshan. Maybe they will bring in Prasanna to put more pressure on spin susceptible Australian batting. Malinga will be helped by Kulasekara or Lakmal in quest of keeping Finch and Warner quiet. Anyways it is going to be one hell of a match.

Last 5 ODIs:
SL:  W W W L W
AUS: W L NR W W

Possible playing XI:
Australia: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Michael Clarke(C), Glen Maxwell, Brad Haddin (WK), Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, James Faulkner

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (C), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (WK), Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne, Upul Tharanga ,Thisara Perera, Sekkuge Prasanna, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara/Suranga Lakmal, Rangana Herath.