SL vs AUS Dream11 Prediction, Playing XI, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Pitch Report & Injury Updates for Australia tour of Sri Lanka, 1st Test

Sri Lanka are expected to win this match.

ByĀ CricTracker Staff

Updated - 28 Jan 2025, 15:56 IST

1 Min Read

Table Of Contents

Preview

Sri Lanka (SL) will take on Australia (AUS) in the First Test of Australia's tour of Sri Lanka. This match will be played at Galle International Stadium. Sri Lanka will be hosting Australia for a 2-match Test series followed by a 2-match ODI series. Steve Smith will be leading Australia in the absence of Pat Cummins while Dhananjaya De Silva will captain Sri Lanka in this series. 

Sri Lanka has won 7 of its last 11 home games, while Australia has lost 4 of its last 5 Tests in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has also been unbeaten at home in 2024, so all these points suggest a fascinating series, and Playing in the sub-continent is a big challenge so Australia will be keen to embrace the challenge and put up some competitive performance throughout. 

Sri Lanka are coming into this series on the back of a series loss in South Africa. On the other hand, Australia secured the WTC final spot after beating India at home in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Prabath Jayasuriya will play a key role for the hosts while Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy will be the crucial bowlers for Australia. There could be changes in Australian batting order and it remains to be seen how both teams approach this game. This promises to be a closely fought game. 

 Also Check: Player Performance Comparisons

Match Information

Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test

Australia tour of Sri Lanka, 29 Jan 2025, Wed, 10:00 AM IST ,Galle International Stadium

Live Stream

Fancode

Weather Report

Galle International Stadium

Clouds

27.8°C

79% (Humidity)

Team Form (Last 5 matches)

Sri Lanka

W
L
L
W
L

Australia

W
W
T
W
L

Players Stats in current Series

1

Usman Khawaja

AUS - bat

295 Runs

2Ā Matches

205 Runs

2Ā Matches

3

Steve Smith

AUS - bat

272 Runs

2Ā Matches

4

120 Runs

2Ā Matches

5

Alex Carey

AUS - wk

202 Runs

2Ā Matches

51 Runs

1Ā Match

1

Travis Head

AUS - bat

115.29

2Ā Matches

2

Alex Carey

AUS - wk

107.89

1Ā Match

3

Josh Inglis

AUS - wk

106.25

2Ā Matches

106.77

2Ā Matches

105.56

1Ā Match

6

Travis Head

AUS - bat

100.00

1Ā Match

16 Wkts

2Ā Matches

6 Wkts

2Ā Matches

3

Nathan Lyon

AUS - bowl

14 Wkts

2Ā Matches

4

5 Wkts

2Ā Matches

9 Wkts

2Ā Matches

4 Wkts

2Ā Matches

1

Mitchell Starc

AUS - bowl

2.61

2Ā Matches

2.50

2Ā Matches

2.97

2Ā Matches

4

Nathan Ellis

AUS - bowl

2.56

1Ā Match

5

Nathan Lyon

AUS - bowl

3.12

2Ā Matches

3.97

2Ā Matches

Probable Playing XI

Sri Lanka

K Mendis (wk), D Chandimal, S Samarawickrama, D Karunaratne, A Mathews, PHKD Mendis, D de Silva (C), M Priyanath, NGRP Jayasuriya, JF Vandersay, N Peiris

Bench : LU Igalagamage, Pathum Nissanka, AM Fernando, O Fernando, Sonal Dinusha, L Kumara, MVT Fernando

Australia

AT Carey (wk), Usman Khawaja, TM Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (C), S Konstas, BJ Webster, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy

Bench : JP Inglis, NA McSweeney, Sean Abbott, SM Boland, Cooper Connolly

Injury and availability news

will be added when there is an update

Pitch Report

The surface here will be very challenging for batting and there will be plenty of spin on offer. Batting will get tougher as the match progresses and the best time to bat will be in the first few days.

50%

Pace Bowling

50%

Spin Bowling

55%

Batting Pitch

255

Average Score

45%

Bowling Pitch

Player Picks

9
C

Kamindu Mendis SL | ALL

Kamindu Mendis was the leading run getter for SL in the previous year and has made a great start to his Test career with 1110 runs at an average of 74 after 17 Test innings. This includes five hundreds out of nine 50-plus scores so far.

8.5
C

Steve Smith AUS | BAT

Steve Smith has been the best batter for Australia in the subcontinent and he has amassed 9999 runs in this format at an outstanding average of more than 53 and did well in the BGT recently. He will be a good captaincy pick for this match.

8

Prabath Jayasuriya SL | BOWL

Prabath Jayasuriya has picked up 107 wickets in 18 Tests at an average of 29.2 and a strike rate of 55.2. Plenty of those wickets have come in Galle and he just loves bowling at this venue.

9

Nathan Lyon AUS | BOWL

Nathan Lyon will spearhead the spin bowling attack for Australia nad is the most successful off-spinner in the history of Australia. He will be a top pick for this match.

8.5

Travis Head AUS | BAT

Travis Head will open the battting for this matchand he averaged 55.75 runs across two-and-a-half Tests in India when he opened so he can be a good choice for this match.

7

Dinesh Chandimal SL | WK

Dinesh Chandimal has averaged more than 50 in the last few years in Test and has done well in all the last few series. He will be a handy budget pick for this match.

Avoid Having These Players In Your Fantasy Sports Team

7

Alex Carey

AUS | WK

7

Nathan McSweeney

AUS | ALL

Last Updated On - Jan 28 2025 3:56 PM

Players
11/11

Team 1

SL

7 : 4

AUS

Credits Left
7.5/100

Head To Head
Kusal Mendis

9

Dinesh Chandimal

7

Travis Head

8.5

Steve Smith

8.5

Dimuth Karunaratne

9

Angelo Mathews

8.5

Dhananjaya de Silva

8.5

Kamindu Mendis
C

9

Nathan Lyon

9

Todd Murphy

7.5

Prabath Jayasuriya
VC

8

Players
11/11

Team 1

SL

7 : 4

AUS

Credits Left
6.5/100

Mega League
Kusal Mendis

9

Dinesh Chandimal

7

Usman Khawaja

8.5

Steve Smith
C

8.5

Dimuth Karunaratne

9

Dhananjaya de Silva
VC

8.5

Kamindu Mendis

9

Nathan Lyon

9

Mitchell Starc

8.5

Prabath Jayasuriya

8

Nishan Peiris

8.5

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Disclaimer

This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.

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