A long list of the Aussie cricket contingent are done with their stint at the IPL and now the squad heads to Sri Lanka for what is sure to be an interesting white ball tour. The teams will square off in three T20 matches before a five match ODI series begins.
We will be providing you with a comprehensive preview and betting tips for all right games across the tour, kicking off with the Tuesday night T20 below.
Sri Lanka vs Australia 1st T20 Betting Tips
R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Tuesday 7th June, 11.30pm (AEST)
Sri Lanka
Predicted XI: Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha
In the batting department, the Sri Lankans will be led by the No.9 ranked T20 batsman in the world, Pathum Nissanka. Outside of Nissanka, the home side probably doesn't possess any true world class white ball batsmen at the moment, although the likes of Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis and Dasun Shanaka are capable of leading their team to victory on their night.
Where the Sri Lankans strength lies is in it's bowling unit. Wanindu Hasaranga is one of the premier T20 spin bowlers in the world and is coming off a great IPL campaign with the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He's backed up by off-spinner Matheesha Theekshana and right arm paceman Dushmantha Chameera.
The Sri Lankans are yet to really hone in on a best XI for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia, so there is no doubt they will be using this series as an opportunity to experiment.
Australia
Predicted XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Josh Hazlewood
It's do or die for skipper Aaron Finch at the top of the order for the Aussies. After a lacklustre IPL season for Kolkata, you just feel like the hard hitting opener has to perform on this tour or his place as the white ball captain will be in jeapordy. Apart from Finch, the Aussie batting line-up looks rock solid at the moment. David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade are all in brilliant T20 form at the moment, but that last spot in the Aussie top seen could be up for grabs between Steve Smith, Josh Inglis or Ashton Agar depending on situation.
Pat Cummins will miss at least the start of the tour through injury, but could feature later in the ODI games while Adam Zampa will also miss the tour. Without those two, the Aussie bowling unit is still in decent shape, led by the No.3 ranked T20 bowles in the world in Josh Hazelwood. He will be backed up by Mitch Starc and Mitch Swepson and any one of Sean Abbott, Kane Richardson or Jhye Richardson.
Match Prediction
There's no doubt that the Aussies are the stronger team on paper here, especially given that they will have all of the big names at their disposal outside of Pat Cummins. I think $1.50 is the best value you are going to get for them in this series. After a Game 1 win, I can see it coming into $1.20 for the rest of the series regardless of the following results.
The Aussies have won nine of their last 10 T20 matches against Sri Lanka and I expect that dominant run to continue on Tuesday night.
Australia to win
$1.50 (3 Units)
Prop Bets
Like the value of Josh Hazlewood to be the top wicket-taker for the Aussies at $3.50. He has been far and away their best T20 bowler since and inlcuding the T20 World Cup and is coming off a brilliant IPL campaign. Played the last three games of Australia's five match T20 series against Sri Lanka in February and took 8 wickets in those three games.
Josh Hazlewood Top AUS Wicket-Taker ($3.50 at Ladbrokes) 0.5 Units
Back David Warner to get on top of the Sri Lankans on Tuesday night. He too it coming off a big IPL tournamnet which saw him pile on 432 runs at an average of 48.0. Is no stranger to batting in the sub-continent and avearges more against Sri Lanka than any other nation in T20s at 56.89.
David Warner Top AUS Runscorer ($3.75 at Ladbrokes) 0.5 Units
