Sri Lanka v Australia cricket tips & odds | First Test preview

Sri Lanka vs Australia best bets

Sri Lanka vs Australia match preview

The Warne-Muralitharan Trophy kicks off this Wednesday in Galle, with Australia looking to get their first Test series win in Sri Lanka since 2011.

Despite being on the road, the top-ranked Test side enter this clash as slight favourites at -111.11 with major online bookmakers. Sri Lanka sit at +140, while the draw is paying +700.

This series will be a serious change in conditions for Australia, who haven’t played a Test match in the subcontinent since early 2023.

Sri Lanka have been strong at home recently, winning their last series against New Zealand 2-0, but their most recent series in South Africa ended in a disappointing 2-0 loss.

Sri Lanka vs Australia team news

There are plenty of injury concerns in the Sri Lanka batting lineup heading into the first Test.

Opener Pathum Nissanka is dealing with a groin injury, so uncapped batsman Lahiru Udara has been added to the squad as cover. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva is also recovering from a side strain, while star batsman Kamindu Mendis is dealing with a hand injury.

With spin-friendly conditions expected, left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya looms as the greatest threat in the Sri Lankan attack, with Dhananjaya, Nishan Peiris and Jeffrey Vandersay also in the mix.

The hosts have named four pace bowlers in their squad, but expect at most two of Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and Milan Rathnayake to be named in the squad.

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Australia’s lineup will be quite different from their most recent Test against India. Star seamers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will miss the tour, leaving Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Sean Abbott as the front-line pace options.

There is plenty of talk surrounding whether Sam Konstas or Travis Head will open the batting for Australia alongside Usman Khawaja. If Head moves up the order, West Australian duo Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis could be in the mix to earn their baggy green.

With all-rounder Beau Webster capable of bowling both seam and spin, it remains unclear whether Australia will play two or three specialist spinners. Despite nursing a thumb injury, Matt Kuhnemann seems to be the likely inclusion ahead of Todd Murphy to partner Nathan Lyon.

Sri Lanka vs Australia betting predictions

Given the way Australia played in their Border-Gavaskar Trophy win over India, they are going to be a tough proposition despite the conditions. The Sri Lankan top order has struggled recently, while the Australians are in strong form with the bat. As favourites, back the Aussies to get the series off to a strong start.

As Australia’s premier spin bowler, Nathan Lyon is set to have plenty of responsibility in this series. He has 35 wickets in eight Tests in Sri Lanka and is expected to hold up an end for most of the day. With suitable conditions, Lyon is the prime candidate to lead the Aussie bowlers at +220 with leading sports betting sites.

Coming in at six for Sri Lanka, Kamindu Mendis is by far the most dangerous batsman in the lineup. He was named the ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year for 2024, with 1,049 runs at an average of 75. As he continues to improve in his fairly brief international career, Mendis is the best chance to lead the Sri Lankan batsman at $4.80 with top online bookmakers.

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