AUS vs SL toss update: Kusal Mendis, the new Sri Lankan captain, won the toss and opted to bat against Australia in the 2023 World Cup match at Lucknow.
After captain Dasun Shanaka missed the World Cup due to injury, Sri Lanka added Chamika Karunaratne to the squad and appointed Kusal Mendis as captain.
In the match against Australia at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, Shanaka won the toss and was selected to bat. They quickly included Karunaratne in the eleven along with Lahiru Kumara. Apart from Shanaka, Matisha also missed Pathirana.
Australia remains unchanged. A member of her team, Travis Head, has recovered well from her broken hand. He was initially in Australia, but he plans to leave soon. However, he will not participate in this World Cup until October 20th at the earliest.
Australia and Sri Lanka both lost their first two matches – Australia against India and South Africa, and Sri Lanka against South Africa and Pakistan. Sri Lanka (net run rate -1.161) and Australia (-1.846) are currently ranked 8th and 10th respectively, with the Netherlands (-1.8) on either side of them.
Australia have the clear advantage in the World Cup, having won eight of the nine matches between the two teams. Sri Lanka’s only victory was in her 1996 World Cup final. The all-time ODI record is 63-35 in favor of Australia, but the only match between the teams played on Indian soil was won by Australia (back in 1989).
AUS vs SL World Cup 2023 playing XIs:
Sri Lanka:Kusal Mendis (C & WK), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Sadheera Samarawickrama, Charice Asaranka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Danis -Wellaledge, Mahesh Thekshana, Dilshan Madhushanka, Rahilkumara.
Australians:Pat Cummins (c), Josh Inglis (week), Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
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