Sri Lanka will look to bounce back from the recent 2-0 Test series loss as they face Australia in the first ODI of the two-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, February 12. With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaching, Australia will look to fine-tune their squads and regain momentum for the 50-over format. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka unfortunately didn’t manage to qualify for the prestigious event.
For the first ODI of the two-game series, Sri Lanka will face Australia on February 12. The matchup will be held at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo from 10.00 AM IST.
SL vs AUS : Previous Performances
The Aussies are coming off a dominating performance in the longest format of the game. They crushed the hosts by an innings and 242 runs in the first Test, Sri Lanka’s worst-ever defeat—before sealing a nine-wicket win in the second match.
After convincingly winning the two-match Test series, Australia will take on Sri Lanka before they head to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The ODI will be played at Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 12th February from 9:30 am onwards. These matches will be the last chance for both teams to refine their strategies and finalize their best playing combinations ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Australia beat Sri Lanka in both Tests earlier. In the first Test, they won by 9 wickets after Steve Smith and Alex Carey scored centuries. On the other hand, they posted a massive victory by an innings and 242 runs with Khwaja hitting a double ton followed by Smith scoring his consecutive century. Matthew Kuhneman picked up 16 wickets in two Tests. His form has raised Australia’s hopes for the upcoming Champions Trophy where most of the pitches will be Spin-friendly.
Sri Lanka have excluded seam-bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe from their squad for the two-match ODI series against Australia at home. This remains the only change from the squad that recently toured New Zealand. Sri Lanka is currently on a 10-match winning streak and has won six out of the last six bilateral series at home. They can spoil the mood of the visitors before they head to the Champions trophy.
Both teams last played against each other back in the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023. Batting first, Sri Lanka were bowled out to 209 even after putting a 125-run stand for the first wicket. Adam Zampa took four wickets for 47 runs. Dilshan Madushanka scared the Aussie side when he picked two top-order batters in the fourth over of the match. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis scored half-centuries to help their side win by 5 wickets. Sri Lanka has 4 wins and a tie in the six ODIs played in 2024 at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
SL vs AUS : Head to Head Records
| Matches | 104 |
| Won by Australia | 64 |
| Won by Sri Lanka | 36 |
| No Result | 04 |
| Tied | 00 |
| First-ever Fixture | Jun 11, 1975 |
| Most-recent Fixture | Oct 16, 2023 |
SL vs AUS : Pitch Report
The game will be played at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 12th February from 9:30 am onwards. The stadium has a capacity of 35000 spectators. The stadium has hosted 8 Tests, 167 ODIs and 58 T20s.
Speaking of the pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium, the tropical environments offer a dry surface, and batters would look to make the most of the pitch. However, as the pitch gets older, it slows down, and then the bowlers could make a big impact on the game. The pitch tends to deteriorate, leading to variable bounce and sharp turn, challenging batters’ technique. Visible cracks further add to the unpredictability, making shot-making tough. While shorter formats see a relatively stable bounce, longer formats can become more demanding for batters.
The R Premadasa Stadium has not staged a day ODI since 2014 – it’s understood the timing of these two games is to limit the cost and not need floodlights – so statistics are not that relevant although in recent times, matches at the venue have been on the lower-scoring side. The forecast is for warm and sunny days.
The R. Premadasa Stadium pitch generally favours spinners. It has been a fortress for spinners, with the pitch offering sharp turns and variable bounce in the latter stages of the game. Batting in the early stages tends to be easier, with relatively predictable bounce and fewer cracks.
As the game progresses, the pitch begins to deteriorate. Visible cracks and variable bounce make shot-making difficult, favoring spinners. The average first-inning score is 231 and teams batting first have had more success. In 167 ODIs played here, the results have favored teams defending the target on 90 occasions while 65 have been won by the teams chasing it. The average first-innings score is 231 with the highest total of 375. The team winning the toss should bat first.
The weather at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo is expected to be cloudy on match day, with temperatures ranging between 23 and 32 degrees Celsius. Winds will blow from the southeast at 6-11 km/h. It gives a good balance for both bowlers and batsmen. Bowlers can benefit from the pitch in the early stages, which offers a nice bounce. As the game goes on and the pitch gets older, batsmen can play their shots comfortably.
SL vs AUS : Big Picture : Australia hit by injury, retirement; SL not at the party
Australia’s four-day victory in Galle gave them an extra 24 hours before flicking into one-day mode as they enter a brief period of preparation for the Champions Trophy 2025. Originally there was just going to be a single ODI in Colombo but a second was squeezed in which will basically be the team’s warm-ups before heading to Pakistan.
Injuries to Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh along with the surprise retirement of Marcus Stoinis means there is a bit of a patched-up feel to the Australia squad although a familiar core of the 2023 World Cup-winning team remains with the likes of Travis Head, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa around.
Six players have been added to the originally selected group: Jake-Fraser McGurk, Cooper Connolly, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson and Tanveer Sangha. It is likely they will all get at least one of the two matches in Sri Lanka as some of those who played both Tests are given a short break. Smith appears set to take the captaincy.
It appears likely that Head and Matt Short will form the first-choice opening partnership although Fraser-McGurk could make a late entry. He and Short struggled in the home series against Pakistan in November. Another point of interest is whether Alex Carey finds himself a place in the middle order.
Sri Lanka missed out on the Champions Trophy due to their poor ODI World Cup so these matches have little immediate context although they can have half an eye on the road to 2027. They have, however, played the most matches in the format since the previous World Cup (21), notching 13 wins in that time including five series victories. Ironically, they are probably as attuned to the one-day format as anyone.
SL vs AUS : Vital Stats that matters
- Glenn Maxwell needs 50 runs for 4000 in ODIs and Alex Carey needs 22 for 2000
- Wanindu Hasaranga needs five wickets for 100 in ODIs
- Overall, Sri Lanka have a 35-64 win/loss record against Australia
- Skipper Steve Smith scored two centuries in Australia’s two tests against Lanka
- Charith Asalanka averages 50 (700 runs) with the bat and below 20 with the ball (14 wickets) at home in the last two years.
- Sri Lanka has three wins in the last five ODIs against Australia.
SL vs AUS : Team News
Sri Lanka :
Sri Lanka, currently on a 10-match winning streak, has dominated bilateral series at home, winning six consecutive encounters. Despite Australia’s recent success in the Tests, the Sri Lankan side poses a significant threat in their backyard. Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Charith Asalanka form a formidable top order, with Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana spearheading a lethal spin attack.
Sri Lanka will go ahead with the same eleven players that played against New Zealand. Pathum Nissanka will open the innings with Avishka Fernando. Nissanka has 766 runs in the last 17 ODIs played in Sri Lanka. This includes a 210-run knock along with two hundreds and five fifties. His partner averages just above thirty.
Kusal Mendis will come at number three. He will be the batter to watch out for. In 2024, Mendis scored 742 runs at an average of 53. Out of this 638 runs came in Sri Lanka at an average of 58. He has a fifty-plus score in every three games he has played.
Kamindu Mendis will partner up with skipper Charith Asalanka and Janith Liyanage in the middle. Mendis averages above 50 in the last 6 ODIs he has played. Asalanka has been in terrific form with the ball and the bat for the last two years. In 16 games he has scored 605 runs at an average of 51. With the ball, he has 14 wickets in the last 14 games he has bowled in Sri Lanka at an average below 20. Liyanage also averages above 45 in the middle. He can fix his place in the team for the upcoming year if he survives the Aussie attack.
Wanindu Hasaranga will lead the bowling attack with Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Eshan Malinga, and Asitha Fernando. Hasaranga has 56 wickets in 24 games he played since 2023 at an average of 16.39. He will be the bowler to watch out for. Whereas Theekshana has 59 wickets in 37 innings at an average just above 23. Wellalage who missed the last ODI against NZ can be a good addition to the playing eleven. The bowling all-rounder has 18 wickets in the last 12 games played in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI: Charith Asalanka(c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga, Maheesh Theekshana.
Australia :
Coming off a dominant Test series win, Australia will be brimming with confidence. They triumphed in the second Test by 9 wickets, with Steve Smith and Alex Carey scoring centuries. The first Test was even more emphatic, as they secured victory by an innings and 242 runs. However, Australia faces challenges in their ODI lineup. With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood out, Mitchell Starc will lead the bowling attack, supported by Nathan Ellis and Sean Abbott. Batting depth will rely on Steven Smith, Travis Head, and Josh Inglis.
Given the odd nature of this series and the short turnaround, it’s tricky to know what each side will do. Mitchell Starc is not expected to feature, though, after the Tests. He looked a little sore in Galle although has overcome various niggles this season.
Australia will be looking forward to the series as a practice for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Matthew Short will open the innings with Jake Fraser-McGurk. The duo has failed to impress in the last five ODIs with their cumulative batting average below 25. Travis Head might be picked above Fraser-McGurk. Head missed the series against Pakistan. But he has 248 runs in the last 4 ODIs he played at an average of 82. Surprisingly, Head is the only Aussie batter to have a century since the start of the last year. He will be the player to watch out for.
Steven Smith will come at number three. Smith has been their leading run-scorer since last year. He has 306 runs in 10 ODIs at an average of 43. Josh Inglis will come in the middle with Aaron Hardie, Alex Carey, and Marnus Labuschagne. Inglis has 219 runs at an average of 36 since the last year.
He had helped Australia win the World Cup game against Sri Lanka. Both Hardie and Labuschagne have less than 150 runs each in the last 7 innings. Australia might include Glenn Maxwell who is currently out of form. Alex Carey has 164 runs in the four ODIs he played since the start of the last year with an average of 82.
With Adam Zampa not being picked up and Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood withdrawing from the squad, Mitchell Starc will lead the bowling attack with Nathan Ellis and Sean Abbott. Starc has 8 wickets in the last 6 ODIs at an economy of 7. On the other hand, Abbott has 7 wickets in 8 ODIs. Tanveer Sangha is the only spinner included in the squad. But Australia will rely on Head, Labuschagne, and Maxwell to finish the spinner quota. Head has picked 6 wickets in the last two ODIs.
Australia Predicted Playing XI: Matt Short, Travis Head, Steve Smith (c), Josh Inglis (wk.), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha, Spencer Johnson
AUS vs SL Fantasy XI : Travis Head, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Josh Inglis
SL vs AUS : In the spotlight: Dunith Wellalage and Matt Short
Dunith Wellalage :
It was during Australia’s previous visit to Sri Lanka in 2022 that Dunith Wellalage burst onto the international scene with nine wickets in five matches. He only played a bit-part role in the 2023 World Cup but either side of that tournament claimed five-wicket hauls against India in the Asia Cup and last year’s ODI series. He has also shown his prowess with the bat with a top score of 67 not out in a tied match against India. Clearly a key part of Sri Lanka’s future.
Matt Short :
Matt Short couldn’t quite take his opportunity at the top of the order against Pakistan but the absence of Mitchell Marsh means he’s likely to find a spot in the first choice XI. His 109 off 54 balls for Adelaide Strikers against Brisbane Heat in the BBL was a reminder of what he can bring against the white ball. His offspin is another handy string to his bow and he’s an excellent fielder.
SL vs AUS : Match Prediction
Australia is currently high on confidence after the dominating win. But they will be playing the ODI series without their four key players. Sri Lanka has had a great record at home since the last year. They have won all bilateral series since last year and are currently on a 10-game winning streak. Overall, the game will be balanced between both sides. But the addition of Travis Head and the current form of Alex Carey give Australia an upper hand. We predict the Australia will defeat Sri Lanka.
While Sri Lanka has been dominant in the white-ball format at home, Australia has the winning momentum and a balanced squad to challenge them. Overall, Australia are likely to win this game.