SL vs AUS | 2nd Test | Preview, Prediction, Probable XI, CREX XI

Sri Lanka and Australia will face each other in the second and final fixture of the Test series, which will get underway on July 8 at Galle. 

In the first red-ball fixture, the home team posted a score of 212, and the visitors responded well by taking a lead of 109 runs. Then, Sri Lanka were dismissed for a low score of 113, and Australia chased down the total in the first over and won the game by ten wickets. 

For Lions, the likes of Praveen Jayawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Asitha Fernando, and Jeffrey Vandersay have tested Covid positive, while Lasith Embuldeniya has been dropped. 

The in-form spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage can make their red-ball debut. Angelo Mathews has recovered from covid illness and can mark his presence in the XI, along with Kamindu Mendis. 

On the other hand, Australia are expected to include Glenn Maxwell in place of Mitchell Starc, as the spinners took the 25 out of 30 wickets in the first fixture at this venue. However, the team management is not likely to tinker enough with the winning combination, which would look to complete the series whitewash. 

Match Details

Match: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 2nd Test

Venue:  Galle International Stadium, Galle 

Date & Time: July 8- July 12 at 10 AM IST

Live Streaming: Sony Sports Network & Sony LIV 

Pitch Report: 

The pitch is expected to provide the purchase to the spinners like it did in the first fixture of the series. However, the overcast weather can offer some movement to the seamers. A total of over 300 should be a challenging score for both teams. 

Head-To-Head

Matches Played: 32

Sri Lanka Won: 4

Australia Won: 20

Drawn:8 

Probable Playing XI

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Maheesh Theekshana

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell/Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson

CREX XI Suggestion 

Wicket-Keeper: Niroshan Dickwella

Batters: Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Pathum Nissanka

All-Rounders: Ramesh Mendis, Cameron Green

Bowlers: Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson, Pat Cummins

Captain: Usman Khawaja

Vice-Captain: Nathan Lyon