Australia start home favourites in last series of the summer

1st Test
The Gabba, Brisbane
Thursday, 24-28 January 2019, 14:00 local (04:00 GMT)

After a first series loss to India at home, Tim Paine’s Australia will look to finish the home summer on a high against the visiting Sri Lankans. The day/night Test in Brisbane will be the first such game for Sri Lanka in Australia and the relative lack of experience at playing floodlit Tests could hand the advantage to the hosts.

Australia are yet to lose a day/night Test at home, but that’s about the only advantage they hold over their opponents. Enduring a slump in the longest format, Australia have lost three of their last five and five of their last eight, with one Test win since April 2018.

Sri Lanka have fared no better, though, losing four of their last five Tests, winning none. Both teams will look to turn their fortunes around and Australia, despite playing without Steve Smith and David Warner, will hold the advantage.

There have been changes aplenty for the hosts. Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Will Pucovski and Kurtis Patterson have found places in the squad, the last three getting their maiden call-ups while Aaron Finch and the Marsh brothers have been dropped.

Sri Lanka have had their injury issues, too. Nuwan Pradeep has been ruled out with a hamstring injury and Kusal Mendis sustained a blow to his right hand during the visitors’ only practice match, against Cricket Australia XI.

But Sri Lanka have reinforcements to cover for Pradeep: Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera form a four-pronged attack while Dilruwan Perera takes over from the now-retired Rangana Herath as Sri Lanka’s lead spinner.

Key players

Pat Cummins (Australia): Runs flowed off his bat in addition to the wickets he picked up with his characteristic pace and bounce in the series against India. He emerged, in many ways, as the all-rounder Australia have been looking for. Sri Lanka will be wary.

Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka): Included in the ICC Test Team of the Year, Karunaratne finished as Sri Lanka’s top scorer in 2018 and will look to take that form into this series. His ability to bat time and play marathon innings hold him in good stead.

Conditions

Some rain is expected on the third day of the Test but barring that it’s expected to be hot during the day before it cools down to the low-20s in the evening. The drop-in pitche used at the Gabba is expected to hold true to its pace and bounce and may cause some trouble for the team batting first.

Squads

Australia: Tim Paine (c), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Will Pucovski, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Jhye Richardson, Kurtis Patterson

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera