Online Cricket Betting Tips and Match Prediction- Australia v Sri Lanka 1st Test

Both Australia and Sri Lanka are coming off series losses against India and New Zealand respectively.

Although Sri Lanka won 3-0 against Australia at home the last time both teams clashed, Australia would be playing in their backyard this time and it would take a lot of doing to beat them.

Australia will miss the services of pacer Josh Hazlewood who has been ruled out due to injury. The hosts have also dropped Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb. Their roles will now be played by Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson. It is not likely that Matt Renshaw will feature in the playing XI unless Usman Khawaja is slotted to bat at number three. 

Marnus Labuschagne impressed at number three at Sydney against India and would get another game. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon would be joined by Jhye Richardson to form a new bowling quartet.

Sri Lanka will look towards Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Kushal Mendis and Lahiru Thirimanne to put runs on the board. Chandimal has a Test batting average of close to 45 and would be key for the visitors.

Lahiru Kumara and Suranga Lakmal will start the proceedings with the ball. Dilruwan Perera has gradually become their senior spinner and the onus would be on him, especially on the last two days of a Test, to pick some quick wickets.

All in all, Australia look stronger especially in their home conditions and the scoreline would probably read 2-0 at the end of the series in favour of the Aussies.

Let's have a look at the predicted playing XI of both teams.

Australia- Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Joe Burns, Travis Head, Kurtis Patterson, Tim Paine (c)(wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jhye Richardson

Sri Lanka- Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal (c), Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Kumara

Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions*

Who will win? – Australia
Top Batsman (Runs Scored) – Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka), Usman Khwaja (Australia)
Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Suranga Lakmal (Sri Lanka), Nathan Lyon (Australia)
Most Fours – Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka), Usman Khwaja (Australia)
Team Scores Batting First – Sri Lanka 250+, Australia 320+

*NB these predictions may be changed nearer the start of the match once the final starting teams have been announced and we will be running ‘In–Play’ features soon, so stay tuned.

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