Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st ODI: Where to watch live, prediction, preview, betting odds and possible XI

Sri Lanka host Australia in the first game of the five-match One Day International (ODI) series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on 21 August (Sunday).

Where to watch live

Match starts at 10am BST. Live TV coverage of the match in the United Kingdom is available on British Eurosport 2.

Overview

Hosts Sri Lanka who at the start of the summer were in disarray, have seen their fortunes change in a matter of weeks with them inflicting a 3-0 series whitewash on the visiting Australians in the Test matches. The action now shifts to the limited overs format, which Sri Lanka come into with confidence based on their performances off late.

The three match Test series gave us the Sri Lanka of old, with the batsman dominating and the spinners creating havoc. What it also gave a new generation of fans is the chance to see the emergence of a new talent in Kusal Mendis, who's 176 run-knock in the first Test was a sight to behold.

In Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews and the returning Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Islanders have batsman who are capable of tearing apart attacks on their day. What will be of concern is the lack of firepower in the bowling department, with Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Dilruwan Perera expected to take on the responsibility.

Sri Lanka will be without Lasith Malinga and Dushmantha Chameera who are missing through injury while match-winner Rangana Herath will not play as he has retired from the shorter formats of the game.

The visitors, Australia have had a torrid one month in Sri Lanka, losing all the three Test matches while also looking susceptible to spin. This series whitewash was only the fourth instance of it happening in Australia's cricket history, while it was also the first series loss of Steven Smith's career since taking over as the captain of the national team.

Despite the losses, Australia come into the ODIs as the number one ranked team and the world champions. They will be a different proposition all together and in David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Aaron Finch and skipper Smith have players who have the necessary experience and are match-winners.

Australia have called up leg-spinner Adam Zampa, keeper Matthew Wade, pace bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile, all-rounder James Faulkner and batsman Travis Head, George Bailey and Aaron Finch for the limited over series and will be without Mitchell Marsh who has been rested for this assignment.

Prediction

Australia to win

Betting odds (ladbrokes)

• Sri Lanka to win: 6/4
• Australia to win: 8/15

Team news

Sri Lanka

Squad: Angelo Mathews (c), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Amila Aponso, Dhananjaya de Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Nuwan Pradeep, Avishka Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Suranga Lakmal, Kusal Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lakshan Sandakan, Milinda Siriwardana.

Australia

Squad: Steve Smith (c), George Bailey, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faualkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazelwood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Adam Zampa.