David Warner
David Warner scored 106 in the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka, his first century in the island nation Getty

Sri Lanka host Australia in the first game of the two match Twenty20 International (T20I) series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on 6 September (Tuesday).

Where to watch live

Match starts at 2.30pm BST. Live TV coverage of the match in the United Kingdom is available on British Eurosport 2.

Overview

Fresh from their 4-1 drubbing in the recently concluded five-match One Day International (ODI) series, Sri Lanka will be looking for a change of fortunes in the Twenty20 format in the first game on 6 September.

The hosts who are currently placed eighth in the ICC T20 International rankings with 96 points have struggled in the past and will look at this series to improve upon their position.

They will be missing skipper and key player Angelo Mathews, who is ruled out of the series due to a calf strain he suffered in the fourth game. In his absence, Dinesh Chandimal is expected to shoulder the captaincy, with the hosts going in with a young and inexperienced line-up.

The onus will be on Kusal Mendis and Chandimal to fire with the bat while their unlimited supply of spinners will be expected to gain turn and bounce on surfaces expected to favour the slow bowlers.

Australia put a nightmarish show in the Test series behind them to win the ODI series quite comfortably. Their focus will now be on T20 cricket, but come into the series ravaged by injuries.
Chris Lynn (shoulder), Aaron Finch (finger), Nathan Coulter-Nile (back) and Shaun Marsh (finger) have flown back home and with regular skipper Steve Smith rested, their squad has an unfamiliar look about them.

However, the injuries to players will mean that George Bailey, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade will get a chance to stake their claim for a spot in the side.
Bailey was the standout batsman for Australia in the ODI series while Mitchell Starc, John Hastings and Adam Zampa impressed with the ball.

Prediction

Australia to win

Betting odds (ladbrokes)

  • Sri Lanka to win: 5/4
  • Australia to win: 8/13

Team news

Sri Lanka

Squad: Dinesh Chandimal (c & wk), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dasun Shanaka, Suranga Lakmal, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Seekkuge Prasanna, Milinda Siriwardana, Sachith Pathirana, Chamara Kapugedara, Kasun Rajitha, Sachithra Senanayake, Thisara Perera.

Australia

Squad: David Warner (c), George Bailey, Scott Boland, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.

Australia Sri Lanka cricket Australia cricket