Australia and Sri Lanka gear up to face each other in the 14th match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup at the Ekana Sports City in Lucknow on Monday. Both teams, having lost their first two games, will be eager to secure their first victory in the tournament, as every match from now on is akin to a knockout game.
The Australian team, a five-time champion in the World Cup, is off to a rough start, losing their first two games. A six-wicket defeat against India and a whopping 134-run loss to South Africa raised concerns. The most significant issue for Australia is their batting, with none of their top-order batsmen scoring a half-century in this tournament.
Their next challenge is Sri Lanka, a team that beat them 3-2 in their previous series. The Australian team is desperately seeking to reverse their fortunes and make a strong comeback in the tournament.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has faced formidable opponents in their first two matches. They encountered a record-breaking South African batting performance, scoring 428/5, the highest-ever total in World Cup history. Despite failing to chase down the enormous target, Sri Lanka’s 326 runs would typically win matches.
Their second game saw them set a target of 345 against Pakistan, only for the Men in Green to pull off the highest-ever run chase in a CWC match. While their batting has been commendable, their bowling needs improvement.
Predicted Playing XI
Team changes for both sides may be on the horizon. Australia may consider moving Mitchell Marsh down the order and bringing in Travis Head to strengthen the top. Sri Lanka could explore their bowling options after conceding runs heavily in their last game, considering Kasun Rajitha as an option.
Sri Lanka dealt with a big blow as their skipper Dasun Shanaka is ruled out of the World Cup due to injury. Sri Lanka’s ODI captain, Dasun Shanaka, won’t be participating in the current World Cup in India because of a thigh injury. In his place, Chamika Karunaratne, who was on standby, has been included in the team. Kusal Mendis will lead the side.
Australia:
David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Sri Lanka:
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamira Karunratne, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka
While both teams have had a shaky start, Australia appears to have the edge. As Sri Lanka’s bowling has been relatively weak in the tournament, the Baggy Greens may find their form in this match.
