Australia lose toss, bowl first against Sri Lanka at WC

Jasper Bruce | October 16, 2023

Australia have lost the toss and will bowl first in their crucial World Cup clash against Sri Lanka, fielding an unchanged team.

Rumours that captain Pat Cummins would be rested for the match came to nothing, with Sean Abbott still overlooked for selection in Lucknow.

Josh Inglis retains wicket-keeping duties after ousting Alex Carey for the last-start loss to South Africa, while Marcus Stoinis remains Australia’s allrounder of choice ahead of out-of-sorts Cameron Green.

A loss to Sri Lanka will not necessarily rule Australia out of contention for the World Cup’s top four, but with two losses already to their name they would likely need win six in a row if they slumped to 0-3.

“We probably would’ve batted as well but I don’t think it’s too big a difference,” Cummins said.

“We’ve been well off our best but we know when we’re at our best, we’re as good as any side in the world. It’s about getting back to that.”

Sri Lanka are in a similar predicament, having also lost their first two matches of the tournament.

Sri Lanka have lost captain Dasun Shanaka to the tournament-ending quad injury he suffered in their last game against Pakistan. Wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis replaces him as captain, with Chamika Karunaratne coming into the XI.

Lahiru Kumara replaces fellow quick Matheesha Pathirana in the only other change.

AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

SRI LANKA: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (capt), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushkana.