RegisterLog in
    Betting Sites

Sri Lanka vs Australia 1st Test Tips – Trial By Spin Predicted For Both Teams

Nikhil
05 Feb 2025
Nikhil Kalro 05 Feb 2025
Share this article
Or copy link
  • Australia enters Test series with a new captain and lineup adjustments
  • Sri Lanka heavily relies on spin strategy amidst player injuries
  • Key focus on how teams adapt and perform in spin-friendly Galle conditions
sri lanka australia
Dhananjaya de Silva of Sri Lanka and Steve Smith of Australia (Getty Images)
  • Sri Lanka vs Australia First Test
  • Sri Lanka Form
  • Sri Lanka Team News
  • Australia Form
  • Australia Team News

Sri Lanka vs Australia First Test

There was a lot of context attached to this series up until Australia comfortably drubbed India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to ensure that they confirmed their presence in the World Test Championship final against South Africa later this year. 

Still, there is plenty to look forward to from this series. First, the return to captaincy for Steven Smith, who has only partially led Australia since the infamous sandpaper incident against South Africa. 

Coming off an impressive home season, Australia will enter these conditions as only slight favourites against a team that has proved to be extremely formidable in spin-friendly surfaces. 

Sri Lanka are coming off a tough tour of South Africa, where they fought admirably in foreign conditions but were just unable to find enough momentum to get past the hosts. 

Now back home in Galle, Sri Lanka will look to their strengths of spin to put Australia under pressure early in a short two-match Test series. 

Sri Lanka Form

Sri Lanka are coming into this series on the back of a long restful period after the tour to South Africa. However, there are several injuries in their squad, including one to their captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who has a side strain. 

In these conditions, Sri Lanka will depend on their spinners to do the majority of the damage. To that end, Sri Lanka will use their specialists in Prabath Jayasuriya and Jeffrey Vandersay. 

Sonal Dinusha, a left-arm spin-bowling allrounder, has also been added to the Sri Lanka squad to strengthen their spin resources. 

Sri Lanka Team News

Pathum Nissanka has been all but ruled out of the first Test against Australia as he recovers from a groin strain he picked up in the recent white-ball tour of New Zealand. 

There are other players also nursing injuries, including de Silva and Kamindu Mendis, who has a split webbing on his hand. 

Australia Form

Australia will field a completely different team to the one that played the final test against India in Sydney. Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the tour with an ankle issue with Smith leading in his stead. 

In the lead up to the test, Australia fiddled around with the concept of remaining flexible during this tour, particularly with their batting unit. 

"The game is evolving, so why not continue to see where we can make jumps and leaps and where can we get an advantage?" Travis said. 

"If that's using people in different positions, it's not traditionally done a hell of a lot, this team's experienced enough and in a great position where players will be open to that if needed to be. I ain't bothered where I bat anymore. I haven't been for a while."

Australia Team News

Australia confirmed that Travis Head will open the batting with Usman Khawaja instead of Sam Konstas. With a spot open in the middle order, Nathan McSweeney, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis and Konstas will fight it out for that remaining slot. 

Verdict

Australia have picked a horses-for-courses squad with several spinners to back up multiple allrounder options. 

While Sri Lanka are excellent in these conditions – accurate and disciplined – it remains to be seen whether their batters can pick up enough runs to remain competitive for the duration of the match.

Best Bet1: Australia Win Match Result @-105.26 at dabble.com - 1 Unit
Australia Win
Match Result
@-105.26 - 1 Unit
Get $10 when you sign up
with promo code NEWBONUS

18+. T&Cs apply.

Bet at dabble.com