AUS vs SL Live: five Sri Lankan players to look out in Australia vs Sri Lanka T20I series – Australia will take on Sri Lanka in a five-match T20I series starting on Friday (February 11). The T20 World Champions are being led by Aaron Finch, while Dasun Shanaka will lead the visitors. The Sri Lankan selectors have placed their bets on the youth and have included as many as four uncapped players in the team. Follow AUS vs SL Live update on InsideSport.IN
There are quite a few players who have not played more than 10 T20Is on the Sri Lankan side. Only eight players in the 20-member squad have the experience of playing in Australia. A lot will depend on senior players such as Dinesh Chandimal, Shanaka, Danushka Gunathilaka, and Wanindu Hasaranga to get the team off to a good start. Sri Lanka though have a few exciting young talents in form Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, and Maheesh Theekshana, who could challenge the mighty Australians.
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Here are the top players to look out for during the AUS vs SL T20 series
1: Wanindu Hasaranga
Leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is in form of his life in the T20Is. He finished 2021 with 34 wickets and also ended up as the leading wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup. He took 16 wickets in the showpiece event at an incredible average of 9.75. The 24-year-old will yet again be the key bowler for Sri Lanka in the T20I series Down Under.
Hasaranga has only played two matches in Australia but former Sri Lankan cricketer Russell Arnold feels the leg spinner does not much help from the pitch since he bowls wicket-to-wicket. “He doesn’t need too much off the pitch, he’s a wicket-to-wicket bowler and bowls a good wrong’un. And that’s the kind of delivery that a lot of people struggle to pick,” Arnold told to cricket.com.au.
2: Avishka Fernando
Avishka Fernando burst into the limelight by scoring a magnificent hundred against West Indies in the ICC 2019 Cricket World Cup. Big things were expected from the elegant right-hand batter, but he has not lived up to those lofty expectations. Fernando has largely disappointed and barring two to three good innings, he has lacked consistency in the white-ball formats.
AUS vs SL LIVE: Top 5 Lankan players to watch out for in Australia vs Sri Lanka T20 series- check out
His record in T20Is is looking dismal at the moment as he scored just 325 runs at a shoddy average of 12.5 in 30 matches. The selectors though have kept their faith in the youngster and believe in his capabilities. In the absence of Kusal Perera, the onus will be on Fernando to score runs at the top order.
3: Charith Asalanka
Sri Lanka’s other biggest takeaway during the T20 World Cup batter Charith Asalanka. The 24-year-old scored 231 runs and enabled Sri Lanka through to the Super 12 stage of the competition. Within just a short period, the left-hand batter has made a name himself in all three formats of the game. Asalanka can play the sheet anchor role to perfection and also take the attack to the opposition.
He can mix the power and touch game with relative ease. The Sri Lankan selectors have also elevated him to vice-captaincy on account of his good form in 2021. It remains to be seen if the responsibility brings the best out of him.
4: Dasun Shanaka
The leader of the Lankan team Shanaka will have a lot on his plate as the all-around player on the team. In the initial part of 2021, Shanaka struggled to come to grips with the captaincy. Later though he managed to trust his players more and got the best out of them. Shanaka also scored a 100 against Zimbabwe in an ODI match and has form and momentum with him.
He has played 57 T20Is and has scored 707 runs. The captain also has taken 17 wickets in 28 innings. Shanaka will have to contribute with bat and ball and have to take the game deep to the Australians.
AUS vs SL LIVE: Top 5 Lankan players to watch out for in Australia vs Sri Lanka T20 series- check out
5: Maheesh Theekshana
Sri Lanka mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana proved a handful to a lot of associate nations during the T20 World Cup 2021. He has had a great start to his T20I career as he has picked up nine wickets in 10 games. Slowly teams are trying to come to grips with his mystery element. During the latter stages of the T20 World Cup, teams like South Africa, and England did not face difficulty in tackling him.
The 21-year-old has been seen as a long-term prospect by the Sri Lankan team. Theekshana has to come up with different plans and strategies to counter Australian batters. The pitches Down Under won’t be helpful for spin bowling and the youngster will have to come up with different plans to stop the opposition from attacking.
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