In a dead rubber for the ICC World Test Championship, Australia faces Sri Lanka, who haven't won a Test series in 14 years against the WTC title holders. However, the tourists have already qualified for the final alongside South Africa. Inglis debuts for Australia while both teams have made changes to their playing XIs. Khawaja suffers a communication breakdown with Smith at the crease, resulting in a missed run opportunity.
Australia vs. Sri Lanka: A Preview
Australia and Sri Lanka will face off in the second and final Test match of their ICC World Test Championship series at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka, from July 8-12, 2023.
Background
The two teams are meeting for the first time in a Test series since 2019, when Australia won 2-0 at home. Australia holds a dominant 26-10 lead in the overall head-to-head record.
Sri Lanka has not won a Test series against Australia since 2001, when they triumphed 3-0 at home. Since then, Australia has won 14 of the 19 Tests played between the two sides.
Squads
Australia has named a strong squad for the series, with Usman Khawaja making a return after missing the first Test due to COVID-19. Josh Hazlewood is also back in the side after recovering from an injury.
Sri Lanka has also made some changes to their team, with Kamindu Mendis and Jeffrey Vandersay replacing Niroshan Dickwella and Kasun Rajitha.
Key Players
FAQs
1. What is the ICC World Test Championship? The ICC World Test Championship is a two-year tournament involving the top nine Test-playing nations. Teams play a series of home and away Test matches, and the top two sides qualify for the final.
2. Who is the current ICC World Test Championship holder? Australia is the current ICC World Test Championship holder, having won the inaugural edition in 2019-21.
3. Which teams have qualified for the ICC World Test Championship final? Australia and South Africa have qualified for the ICC World Test Championship final, which will be played in June 2023.
4. What are the stakes of the Australia vs. Sri Lanka Test series? While the series is a dead rubber in terms of the ICC World Test Championship, it is still an important opportunity for both teams to prepare for the upcoming Ashes series (Australia) and the 2023 ODI World Cup (Sri Lanka).
5. What are the weather conditions expected for the Test match? The weather forecast for Galle during the Test match is mostly sunny with a chance of rain on day 5. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-30s Celsius.
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