Sri Lanka vs Australia Preview: Team News & Prediction | 1st Test
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A trial by spin likely awaits Australia away to Sri Lanka in this, their first Test since regaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Date/Time: Tuesday January 28th 2025: USA PT – 8:30pm / USA ET – 11:30pm / Wednesday January 29th 2025: UK – 4:30am
Venue: Galle International Stadium, Galle, Sri Lanka
Weather: A chance of rain across the second half of Day 1, but is likely to be dry aside from that despite the slight threat of a thundery shower or two with warm conditions as temperatures reach highs of 28c.
How To Watch On TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Willow TV
How To Watch Online: UK – discovery+ / US – Willow TV
Sri Lanka Betting Analysis
When taking into account how often spin can play a big part in proceedings when it comes to Sri Lanka’s home Test matches, bowler Prabath Jayasuriya is a player who should immediately command attention from a betting perspective. The 33-year-old spinner boasts 101 wickets in just 17 Test matches, which underlines his potency with the ball. Jayasuriya’s left-angle provides a point of difference and backing him to take 5+ wickets over the course of this first Test has to be favoured.
Australia Betting Analysis
Having racked up the runs during his limited time for Sydney Sixers in BBL 14, Steve Smith will don the whites once more and returns to red ball action knowing that just one run will see him the landmark of 10,000 Test runs. Smith will become the 15th player to achieve the feat but the team player he is will have his eye on a significantly higher score in Galle. Currently averaging 49.75 in Sri Lanka, Smith is well worth backing to register a half-century at some point during this contest.
Sri Lanka vs Australia Expert Prediction
This Test is likely to be decided by how well and how quickly Australia can adapt to conditions in Sri Lanka, which are likely to be typical of a sub-continental opponent where spin is key to success. Whilst the pitch should play very well for batters early on, it would be no surprise to see it break up and start turning significantly come the third day onwards.
Fortunately for the tourists, they have a true ace up their sleeve in this department. Nathan Lyon has been one of the best spin-bowlers in Test match cricket for many years now and the veteran star should relish the conditions. Whatever the outcome, it would be no surprise to see Lyon right in amongst the wickets across the five days.
Sri Lanka vs Australia Tip: Nathan Lyon to take over 4.5 match wickets
