Team news, likely XIs, form guide, players to watch, odds, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, umpire appointments and everything else you need to know
Australia take on Sri Lanka in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup.
The game is scheduled for 6pm local time (3pm BST) on Thursday, October 28, 2021.
The game will be held at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium: Ground guide
Australia edged a low-scoring thriller in their opening game of the tournament against South Africa last Saturday, winning by five wickets with two balls to spare. An excellent team bowling effort restricted the Proteas to 118 for 9 from their 20 overs. However, the Australian chase stuttered on a slow Abu Dhabi pitch, and they were reduced to 81 for 5 before needing 36 from the final four overs. Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade held their nerve, though, sharing an unbeaten 40-run partnership to see their side home.
Sri Lanka also won their opening Super 12 match as they chased down 171 to beat Bangladesh in Sharjah last Sunday. The 2014 champions were in a spot of bother at 79 for 4 in the 10th over, but an 86-run stand between Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa propelled them to victory with seven balls remaining.
The Asian nation come into the game with more momentum because, unlike their opponents, they had to play three first round matches to reach the Super 12s. Despite arriving in the UAE with just three wins in their previous 20 T20Is, they had no trouble progressing through the preliminary stage. Namibia were bowled out for 96 in their opening game, Ireland were dispatched by 70 runs two days later, before Netherlands were skittled for 44 in an eight-wicket win.
Dafabet have Australia as the favourites to win this match, offering odds of 4/11 in favour of Aaron Finch's men. Sri Lanka are available at 21/10.
Sri Lanka have fielded better sides in previous tournaments, but they have never deployed such an intriguing pace attack. Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara both regularly touch 90mph and were simply too quick for the associate batters they faced in the first round. Whether they can repeat their strong showings against tougher opposition like Australia may determine whether Sri Lanka make a surprise push for the semi-finals. The pair are supported by fellow quick Chamika Karunaratne, who took 1 for 12 in three overs against Bangladesh.
Elsewhere, leg-spinning allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga is the highest-ranked Sri Lankan in the T20 Player Index at 45th, while Asalanka is in good touch after his unbeaten 49-ball 80 against Bangladesh.
For Australia, allrounder Glenn Maxwell is in fantastic form, having smashed 513 runs at an average of 42.75 and a strike-rate of 144.10 for Royal Challengers Bangalore in this season’s IPL. In 73 T20 internationals, the 33-year-old has hit 1,798 runs at a strike-rate of 157.58, while also taking 32 wickets. Ranked third in the T20 Player Index, he took 1-24 against South Africa, and chipped in with 18 valuable runs.
Maxwell supports a fast bowling attack including Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, but Josh Hazlewood could be Australia’s difference-maker. Long perceived as a seamer for the longer formats, Hazlewood helped Chennai Super Kings win the IPL title earlier this month and took 2-19 in four overs against South Africa. It is becoming quite a resurgence for a player who ended 1,626 days without a T20I appearance last year.
Australia are likely to stick with the same side that beat South Africa, which featured only four specialist bowlers and the long-standing, but short on form, opening partnership of Aaron Finch and David Warner.
Sri Lanka may also be unchanged, though spinner Maheesh Theekshana could return after a side strain ruled him out of the Bangladesh victory.
The following umpires and match referees have been named by the ICC to officiate in the T20 World Cup 2021:
Referees: David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Javagal Srinath
Umpires: Chris Brown, Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nitin Menon, Ahsan Raza, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Rod Tucker, Joel Wilson, Paul Wilson
The following officials have been allocated to this fixture:
On-field umpires: Illingworth, Dar
TV umpire: Erasmus
Fourth umpire: J Wilson
Referee: Crowe
Full T20 World Cup officials appointments: Click here
Temperatures are expected to hover around 30 degrees Celsius for the evening match.
Follow the Met Office forecast here.
Yes, though Covid protocols including the wearing of face masks will be in place.
Click here to visit the ICC's ticketing site.
Both teams are in good form and victory here would be a huge step towards the semi-finals, so a close, high-quality encounter is likely. Sri Lanka have surpassed expectations thus far, but Australia’s star power should give them the edge.
T20 WORLD CUP TEAM GUIDES
Sky Sports Cricket (Sky 404, Talk Talk 404, BT TV 423, Virgin 504) will broadcast the series in the United Kingdom, with the content available online via its streaming platform Sky Go.
BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra will have live ball-by-ball radio commentary of all tournament matches, accessible through the BBC Sport website, BBC Sounds or DAB radio.
The Star Sports network is showing the tournament in India. Matches can be streamed via Disney+ Hotstar
Other broadcasters by territory:
Australia - Fox Sports, Channel 9, Kayo Sports
New Zealand – Sky Sport New Zealand
Pakistan - PTV Sports, Ten Sports
Bangladesh - Ghazi Tv (GTV)
Sri Lanka – SLRC (Channel Eye)
South Africa – SuperSport
Caribbean – ESPN
Middle East and North Africa – eLife TV, StarzPlay, Switch TV
USA – ESPN+
Singapore - Star Cricket, Star Hub and Singtel
Malaysia - Fox International Channels
Hong Kong - Star Cricket
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (vc), Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Adam Zampa
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara
T20 World Cup Hub: News, features, stats, live scores
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