Aussies arrive for six-week all-format cricket tour

By Rex Clementine 

The Australian cricket team arrived in Colombo yesterday evening for a six week long tour of Sri Lanka where they will be involved in Test, ODI and T-20 series. There were some doubts about the tour, following civil unrest and economic crisis in Sri Lanka but Cricket Australia agreed to make the tour by sending a full team.

The arrival of the Australian side is a big boost for SLC as the nation is set to host the Asia Cup as well along with Pakistan’s tour of the island. Observers said that it will be a shot in the arm for tourism at a time there are desperate attempts to revive tourism due to the severe shortage of foreign exchange.

The T-20 World Champions are carrying a large contingent on tour and that resulted in the team arriving at Katunayake in two batches as there weren’t sufficient business class seats for the entire team. Australia ‘A’ will also tour the island simultaneously and it’s an excellent move by the tourists as it helps them to draft in players to the senior side by the time they are set to play Test matches later this month.

Sri Lanka whitewashed Australia 3-0 the last time they were involved in a Test series here. But that was when Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera were still part of the side and now with both veterans gone, the home side will be tested.

However, exciting times are ahead in white ball cricket with Sri Lanka slowly building up a formidable unit. The bowling unit will be spearheaded by Dushmantha Chameera and comprises Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando and Matheesha Pathirana.

Pathirana is yet to make his international debut but he’s a superb talent and has already played in the IPL representing Chennai Super Kings. He came in for high praise from CSK captain M.S. Dhoni who called him an excellent death bowler.

Sri Lanka, however, will miss the services of Avishka Fernando and Kusal Janith Perera who are not fit.

Nuwanindu Fernando also gets into the side following an excellent tour of England with the Sri Lanka Development Squad that ended early this month.

The tour gets underway with a T-20 International at RPS next Tuesday (7th June). After back to back games at RPS, the teams will travel to Pallekele for the third T-20.

The five match ODI series gets underway at Pallekele and will shift to Colombo for the last three games.

Both Test matches will be played in Galle with the first Test getting underway on 29th June.