AUS vs SL Match Prediction & Betting Tips - Jan 31, 2019

Sri Lanka failed to provide any sort of challenge to the Australians and was rolled over in three days of test cricket. The Australians are on the verge of securing their first series victory since the ball-tampering saga and another comprehensive victory would go a long way in getting the Aussie public back on board with the test team.

The second test between Australia and Sri Lanka is going to be played at Canberra on one of the flattest pitches in the country. Batsmen on both sides should be able to take advantage of the batting conditions and score some big runs. Does Sri Lanka have the resources to be able to win their first ever test match in Australia? Has Australian cricket turned a corner or is it just a false dawn against an underwhelming Sri Lanka side?

AUS vs SL Team Previews

Australia

If there were any fears about this Australian side going down to Sri Lanka while playing at home then they were dissipated after the first test. The Australian bowling is just too good for the Sri Lankans to handle and that in itself ensures that Australia is going to win the second test.

The main cause of concern might be a lack of centuries in the first test. Marcus Harris scored 44, Labuchagne scored 81, and Travis Head got 84. All three of the players should have gone on to make a hundred and get some life into the Aussie batting order.

The return of Steve Smith and David Warner is looming large so the batsmen need to score big runs to keep their place. We think this test match is going to be the best opportunity for the Australian youngsters to really get some runs under their belt.

They are facing a weak Sri Lanka bowling attack, which has been further ravaged by injuries, on the flattest pitch in Australia. The pitch is not going to deteriorate too much even if Australia ends up bowling second and so the batsmen are going to have a good opportunity to score heavily.

Marcus Stoinis has been added into the side and may make his debut in this match. This is the last test that Australia will play before the Ashes and so getting runs is going to be very important. We think Australia may choose to rest Usman Khawaja for this match since he is a certainty on the trip to England.

Kurtis Patterson may be rested as well but that is going to be tough for a man who just made his debut in the last match.

Australia is looking for ways to challenge itself and find out more about its youngsters ahead of a tough test year. We don’t think they are going to be tested by Sri Lanka in this match.

Australia Playing 11

Marcus Harris, Joe Burns , Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, TM Head, Kurtis Patterson, Tim Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Michael Lyon.


Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka came to Australia with very little hope and injuries to three of their fast bowlers have made the situation direr. Suranga Lakmal got some help from the surface in the last match and managed to pick up crucial wickets but he is not going to be able to stop the Aussies on his own.

The Sri Lankan side is likely to feature Karun Rajitha and Vishwa Fernando in the side for this test match alongside Dilruwan Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva.

This is not a bowling attack that is capable of taking twenty wickets. We think Sri Lanka is going to bowl just once in this test match again because the Aussies are going to score enough runs to be able to inflict an innings defeat.

The only shred of hope for the Sri Lankans lies on the shoulders of their batsmen. There are some very promising names in the Sri Lankan side. Karunaratne has had an excellent year in test matches, as has Kusal Mendis.

If both of them can spend some time in the middle and make use of the good batting conditions then they could lead some sort of a fight against the Aussies. Dickwella is another player that has shown the shots and the ability to take on the Aussie quicks.

Batting him up the order in this match would be a bold move but one that may end up paying dividends. The rest of the batting order is quite brittle. Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dhananjaya de Silva have potential but we would not back them against this quality Australian pace attack.

There have also been rumors about discontent in the camp and now the coach has been stripped of selection duties. All is not well the Sri Lankan side.

Sri Lanka Playing 11

Dimuth Karunaratne, HDRL Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis , Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Chamika Karunaratne, MVT Fernando, Kasun Rajitha.

AUS vs SL Toss Prediction

The team winning the toss is going to want to bat first

Read our guide on toss predictions to learn how we analyze and come up with our tips.

Pitch and Conditions

The second test between Australia and Sri Lanka is going to be played at the Manuka Oval, Canberra. The weather is expected to be mixed for the duration of the test match. There is some rain expected on the third day and fifth day of the test. This forecast will possibly add some urgency to the proceedings and we still think there is going to be enough time for a result.

The pitch at the Manuka Oval is usually excellent for batting and will make it hard work for the bowlers.

AUS vs SL Betting Tips

There is no doubt in our mind that Sri Lanka cannot win this test match. The only question is going to be whether the Aussies have enough time to win. Rain being forecast increases the possibility of a draw but as the previous match showed, even three days were enough to beat Sri Lanka.

The Aussies should win this test and a couple of their batsmen should be able to score hundreds.

Back Australia to win.

Today Match Prediction

Australia To Win the Match, 1.17

Bet Tip Here

Who will win AUS vs SL

Australia 61.5% (8)
Sri Lanka 38.5% (5)
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