Sri Lanka Adds Extra ODI to Australia Series
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Synopsis
Sri Lanka Cricket has announced an additional ODI match in the home series against Australia, expanding the schedule to include two Tests and two ODIs, starting on January 29 in Galle.
Key Takeaways
- Sri Lanka Cricket adds an ODI to the series against Australia.
- Matches commence on January 29 with Tests in Galle.
- First ODI scheduled for February 12 in Colombo.
- Australia is preparing for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
- Sri Lanka misses out on the Champions Trophy for the first time.
New Delhi, Jan 15 (NationPress) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that, in collaboration with Cricket Australia, an additional ODI has been incorporated into the schedule for their home series against Australia, which is set to commence on January 29 with the first of two Tests in Galle.
The initial itinerary included only a single ODI alongside two Test matches, as part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle, with Australia having secured a place in the final against South Africa, scheduled to take place at Lord's in June.
Now, SLC has revealed in a statement that the schedule has been updated, allowing both teams to compete in two Tests and two ODIs. Australia is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on January 24, after a pre-tour camp in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Galle International Cricket Stadium will host the two Tests from January 29 to February 2 and from February 6 to February 10. Sri Lanka will face Australia in the first ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 12, with the newly added 50-over match to be held at the same venue on February 14.
This extra ODI presents a valuable opportunity for Australia to gear up ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which kicks off on February 19. Australia has previously clinched the Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka will not participate in the Champions Trophy for the first time in its history after failing to meet the qualification requirements in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup held in India.
Australia has included Nathan McSweeney and Cooper Connolly in their Test squad, which will be led by Steve Smith, as Pat Cummins is unavailable due to the birth of his second child and an ankle injury.
