AUS vs SL toss update: Kusal Mendis, the new Sri Lankan captain, won the toss and opted to bat against Australia in the 2023 World Cup match at Lucknow.

After captain Dasun Shanaka was ruled out of the World Cup with an injury, Sri Lanka had drafted Chamika Karunaratne into their squad and appointed Kusal Mendis as captain.

Against Australia at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, Shanaka won the toss and opted to bat. They brought Karunaratne straight into the XI straight away, along with Lahiru Kumara. Apart from Shanaka, Matheesha Pathirana missed out as well.

Australia went in unchanged. Travis Head, part of their squad, has been recovering well from a fractured hand. He was initially in Australia, but will fly out soon. However, he will not take part in this World Cup until at least October 20.

Australia and Sri Lanka have both lost their first two matches – Australia against India and South Africa, Sri Lanka against South Africa and Pakistan. Sri Lanka (net run rate -1.161) and Australia (-1.846) are currently at eighth and tenth places respectively, on either side of the Netherlands (-1.8).

Australia hold a clear advantage at the World Cup, having won eight of the nine decided matches between the sides. Sri Lanka’s only triumph came in the 1996 World Cup final. In all ODIs, the record stands at 63-35 in Australia’s favour, while Australia won the only match between the sides on Indian soil – though that was back in 1989.

AUS vs SL World Cup 2023 playing XIs:

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara.

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

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