Sri Lanka will host Australia in a two-match ODI series from Wednesday (February 12). Here's Wisden's pick of the betting odds for the two ODIs.
Australia are coming off a 2-0 clean sweep in the preceding Tests against Sri Lanka. Spinners Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann put on a show, taking 14 and 16 wickets respectively, while the Australians led the run charts as well with Usman Khawaja (295), Steve Smith (272) and Alex Carey (202) being the three-highest run-getters.
Smith, having struck two hundreds across the Tests, is currently enjoying a second wind as a batter and his form is expected to seep into the ODI series. The last time the two met in an ODI series was in 2022, with Sri Lanka pocketing the five-match series 3-2.
A lean run for Tom Latham in his last three ODI innings. One more duck would see him equal the record for the most consecutive noughts of all time in the format.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 10, 2025
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Who will win the SL vs AUS 2025 ODI series?
Last year Sri Lanka played the most number of ODIs (18), maintaining a record win/loss ratio of four, including a first series win against India in 27 years. They, however, started the year on a bad note, succumbing to a 2-1 series defeat in New Zealand.
Australia’s recent ODI form isn’t awe-inspiring either: they finished last year with a historic series loss against Pakistan at home. Haris Rauf rose to the occasion to give the tourists their first ODI series win down under since 2002. Despite the setback, Australia have momentum on their side, having won their first Test series on Sri Lankan soil since 2011. History is on their side as well with the tourists boasting a 1.828 win/loss ratio in 103 ODIs the two have met so far. The dominance is unlikely to change. This is backed by Betfair’s odds of 4/11 on Australia to take a series lead in the first ODI compared to Sri Lanka's 2/1.
Who are the players to watch out for?
Despite being without a captain, two of their best fast bowlers, and two of their best all-rounders, Australia still have plenty of firepower. Two of their best batters – Travis Head and Smith – are relishing a purple patch. Head has been an all-format superstar for a while and that shows on Betfair’s returns of 9/2 from the match. On the other hand, Smith, having resorted back to his back-and-across batting stance in the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is regaining his old mojo. Betfair Sportsbook’s odds of 5/1 are a testament to that.
Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka, who was the second-highest run-getter in ODIs last year, is expected to shoulder the responsibilities of his team's batting with odds of 6/1 on Betfair Sportsbook. Against Afghanistan a year back, he became the first-ever double ODI centurion from his country.
You can also bet on every match in-play with the Betfair Exchange. This alternative way of betting allows customers to bet against each other rather than a traditional bookmaker. This way you often find much higher in-play odds than with traditional fixed markets. Please gamble responsibly.
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