A warm-up for bigger things
Cricinfo's preview of the Twenty20 between Australia and Sri Lanka in Perth
Match Facts
Sunday, October 31, PerthStart time 17.35 local (09:35 GMT)
The Big Picture
Sri Lanka's limited-overs team is peering towards the World Cup and Australia's players are trying not to think about the Ashes starting next month. A Twenty20 and three one-dayers have been squeezed in to shine some light on the start of the Australian cricket season, but both outfits are concerned more about the bigger challenges on the horizon.Watch out for...
David Warner has had a strange month. Everyone knows he's a T20 expert but he craves more and was rewarded with a trip to India for three ODIs. He didn't play in any of them and when he returned home was dropped for the 50-over games against Sri Lanka. More quick runs are the only way to get back in.Team news
Dirk Nannes is the veteran of the bowling attack with 14 Twenty20s for Australia, while Peter Siddle, Clint McKay and John Hastings are his possible support partners. Siddle is the only one of that trio with T20 experience, having appeared in one game. Steve O'Keefe, the left-arm spinner, will be looking for his second match after debuting against Pakistan in July.Pitch and conditions
It's easy to think of Perth, speed and bounce together, but the combination hasn't happened a lot lately. If the pitch is springy it will aid the home team, although Lasith Malinga might also have some fun. The weather forecast is sunny with a maximum of 29C.Stats and trivia
- Sri Lanka have won eight matches in Australia against the hosts in all formats, but have never taken a series
- In a throwback to the 1800s, all of Australia's squad comes from New South Wales or Victoria
- Australia lead the head-to-head contests with two wins in three matches
- Australia have lost their past three Tests, three T20s, and one ODI
Quotes
"He has nothing to prove to anyone right now. The last year or so I think we've seen a different Murali, more relaxed, I reckon, especially in the dressing room.''Mahela Jayawardene
Cameron White is wary of the opposition.
Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo