Fighting for survival
Sri Lanka's first match of the tournament is the most crucial one for Australia, who must win to stay alive
Match facts
Monday, June 8Start time 17.30 local (16.30 GMT)
Big Picture
Sri Lanka's first match of the tournament is the most crucial one for Australia, who must win to stay alive in an event which has barely started. Even then a victory might not be enough after their heavy seven-wicket loss to West Indies, which puts them well behind on net run-rate. On Saturday Ricky Ponting was trying not to think of the consequences, which include the possibility of two weeks of punishment in Leicester, and will rev up his men as they attempt to avoid a fifth Twenty20 international loss in a row.T20 international form guide (last game first)
Australia LLLLWSri Lanka LWWLW
Watch out for...
So much rests on the openers in Twenty20 that Sanath Jayasuriya, the grandpa of the tournament at 39, remains as essential to the team's success as he was in the 1996 version of the one-day World Cup. There wasn't much heat from him in the warm-ups, with 1 and 29, but if he fires Sri Lanka could burn bright throughout the tournament.Team news
The offspinner Nathan Hauritz is unlikely to be left out again and Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle will come into contention as Australia gave up 172 runs in 15.5 overs. Brett Lee could be the one to make way after giving up 56 runs from four overs.Pitch and conditions
Trent Bridge hosted India and Bangladesh on Saturday and there were 335 runs and 13 wickets, so the pitch has something for everyone. The weather is expected to improve with light showers on Monday, but the top temperature will be a chilly 14C.Stats and Trivia
- Brett Lee's figures of 1 for 56 were the most expensive by an Australian in Twenty20, and the 27 runs Chris Gayle took off one of his overs was the fourth-most in the format's history
- Australia are in their worst losing streak in Twenty20, with the four-game winless run beating their two consecutive defeats to India in 2007
- In the teams' only previous encounter, Australia won by 10 wickets after dismissing Sri Lanka for 101
Quotes
"We were just a bit sloppy. Coming into game we had spoken about making sure we get the first over of each innings right but, as it turned out, we lost two early wickets while batting and gave away a lot off our first over as well."Ricky Ponting after the defeat at The Oval
Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka's captain