Australia is hoping that Sri Lanka’s leading wicket taking leg spin bowler Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva will be blunted on the pitch at Perth where the two teams play their Super 12 match of the T20 Cricket World Cup today with play commencing at 4.30 pm Sri Lanka time.

Wanindu Hasaranga

The Perth wicket is well known to cater to fast bowlers and it will be a test for Hasaranga to come good at the venue where he will be playing for the first time with nine wickets so far in the tournament.

Sri Lanka go into the contest brimming with confidence after beating Ireland comfortably in the first Super 12 game while Australia has to regroup from an unexpected defeat against New Zealand in their opening fixture.

“He’s obviously a very good bowler and someone we’ll have to counteract. Hopefully spin doesn’t play a huge factor at the Perth Stadium and we can really attack them. We play spin very well in Australian conditions, “ said Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh giving his views on Hasaranga.

Marsh only played as a batsman in the match against Australia and is expected to bowl today against the Sri Lankans after recovering from an ankle injury. He will supplement Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood among the fast bowlers.

Australia conceded 65 runs against New Zealand in the first six overs of power-play in their first match.

Sri Lanka is likely to deploy the same team that beat Ireland but the return of opener Pathum Nissanka Silva from injury is also being anticipated. His replacement for the Ireland match Ashen Bandara did not bat as Kusal Mendis partnered Dhananjaya de Silva in opening the batting.

There is also much concern about the Sri Lankan middle order batting