SL vs AUS Match Prediction - 1st Test, Australia tour of Sri Lanka 2025

Sri Lanka will be looking to get back to winning ways when they take on Australia in the first Test of the two-match series. The series opener is scheduled to be played on Wednesday (January 29) at the Galle International Stadium in Galle.

The Islanders suffered a whitewash in their last Test assignment which was the two-match series in South Africa. Sri Lanka had lost both the Tests. It was followed by the disappointing tour of New Zealand where they played a T20I and ODI series.

Sri Lanka lost both the series with a similar margin of 2-1. They have done well at home in recent times and will be looking to make the most of the conditions in the upcoming series. Australia, on the other hand, will be high on confidence after winning the Test series against India earlier this month and will be backing themselves to beat Sri Lanka as well.

With both the teams gearing up for the upcoming game, here are all the predictions for the 1st SL vs AUS Test.

SL vs AUS Match Prediction - 1st Test, Australia tour of Sri Lanka 2025:

Pitch Conditions:

The pitch at the Galle International Stadium is expected to assist the spinners more. The surface and conditions in Galle have traditionally assisted spinners and the upcoming game is also expected to be played in similar conditions.

Sri Lanka Playing 11:

Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Kusal Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando

Australia Playing 11:

Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (C), Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Matthew Kuhnemann

Form and Fitness

Sri Lanka have a few injury concerns at present. Their opener Pathum Nissanka is all but out of the first Test due to a groin injury.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis are also in a race against time to be fully fit for the Test. On the other hand, Australia does not have any major injury concerns ahead of the Test.

Score Prediction

SL vs AUS Players to perform prediction

SL: Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Prabath Jayasuriya will be the key players for Sri Lanka.

AUS: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon will be the key players for Australia.

SL vs AUS Best Batsman Prediction

Who will score the most runs for SL in the match: Dinesh Chandimal or Kamindu Mendis

Who will score the most runs for AUS in the match: Travis Head or Steve Smith

SL vs AUS Best Bowler Prediction

Who will pick the most wickets for SL in the match: Prabath Jayasuriya or Dhananjaya de Silva

Who will pick the most wickets for AUS in the match? Nathan Lyon or Mitchell Starc

Conclusion - Who will win the Match?

While Australia are in good form at the moment and have its confidence sky-high after the series win against India, Sri Lanka will start the first SL vs AUS Test as slight favorites and are expected to win the game.

The conditions in Galle will favour the spinners and the hosts will be looking to make the most of it.