Sport

Australia arrives in Sri Lanka for a six-week all-format cricket tour

June 2, 2022
Sezarr

Australia players arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday for their tour of Sri Lanka – without new coach Andrew McDonald, who has tested positive for Covid.

Australia’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday (@OfficialSLC Photo)

highlighted

  • The Australian cricket team reached Colombo on Wednesday ahead of the tour of all formats
  • Australia’s first tour of Sri Lanka in 6 years consists of eight limited overs matches and two Tests
  • Australia had announced three strong teams for a seven-week tour in June and July.

The Australian cricket team arrived in Colombo on Wednesday without new coach Andrew McDonald, who has tested positive for COVID-19. Pat Cummins will captain the team that will play two Tests, while the Aaron Finch-led side will play five ODIs and three T20Is.

Australia’s first tour of Sri Lanka in six years, which includes eight limited-overs matches and two Tests, marks the start of McDonald’s tenure after replacing Justin Langer last month.

News service, cricket.com.au, reported that assistant coach Michael Di Venuto would oversee the team in the first T20 match on June 7, while McDonald was expected to join the team before the second match.

McDonald’s returned a positive result on Tuesday afternoon, it added.

Australia’s squad has expressed concern over the tour of Sri Lanka, which is in the midst of an economic crisis, but the South Asian country’s cricket board has announced that the tour will go as per schedule.

Sri Lanka is grappling with its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, with a severe shortage of foreign exchange leading to a sharp drop in imports, including essentials such as fuel and medicines.

Australia have announced three strong teams for a seven-week tour in June and July, which includes a Twenty20 series, five One Day Internationals as well as two Tests in Galle.

The tour begins on 7 June with a T20 International at RPS. In RPS, after one match, the teams will go to Pallekele for the third T20I. The arrival of the Australian team is a big boost for Sri Lanka cricket as the country gears up to host the Asia Cup.