Asalanka’s Sri Lanka Stun Australia in ODI Series: What Does It Mean for the Aussies Ahead of the Champions Trophy?
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Sri Lanka Will Be Missed at the 2025 Champions Trophy
Since the start of 2024, Sri Lanka have been the best team in the world in the ODI format of the game, as they are the only team to have won over 10 matches while boasting the highest win/loss ratio over the period. Under the leadership of Charith Asalanka, the 1996 world champions have won 15 of 23 ODIs, losing just five, while three ended in a no-result. The most recent feathers in their caps are their 2-0 series wins over the 2023 World Cup finalists India and Australia.
Sri Lanka completed a stunning series sweep over the reigning world champions in emphatic fashion on Friday, thrashing Australia by 174 runs in the second ODI, with Kusal Mendis leading the charge with the bat, scoring 101 in 115 balls, Asalanka ended unbeaten on 78 at better than a run a ball, while Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga and Asitha Fernando delivered a devastating display with the ball, bowling out the Aussies for a mere 107 runs in just 24.2 overs.
However, despite their incredible form over the last year, the Lions will not be travelling to Pakistan to contest the 2025 Champions Trophy. The reason for this is that the qualification period for the competition ended at the 2023 World Cup where the top eight teams in the league stage gained entry to the Champions Trophy, and Sri Lanka missed the cut by the slenderest of margins on Net Run Rate (NRR) to Bangladesh, who took the final qualification berth.
Following the series victory over Australia, Sri Lankan fans took to social media to express their disappointment around their team’s exclusion from the upcoming tournament, with many suggesting that the team are more deserving of a spot in the competition than the Tigers. Nevertheless, what is for sure is that after years of underperformance and mismanagement, Sri Lankan cricket is well on its way back to prominence, making them a team to watch leading up to the next T20 and ODI World Cups in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
Concerns Mount for Injury-stricken Australian Team
After suffering a 49-run defeat in the first ODI, Australia rang the changes for the second match, bringing in Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshius, and Tanveer Sangha to replace Marnus Labuschagne, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey, Spencer Johnson, and Nathan Ellis. However, the changes proved to have little impact, as they crumbled to what was their lowest ODI total in 12 years.
Australia have been favoured by the cricket gods in recent years, enjoying a remarkable run since their T20I World Cup triumph. The men from Down Under have been excellent in ICC events, racking up world titles across all formats. They were outstanding in the 2023 World Test Championship and 2023 ODI World Cup, while in 2024, they reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup and are again set to challenge for the 2025 WTC Final against South Africa.
However, there are major concerns that the Aussies’ impressive run could be nearing an end in the upcoming Champions Trophy, as the team has faced one of its most challenging build-ups to a major tournament in recent history. From unexpected retirements and workload concerns to injury setbacks that have disrupted their preparation - Australia have been put through the wringer in the last few months and it is becoming increasingly evident in their performances.
Heading into the Champions Trophy, the two-time champions are without their skipper Pat Cummins, as well as the majority of their preferred pace attack. Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh are all injured, Mitchell Starc has pulled out due to personal reasons, and Marcus Stoinis opted to retire from ODI cricket after the preliminary squad was named. With so many of their star players out, Australia have now lost four of their last five games in the 50-over format - two each against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Steve Smith and co need to get their act together before the Champions Trophy commences, but it will certainly not be easy being drawn into Group B which features Afghanistan, England and South Africa. The Aussies' opening fixture of the tournament is against their old foes England, and a victory in that match will go a long way to easing the nerves around the camp, while a defeat could mark the start of what could be a rare ICC tournament disaster for the reigning world champs.
