Australia vs Sri Lanka Prediction: Australia, one of the favourites, are without a win in the tournament

Australia and Sri Lanka are going head to head in the 14th game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Ekana Sports City, Lucknow, India on 16th October. Australia, one of the favourites, are without a win in the tournament. Who will win this game?

Australia's quest for a historic sixth World Cup title has gotten off to a challenging beginning. In recent matches against India and South Africa, they suffered defeats, being dismissed for less than 200 runs in both instances. Consequently, the spotlight is firmly on their batting weaknesses.

Prior to the World Cup, Australia was missing key players Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell during their ODI series in South Africa. However, their return to the squad has not resulted in the desired improvement in their ability to set substantial targets or successfully chase them. Remarkably, the standout performer with the bat in this tournament for Australia has been Marnus Labuschagne, who was not initially part of the squad.

The fact that the top scorer for Australia in this Cricket World Cup has managed just 73 runs in two innings speaks volumes. Even the performance of established stars like Steven Smith and opener David Warner has been subpar, with bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc outscoring batters Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh.

This tournament is a lengthy one, with each team playing nine matches before the semi-finals. Australia is still in contention for a spot in the next stage, but they can ill afford to lose another match if they wish to remain in the running. Historically, Sri Lanka has proven to be a challenging opponent for them, and the upcoming encounter may present a similar challenge.

Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Similar to Australia, Sri Lanka has faced defeats in this tournament against South Africa and Pakistan. However, in contrast to Australia, Sri Lanka has managed to achieve scores exceeding 300 on both occasions, although these efforts were in vain. They can ill afford to suffer a third consecutive loss in the Cricket World Cup if they wish to keep their hopes of advancing to the semi-finals alive.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Mendis has been a standout performer for Sri Lanka in the tournament thus far. He showcased his skills with an impressive 158 against Afghanistan in a warm-up match, followed by strong performances of 76 against South Africa and 122 against Pakistan. Mendis combines daring shot-making with a tactical approach and quickly adapts to the playing conditions. His team will need him to continue in the same vein.

On the bowling front, the absence of leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga due to injury has left Sri Lanka's bowling attack somewhat weakened. The return of finger spinner Maheesh Theekshana to full fitness will be a welcome boost, and seamer Dilshan Madushanka has been their leading wicket-taker in the tournament so far, with four wickets in two matches.

Sri Lanka may find success in challenging an Australian team that is grappling with decisions regarding the selection of an experienced wicketkeeper-batsman like Alex Carey or the less experienced Josh Inglis. Additionally, the question of whether all-rounder Marcus Stoinis is a better fit than the potentially overworked Cameron Green remains uncertain.

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c), Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka

In the initial 11 matches of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, eight times out of eleven, the captain who won the toss opted to field first. It's likely that the captain winning the toss in this match will also choose to chase the target in the second innings.

This preference for knowing the target early and pursuing it later is a clear trend among teams. While it doesn't necessarily override the importance of playing conditions, it significantly influences the decision at the toss. This upcoming match will be the second of five matches held in Lucknow during this tournament. In recent matches, South Africa and Australia played here, scoring 311 for seven and 177 all out, respectively.

The average score in Lucknow over the last five ODIs has been 232, making it a venue that doesn't typically yield high-scoring matches compared to other grounds in use for this tournament.

Considering the conditions in Lucknow, it would be prudent to field two specialist spinners and even consider opening the bowling with one of them. Australia might also utilize Glenn Maxwell for a few early overs.

As for the weather, there's a forecast for light rain in the region on the day of the match, but it's unlikely to significantly affect the match's duration, if it happens at all. The humidity levels and temperatures in Lucknow are expected to be typically high.

Australia is facing the challenge of five consecutive ODI defeats, with three in South Africa and two in India. They appear to be uncertain about their best XI, but this adversity could serve as motivation for them to make a strong comeback against Sri Lanka.

With a bowling attack featuring the likes of Cummins and Starc, Australia is expected to be a formidable opponent. Betting on Australia to win would be a reasonable choice.