Wed Jan 29 11:59:31 UTC 2025: ## Australia Eyes Elusive Sri Lanka Test Series Win

**Galle, Sri Lanka** – Australia and Sri Lanka are set to clash in the first of a two-match Test series, starting today at 3 pm AEDT. This marks the first time the two teams have met since a tied series in 2022. The match will be broadcast on Channel 7, 7mate, and the 7plus app, with live blogging available on ABC Sport.

Stand-in captain Steve Smith, needing just one run to reach 10,000 Test runs, leads the Australian team in the absence of Pat Cummins, who is home for the birth of his child. Josh Inglis is expected to make his Test debut, while Travis Head will open the batting, pushing Sam Konstas out of the starting XI. A final decision on the bowling attack, with Scott Boland and Todd Murphy vying for a spot, is yet to be announced.

Australia enters the series with a significantly improved outlook after securing a spot in the World Test Championship Final. While the pressure is lessened, the team is keen to improve their historically poor record on the subcontinent. Their last series win in Asia was against Pakistan in 2022, a stark contrast to their seven series played in the region over the past decade, which yielded only one win and several heavy defeats.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be without opener Pathum Nissanka due to a groin injury, with Oshada Fernando or Lahiru Udara likely to replace him. Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva stated that the final XI will be determined closer to match time due to changing weather conditions. The match promises to be a challenging contest for both teams, with Australia hoping to finally secure a series victory in Sri Lanka.

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