Sangakkara expecting fierce ODI showdown with Aussies

BRISBANE - Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara is expecting a typically fierce one-day showdown with the Australians, which also includes a Twenty20 in Perth on October 31.

The Sri Lankans play Australia in three one-day internationals on November 3, 5 and 7, just before the first Ashes Test against England gets underway at the Gabba on November 25.

“I think they take every single game they play seriously and always play their best in one-day series against us,” the Sun-Herald quoted Sangakkara, as saying after their one-day tour match against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to pit ourselves against the Australians and see where we’re at, especially on tracks that are foreign to us,” he added.

The tourists spent a frustrating afternoon on Sunday twiddling their thumbs in the dressing rooms, plus some limited practice in the SCG’s indoor nets.

Their next match is a T20 game against the Blues in Blacktown on Wednesday.

“It is (frustrating), it would’ve been nice to play a game against such a competitive side,” Sangakkara said.ff-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will have his first match of the tour in the T20 game on Wednesday.

Sangakkara wasn’t sure who would have the edge in the Ashes series, but expected some of the fresher faces in the Australian team to want to prove a point in such a high-pressure contest. (ANI)