All You Need to Know for Australia's T20s

Who's playing?

Australia will play successive three-game Gillette T20 International series against Sri Lanka and then Pakistan, with the six games to be played in just 13 days.

It's not a tri-series so the Asian nations will not face each other on Australian soil this time, but all three sides will be focused on next year's T20 World Cup as they are on winning their bilateral contests.

When does it start?

Sri Lanka begin their tour on Thursday night with the annual Prime Minister's XI clash in Canberra. The T20 contest promises to be a high-octane affair with the likes of Chris Lynn in a side that is co-captained by Dan Christian and Peter Siddle.

The Australians roll into action on Sunday at 2.30pm AEST at the Adelaide Oval in the first match against Sri Lanka before the series moves to the Gabba and the MCG.

Pakistan will play a warm-up match against a CA XI in Sydney before their opening T20 international at the SCG on November 3, with subsequent games in Canberra and Perth.

Australia v Sri Lanka (all times AEDT)

First T20: Sun Oct 27, Adelaide Oval, 2.30pm

Second T20: Wed Oct 30, Gabba, 7.10pm

Third T20: Fri Nov 1, MCG, 7.10pm

Australia v Pakistan (all times AEDT)

First T20: Sun Nov 3, SCG, 2.30pm

Second T20: Tue Nov 5, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm

Third T20: Fri Nov 8, Perth Stadium, 7.30pm

Tickets can be purchased here

How can I watch?

The best viewing will be from in the stadium, but if you can’t get along, the next best thing is settling in on the couch. For fans watching in Australia, both series' will be shown exclusively on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.

If you’re not near a TV, you can stream live via Kayo right here on cricket.com.au and in the Cricket Australia Live app.

There will also be live radio commentary from ABC Grandstand and Macquarie available on cricket.com.au and in the CA Live app.

Not signed up to Kayo yet?

You should be! And you can get summer of cricket off to a flyer with a 14-day free trial by clicking right HERE

What about live scores & highlights?

If you're not subscribed to Fox Cricket or Kayo then you're in the right place! Cricket.com.au and the CA Live app will have live scores as well as clips and highlights of all the big moments from every game of the Gillette T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka and Pakistan as well as exclusive insights, reports and interviews throughout the competition.

Players to look out for?

There will be a couple of unfamiliar faces in the black of Australia's T20 kit, including names like Steve Smith (last seen in a T20 international in mid-2016) and Mitchell Starc, who has played just four T20s at any level since May 2015. You might have heard of them before ...

But 12 months out from next year's men's T20 World Cup, Australia now have the nucleus of the squad they will take into the only global tournament that has so far eluded them.

Pat Cummins, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and captain Aaron Finch will all be in action while rising stars like Ashton Turner, Ben McDermott and Billy Stanlake will look to secure their spots in the team.

And from Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka stalwart Lasith Malinga is still going around and will lead the team on their Australian tour, with an eye on his international swansong at next year's World Cup.

Sri Lanka have made a raft of changes to the group of players that impressively beat Pakistan 3-0 earlier this month despite having a second-string side after a number of players pulled out of that tour due to security concerns.

Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella are the among other stars to return to a 16-man squad that also features some fresh faces like rookie batters Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Oshada Fernando as well as wrist-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who has an impressive T20I bowling average of just 12 from six career matches.

How about Pakistan?

Stung by that home loss to Sri Lanka, Pakistan's new head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq has swung the axe and freshened up his squad, citing a "brave and bold" new approach with selections based on Australian conditions.

They are still the world's top-ranked T20 team, and in new captain Babar Azam boast the world's top-ranked T20 batsman, positions that underline their strength.

Misbah has handed a return to towering quick Mohammad Irfan as a "horses for courses" selection to lead the pace attack alongside Mohammad Amir and a host of exciting teenagers, including World Cup star Shaheen Afridi as well as 145kph-plus bowlers Mohammad Hasnain and Musa Khan.

Shadab Khan is well known to the Brisbane Heat, but has struggled for form of late so Pakistan have called up Usman Qadir – the son of Pakistan legend Abdul Qadir - a strange selection given he was professing his desire to play T20 cricket for Australia as recently as 12 months ago.

Mohammed Rizwan has also taken over the gloves from Sarafraz Ahmed for this series, and the Tests that follow, after the former skipper was axed by Misbah.

Super Overs and tiebreakers?

We never thought it would happen before this year's 50-over World Cup final, but lightning could strike twice, right? If the scores are tied after 20 overs each, we'll have a Super Over. And if the scores are still tied at the end of that, according to the current ICC T20 International Playing Conditions, we'll revert to a boundary countback, just like in this year's World Cup final.

The ICC recently announced they have abandoned the boundary countback rule for knockout matches at World Cups, but the boundary countback rule remains in place for T20 internationals outside major ICC events.

Squads

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

Sri Lanka squad: Lasith Malinga (c), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir.

At-match app

If you’re lucky enough to attend an international men’s match this summer, you’ll have all the essential gameday information at your fingertips courtesy of the Matchday App.

The app, supported by Gillette, is accessible directly from the existing CA Live App. Any attendee with the latest version of CA Live installed on their phone will be prompted to activate it before they get to the stadium.

As well as having all the info you need for a great day at the cricket, the app also has details of how you can enter the draw for a chance to upgrade to Gillette’s amazing boundary seats that will give you the best view in the house from 1 November at selected times.

Some of the features of the Matchday App include:

* REGULAR updates on activities at match, such as prize giveaways, face painting, food stalls, and fan competitions

* MATCH information, such as when play is going to re-start if there’s a rain delay

* DETAILS of where to find the best food at the venue

* USEFUL transport information to make getting to and from the game easier