Australia batting first in T20I opener in Adelaide

Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga has won the toss and elected to bowl first in the T20I series opener at Adelaide Oval. 

Sri Lanka hold a 5-1 lead in T20 Internationals against Australia in Australia, and the hosts' skipper Aaron Finch says playing the dangerous subcontinental side is a perfect start to a long-haul campaign towards the Twenty20 World Cup.

Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Turner, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Patrick Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa

Sri Lanka XI: Lasith Malinga (c), Dhanushka Gunathilika, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, Kusal Perera (wk), Oshada Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Wanidu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha

Today's fixture is the first of 21 T20 internationals for the Australians before they host the T20 World Cup from mid-October next year.

Finch wants to immediately lay the platform for the Cup campaign against a Sri Lankan outfit that recent defeated Pakistan 3-0 in a T20I series.

"You want to be aggressive, no doubt," he said. "We want wickets in the power play and we want runs in the power play – a lot of games that is the most crucial part.

"But then again, the last four overs is really important."

Finch identified having "the best death bowlers in the world" as a key part of his strategy, with pacemen Mitchell Starc and Kane Richardson expected to carry Australia's bowling attack at the end of innings.

"And if we're not there at the moment, getting guys as close to the best in the world as what we can possibly have," he said.

"By having the same team, or a similar squad, for 12 months will give each player a lot of confidence in each other to be able to do that role and be able to make sure that there is 100 per cent faith.

"Starcy has proven himself in both the shorter formats of the game that he's as good as anyone in the world.

"Probably (India's Jasprit) Bumrah is the benchmark in terms of death bowling in the world but Starcy is very close to him.

"And it's about getting guys enough experience at international level, but also having the skills to do it.

"We have got Kane Richardson ... who has done it for a long time in domestic cricket.

"(But) it's about guys around the country as well putting a lot of pressure on the players that are in the squad at the moment, to put their hand up and make themselves known through one-day performances and T20 Big Bash.

"When you get the opportunity to nail the death overs, it's so important that you're putting pressure on."

Australia suffered a late blow on Saturday when paceman Andrew Tye was withdrawn from the squad due to an elbow injury, with NSW quick Sean Abbott earning a call-up to the squad ahead of the second T20I in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Gillette T20 INTLs v Sri Lanka

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, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott (from game two)

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

October 27: First T20I, Adelaide Oval, 2pm (Fox & Kayo)

October 30: Second T20I, Gabba, 6.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 1: Third T20I, MCG, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

Gillette T20 INTLs v Pakistan

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.

November 3: First T20I, SCG, 2.30pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 5: Second T20I, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 8: Third T20I, Perth Stadium, 4.30pm (Fox & Kayo)