Get all the broadcast details, the full schedule and more ahead of Australia’s eight limited-overs matches in Sri Lanka, which will be followed by two Tests
Ultimate guide for Australia’s T20, ODI series v Sri Lanka
When does it start?
This week! Most Australians are freezing through the start of winter, but the national men's side will be back in action in Sri Lanka on Tuesday night. The two teams will play three T20s between June 7 and 11 and then five one-day internationals between June 14 and 24.
A two-Test series will follow, beginning in Galle on June 29.
Teams for Tuesday's first T20I
Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara
Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Josh Hazlewood
What's the time difference like?
Look, it's not ideal! The three T20s will start just before midnight on the east coast and while the ODIs begin in primetime, they’ll also wrap up in the wee hours of the morning back in Australia.
There were reports that the current energy crisis in Sri Lanka could lead to the white-ball matches being played during daylight hours – which would have been great for Australian audiences – but the host broadcaster has requested the games be played under lights.
The Test matches, however, will be in a sweet spot for Aussie fans, with play to start at 2.30pm AEST.
The full schedule
June 7: First T20, Colombo, 11.30pm AEST
June 8: Second T20, Colombo, 11.30pm AEST
June 11: Third T20, Kandy, 11.30pm AEST
June 14: First ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST
June 16: Second ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST
June 19: Third ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST
June 21: Fourth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST
June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST
June 29 - July 3: First Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST
July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST
How can I watch?
Every match of Australia's Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and live streamed on Kayo Sports. You can sign up for a 14-day free trial to Kayo by clicking here.
Foxtel and Kayo also allow you watch full replays and highlights packages on demand, which are sure to come in handy given the time difference for Australian audiences.
There's also a feast of other international cricket on Fox Sports and Kayo throughout June, including England's Test series against New Zealand, South Africa's tour of India and Pakistan's home campaign against West Indies.
What about live scores, news and highlights?
If you can't stay up late to watch the action live, cricket.com.au and the CA Live app will have you covered the next morning.
You can watch a replay of every single wicket in our match centre, while there will also be highlights packages on cricket.com.au and the app after every game.
Cricket.com.au also has journalists on the ground in Sri Lanka during both the white-ball and Test legs of the tour, ensuring you won't miss a thing from training or on match days.
The squads
Sri Lanka T20 squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan. Standby: Jeffrey Vandersay, Niroshan Dickwella
Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner, Matthew Wade
Image Id: 244FB9BE6E994E22B8CBB2AF840D0193 Image Caption: Steve Smith returns to Australia's white-ball squads after missing the Pakistan limited-overs leg // AFPSri Lanka ODI squad (provisional): Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya De Silva, Ashen Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Sahan Arachchi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama
Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
Players to watch
There's already been plenty of speculation about Aaron Finch given his recent run of low scores, and there will be a lot of focus on Australia's skipper during these matches.
Having led the Aussies to a maiden T20 World Cup triumph last year, Finch is aiming to guide his country to another T20 title at home in October and November before a possible international swansong at the ODI World Cup in 2023.
But with young stars like Josh Inglis and Tim David pushing hard for a spot in Australia's T20 batting line-up, the pressure is on the likes of Finch and Steve Smith to hold their places for the World Cup.
"It's been a reasonably lean patch," Finch said last week.
Image Id: BF7C6AF2D360450886C1838498DC0008 Image Caption: Skipper Aaron Finch is under pressure after a run of low scores // Clancy Sinnamon-cricket.com.au"I've been through that plenty of times in my career. At times, you go through stages where you get a heap runs in a hurry and then go through some lean patches.
"With such a busy schedule of cricket, there's a lot of time to be able to able to build and I suppose get back into the groove. It'd be really nice to try and get some big runs and keep everyone off my back for a little while."
For the home side, an international debut for 19-year-old fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, who has been labelled "an even more extreme example of (Lasith) Malinga", could light up the T20 series.
Pathirana made headlines in the IPL last month due to his extraordinary bowling action, which has echoes of Malinga, the Sri Lankan legend who will be the home side's bowling coach for the white-ball matches.
Having drawn praise from MS Dhoni during the IPL, Pathirana also caught the eye of Kiwi legend Daniel Vettori, who will join the Aussie squad for the Test series that follows the limited-overs matches.
"I think he is an even more extreme example of Malinga," Vettori told ESPNCricinfo.
"He sort of reaches back and doesn't even look like he is looking at the target. Whereas Malinga felt like he still had his eyes on what he is doing.
"That surprise element still comes from the ball coming from a completely different angle to the one you are used to. His accuracy was good enough and once he adds those variations, he can be the sort of bowler who disrupts the T20 game."
Image Id: DECEE750F2C048E4B4596E0A0056E3E1 Image Caption: Sri Lanka great coach Lasith Malinga speaks with Matheesha Pathirana during a practice session at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo // AFPIs there an Australia A tour as well?
Yep – a total of 34 Australian players will be in Sri Lanka this month, with Australia A to play two one-dayers and two four-day games concurrently with the senior ODI and T20 matches.
There's likely to be some movement between the senior and A squads during the tour, with the likes of Scott Boland, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Josh Philippe and Jhye Richardson named in both groups.
The A matches will not be broadcast, but scorecards will be available on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app.
Australia A squad: Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Pete Handscomb, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Todd Murphy, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee
Australia A v Sri Lanka A schedule
June 8: First one-day game, Colombo
June 10: Second one-day game, Colombo
June 14-17: First-class tour match, Hambantota
June 21-24: First-class tour match, Hambantota
Tell me about Australia's coaching staff
There's been significant change to Australia's coaching staff, with Andrew McDonald appointed head coach on a full-time basis following the exit of Justin Langer in February.
However, McDonald will miss the start of the tour after contracting COVID-19 in Melbourne last week, which delayed his departure to Sri Lanka.
Assistant coach Michael Di Venuto will lead the side in McDonald's absence, while former Australia and Victoria seamer Clint McKay is also on board for the white-ball games alongside spin coach Sri Sriram.
New Zealand icon Vettori and ex-Victoria and Melbourne Renegades assistant Andre Borovec will then start their tenure as full-time assistant coaches for the two-Test series.
What about the ODI Super League?
The five-match ODI series, which will be split between Kandy and Colombo, is not part of the 13-team ODI Super League, which is the qualification process for next year's ODI World Cup in India.
The top eight nations in the Super League will automatically qualify for the World Cup and Sri Lanka – who currently sit in eighth spot – are on the verge of being forced into a secondary qualifying tournament, with only matches against New Zealand and Afghanistan to come.
Australia, meanwhile, currently sit fourth with series against Zimbabwe, New Zealand, South Africa and Afghanistan still to come in the next 12 months.
While this series won't count towards the Super League, both sides will be looking to get their formations right ahead of a pivotal 18 months of 50-over cricket.
Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022
Sri Lanka T20 squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan. Standby: Jeffrey Vandersay, Niroshan Dickwella
Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner, Matthew Wade
June 7: First T20, Colombo, 11.30pm AEST
June 8: Second T20, Colombo, 11.30pm AEST
June 11: Third T20, Kandy, 11.30pm AEST
Sri Lanka ODI squad (provisional): Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya De Silva, Ashen Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Sahan Arachchi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama
Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
June 14: First ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST
June 16: Second ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST
June 19: Third ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST
June 21: Fourth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST
June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST
Sri Lanka Test squad (provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed Shiraz, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan
Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
June 29 - July 3: First Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST
July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST
All Sri Lanka v Australia international fixtures will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports
Australia A fixtures
Squad: Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Pete Handscomb, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Todd Murphy, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee
June 8: First one-day game v Sri Lanka A, Colombo
June 10: Second one-day game v Sri Lanka A, Colombo
June 14-17: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota
June 21-24: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota