Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the schedule for the upcoming bilateral series against Australia at home. Australia were going to play two Tests as part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle but will now play a one-off ODI too.
The Galle International Stadium will host the two Tests, the venue for the one-off 50-over game is yet to be decided.
The ODI game will be a dress rehearsal for both teams in the lead-up to the ICC Champions Trophy.
More importantly, the Test series will play a deciding factor given how Australia perform in the preceding Border-Gavaskar Trophy on home soil.
As it stands both Sri Lanka and Australia are in the race to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship final. The defending champions are second on the points table with eight wins, three losses and a drawn game. They have 90 points to their credit and their points percentage is 62.50.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka have been playing some excellent red-ball cricket since the appointment of Dhananjaya de Silva as captain and that is reflected in where they stand on the WTC ladder.
The Lankan Lions are third on the points table with five wins and four losses in nine games and have aggregated 60 points. Their points percentage is 55.56.
Sri Lanka have to tour South Africa for a two-match Test series and will have to do well over there to fancy their chances of making it to the World Test Championship final. On the other hand, Aussies will have to thump India at home to be in supreme contention for a spot in the final.
Sri Lanka vs Australia series schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Jan 29 (Wednesday) - Feb 02 (Sunday) | 1st Test match | Galle International Stadium, Galle |
| Feb 06 (Thursday) - Feb 10 (Monday) | 2nd Test match | Galle International Stadium, Galle |
| Feb 13 (Thursday) | One-off ODI | To be announced |
