{"id":236888,"date":"2025-02-12T01:14:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T01:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/12\/australia-seek-winning-rhythm-in-sri-lanka-odis-ahead-of-icc-champions-trophy-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/"},"modified":"2025-02-12T01:14:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T01:14:35","slug":"australia-seek-winning-rhythm-in-sri-lanka-odis-ahead-of-icc-champions-trophy-cricket-news-the-times-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/12\/australia-seek-winning-rhythm-in-sri-lanka-odis-ahead-of-icc-champions-trophy-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia seek winning rhythm in Sri Lanka ODIs ahead of ICC Champions Trophy | Cricket News – The Times of India"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Steve Smith and Charith Asalanka. (Pic Credit – X)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Captain Steve Smith<\/a> acknowledged on Tuesday that the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy<\/a> is firmly on Australia‘s mind as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in two one-day internationals this week in Colombo.
These matches serve as the final tune-up before the prestigious eight-team tournament, which begins on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.
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The reigning 50-over world champions are grouped with England, South Africa, and Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy and are keen to carry momentum into the tournament.
\u201cI\u2019d be lying if I said the Champions Trophy wasn\u2019t at the forefront of our minds\u2014it\u2019s a massive ICC event for us,\u201d Smith told reporters in Colombo. \u201cWhile our focus is on finishing this series strongly, we also want to ensure we take good form into the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sam Billings reflects on Dubai Capitals’ ILT20 triumph: ‘What a feeling!’<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Australia will play Sri Lanka on Wednesday and Friday, coming off a dominant 2-0 Test series victory. Both ODIs will be played as day matches due to ongoing renovations at Colombo\u2019s R. Premadasa Stadium, where floodlights are currently out of action ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
\u201cDay games are quite different,\u201d Smith admitted. \u201cI can\u2019t remember the last time I played an ODI during the day. But regardless of conditions, it\u2019s going to be warm out there, and we\u2019re looking forward to the challenge.\u201d
Before arriving in Sri Lanka, Australia held a training camp in Dubai to prepare for the subcontinent’s conditions. Smith highlighted key areas of focus, saying, \u201cThe batters worked on adapting to these surfaces, spinners refined their variations, and seamers focused on reverse swing. Hopefully, we can bring all that into this series and finish well.\u201d
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be looking to make a statement after failing to qualify for the Champions Trophy, finishing a disappointing ninth in the 2023 World Cup.
\u201cIt\u2019s a tough pill to swallow, no doubt,\u201d Sri Lanka\u2019s stand-in captain Charith Asalanka<\/a> admitted. \u201cBut we can\u2019t change the past. What matters now is ensuring this never happens again.\u201d
Despite their setback, Asalanka emphasized recent successes, including their historic ODI win against India in 2024\u2014their first in 27 years.
\u201cWe need to build on that momentum,\u201d he added, as Sri Lanka aims to use this series to rebuild and regroup.<\/div>\n