Australia have announced their playing XI for the first T20I against Sri Lanka, slated to get underway on June 7 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Veteran campaigners David Warner and Steve Smith have returned to the side as the visitors’ top seven is exactly the same that featured in the T20 World Cup 2021 final against New Zealand.

Notably, Warner and Smith missed the home T20I series against Sri Lanka in February and also the one-off T20I on the tour of Pakistan.

Australia’s batting line-up will certainly be bolstered by the return of Warner, who was in fantastic form in the recently held IPL 2022 for the Delhi Capitals, amassing 432 runs in 12 games at a strike rate of 150.51 with five half-centuries.

On the other hand, Smith’s last international appearance was in the Test tour to Pakistan and he didn’t appear in the subsequent white-ball series. The series against Sri Lanka will be a good opportunity for him to once again prove his mettle in the shortest format.

The touring side will go with a three-pronged pace attack in addition to a spinner. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are back in the XI after missing out on the home T20Is against Sri Lanka. Kane Richardson and Ashton Agar got the nod as the third seamer and a specialist spinner with Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa rested.

Australia XI for first T20I v Sri Lanka: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Josh Hazlewood

Australia T20I squad for Sri Lanka Series: 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.