COLOMBO, Feb 11, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Captain Steve Smith admitted Tuesday the
Champions Trophy would be on Australia minds when they play Sri Lanka in two
one-day internationals this week, the final warm-ups for the eight-team
tournament

The Champions Trophy begins on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai, and 50-over
world champions Australia are in a group with England, South Africa and
Afghanistan.

Australia face Sri Lanka in Colombo on Wednesday and Friday, fresh from a
dominant 2-0 Test series sweep.

"I'd be lying if I said the Champions Trophy wasn't at the forefront of our
minds -- it's a massive ICC tournament for us," Smith told reporters in
Colombo.

"While our focus is firmly on finishing this series on a strong note, there
is no denying that the Champions Trophy is looming large. We want to make
sure we carry good form into that competition."

Both ODIs will be played as day games, a rarity in modern cricket.

The floodlights in Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium are out of action as part
of renovations ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted with
India.

"Day games are quite different," Smith said, adding he couldn't remember his
last ODI day match.

"But whatever the conditions, it's going to be warm out there, and we're
looking forward to the challenge".

Before coming to Sri Lanka, Australia held a training camp in Dubai to
prepare for "challenging wickets" in Sri Lanka, said Smith.

"The batters found methods to succeed in these conditions, the spinners
worked on varying their pace, and the seamers fine-tuned their reverse
swing," he said.

"We hope to bring all that into this series and finish well."

Sri Lanka did not qualify for the Champions Trophy after a dismal ninth-place
finish at the World Cup in India in 2023.

"It's disappointing, no doubt about it -- but there's nothing that we can do
about it now," Sri Lanka's stand-in captain Charith Asalanka said.

"What's important is that we make sure this never happens again".

Asalanka said the team wanted to focus on their successes -- including
beating India in 2024 in the first ODI in 27 years.

"We need to build on that momentum," Asalanka added.