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Australia will look to seal their three-Test series against Sri Lanka when the two sides meet for the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. We’ll have coverage from 10.30am AEDT.
It was a fighting effort from Sri Lanka in the first game but Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc combined well on a difficult fifth day track at Hobart to thwart their chances of drawing the game. Now 0-1 down and faced with off-field issues, Mahela Jayawardene and his Sri Lankan side will face an uphill battle at the MCG.
First there was an issue with the ball-tampering accusations against Peter Siddle that came to nothing and then an allegedly leaked email from captain Jayawardene, that seemed to have angered the cricket board.
Jayawardene preferred to play with a straight bat on both counts. On the Siddle issue, Jayawardene said, “I dont think that fazes our team, in fact it might give us something extra. You have to remember there will be a good partisan Sri Lankan crowd and that might go against him (Siddle).”
About the leaked e-mail, he said, “I don’t know what I have done wrong. The document was released by them and I asked what happened.”
On the field, Sri Lanka seemed to have reasonably well with the bat at Hobart, but their bowling was a bit of a letdown. Apart from Chanaka Welegedara and Rangana Herath in the second innings, the attack lacked teeth and the team could look to bring about a change. Dammika Prasad could get a look-in.
There will be at least two, if not three changes to the Australian side. Ben Hilfenhaus has been ruled out with his side strain and Mitchel Johnson rejoins the playing 11 after having been a part at Perth against South Africa.
Starc gets a break as a part of the management’s rotation policy which will allow Jackson Bird to make his Test match debut.
Captain Michael Clarke’s hamstring injury left his retired hurt in the second innings at Hobart but he seemed to be making reasonable progress as far as his fitness is concerned.
But the decision to play him – or his replacement Usman Khawaja – will be taken on the morning of the game.
Clarke’s possible absence will also push Shane Watson to the captaincy saddle, which should be noteworthy given that his own batting form has been scratchy.
Interestingly, the Australian management pulled out all the national players from the Big Bash League to get them in shape for this game after the week-long break between the two Tests.
It seems to be one the more rational decisions taken by a cricket board in a day and age when Twenty20 cricket has often taken precedence over the longer format.
We will bring you the live coverage throughout the game from the MCG and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds from 10.30am AEDT.
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