Australia begin their series against Sri Lanka with the first Test starting Friday at Hobart. We’ll bring you the live scores of the action throughout the match from Bellerive oval, starting at 10.30am local on December 14.
On paper and historically, Australia are a far superior side.
They have a few batsmen who are in the form of their life-time and others who can explode against an inexperienced bowling line-up. And they will be up against a side that has never won a Test in Australia.
Overall too, Sri Lanka’s record in Test matches is rather poor against the Aussies. Of the 23 Tests played between the two sides, Sri Lanka have won only one and lost 14 in the process.
The bad news does not end there. Only recently and on a surface that was more conducive to quicker bowling than most pitches back home, Sri Lanka went down to New Zealand. In the last three and a half years, they have won only one Test series.
Not that Australia are coming off a high, having lost to South Africa in the final Test match at the WACA in Perth. For one however, South Africa is ranked number one in the world. Secondly, Australia did have the better of their opposition in the first two Tests but were denied by the weather in one and lacked the killer punch in the second.
They will now welcome the return of their main pace bowlers, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle, both of who missed the last Test match because of exhausion. That should aid their cause against an opponent who may not enjoy pace and swing too much. They replace Mitchell Johnson and John Hastings.
There is also one forced change in the batting order; Ricky Ponting’s retirement from international cricket brings Phil Hughes back into contention.
Originally an opener, Hughes will bat at three, pushing Shane Watson down to the number four position in the batting-order. The last time he was in the side, he couldn’t stop nicking the deliveries to the slips and it will be interesting to see if anything has changed since.
Sri Lanka’s batting will have the usual suspects – T Dilshan at the top of the innings and Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in the middle.
Add a new opener Dimuth Karunaratne and another experienced head in Thilan Samaraweera in the middle and their top five is decided. Captain in the waiting and all-rounder Angelo Matthews will bat at six with the keeper and the bowlers to follow.
Among those expected to bowl, only Rangana Herath has played a considerable amount of Test matches. The other three, Nuwan Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga and Chanaka Welegedara have picked up a combined total of 99 wickets and will be tested despite bowling in helpful conditions.
We will bring you the live coverage throughout the game from Hobart and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
End of an interesting day's play and given how the pitch is playing, it has to be said that the Aussies are in the driver's seat. The Lankan bowlers have not been too quick, and there hasn't been too much swing on offer for them. Phil Hughes made a sterling comeback to Test cricket today with a score of 86 while Dave Warner got 57 before being run-out. Then the two Michaels took over with an unbeaten 100-run stand that saw them through to 4/299 by the end of the day's play. Welegedara was the only bowler to pick up wickets today, ending with three wickets for 99. He also got one off a no-ball. That's it from me today, will be back with the live coverage of the second day's play tomorrow.
Rhys
Guest
I sense another double ton for Clarke is on the cards tomorrow. Meanwhile Hussey just keeps on keeping on.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Nearly gone through that one, keeps very low and Clarke's knee isn't in the best of the shapes after that. Cuts away to deep point for a single to get the Aussies to 298 and a stand of 100 between Hussey and Clarke. And again! Hussey opens the face of the bat to guide it to third-man for a single...end of the day at 4/299 then
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Flicked away by Clarke yet again, and it is done effortlessly...the field's up and it rolls over for another four. One over to go then and Australia have recovered really well to get to 296/4
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Scores are level at Nagpur and Hobart ok were level
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four...and a second four for Clarke! The first was short and wide and Clarke flashed at it outside the off, runs away to third-man for a four. The second is lot fuller and Clarke goes down the ground for another boundary and takes him to 64 and Australia to 4/289. Welegedara may have three wickets, but he has conceded 99 off 20.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
No real swing off the second new ball for either bowler here and despite the uneven bounce, they are nowhere close to picking up a wicket. If it does happen today, it could well be against the run of play. 4/279
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And Michael Clarke now gets to another half-century, off 117 balls. Flicked away to the leg side and strolls through for a couple. Safe to say that the form has yet to desert him. 4/274
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Nuwan Kulasekara, as predicted, is on to bowl with the new ball and immediately strikes Clarke hard on his pads. It was quite a straight ball, not too much swing and Clarke misses it. The captain's still struggling with that hit on his knee earlier.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Incidentally, Clarke's gotten himself to 1400 Test runs this year. The man who never gets out. At least cheaply.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Three singles and five balls later, Clarke pushes on down the ground, easily beats mid-off en route the boundary! Australia have gotten themselves to 4/268 with eight overs still left. It has almost never looked like they have been scoring too many and still, the run-rate is 3.25. 4/268
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Chanaka Welegedara will share the new ball with Shaminda. Will probably have Nuwan Kulasekara bowling from the other end in a couple of overs or so.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That is an interesting start to the over...first ball he is beaten off one that leaves him and then off the third, an inswinger hits his pads and there is an appeal for LBW. Bit of an inside-edge, which gets him the not-out decision but the batsman has also hit his bat on the inside of his leg...the physiotherapist is out.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The new ball has been taken then, as expected, as soon as it was available. Shaminda Eranga will bowl the first over. 4/261 in 80
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Hit him! Hussey's been hit on his arm, coming in off an inside edge! That was one example of some variation in the bounce and pace on the pitch, it jumped up off length. Hussey was wringing his hand in pain...not often do you see Hussey get worked up. 4/257 in the 79th...the stand's already worth more than a fifty
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Dilshan continues and almost goes to hand! It was outside the off and Hussey went for a cut, gets an edge but travels really quickly to the right of the first slip fielder. Does not even get close to it. 4/252
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
T Dilshan brought into the attack and concedes four singles. Probably resting the quicker men before they take the new ball. 4/247 in 76
Brett McKay
Expert
a pretty standard 61 balls, too, Disco...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
14 from 32, 34 from 88 - that is what Hussey and Clarke are on, respectively. Safe to say then, that it has been a grind so far. Credit to the Lankans though, they have bowled in the right channels and have been reasonably patient to restrict the scoring. Not too many alarms for the home side and we are in the 75th over, the new ball is five overs away. Pretty sure they will want to take it quickly.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Right so the two Michaels continue to do the rescue act for their side, although 4/198 isn't quite as bad as 3/55 or starts like those that we have seen before. It is 4/236 in 73 overs and time for drinks.