Deciding factors for Australia's Test series against Sri Lanka

Due to a mind boggling scheduling mishap by the chaps at Cricket Australia, we somehow have sixth ranked Sri Lanka playing the second ranked Aussies after the battle between the Proteas and Baggy Greens for world cricket supremacy.

It’s a bit like having your main course before the oysters kilpatrick reaches the table. Here’s a look at the key issues surrounding the series, which I believe will determine who takes home the chocolates.

Australia’s top order
Ricky Ponting hanging up the rug on his international career has left a huge void in the run scoring department. At present the Aussies have four tested opening batsmen in the top order, all with moderate success.

Ed Cowan, branded ‘Steady Eddie’ has been reliable without looking like a world beater, his game seems to be modified by what happens 22 yards away because one thing to be sure of is that partner David Warner will come out swinging like an intoxicated Matthew Newton.

Phil Hughes has been given another crack at a permanent spot, if his word is to be believed he has ironed out the kinks which saw him dominated by Coldplay front man Chris Martin last season. In all seriousness, he came away with more nicks in that series than a cheap barber shop.

Whatever the situation, someone at the top needs to step up and support the Michaels, Hussey and Clarke, the latter batting like a man without a care in the world and to be honest it’s easy to see why when after a day’s play, he heads home to Mrs Pup.

The bowler rotation policy
Australia’s rotation policy came in for heavy criticism when the Aussies squandered the ascendancy they’d built in the initial two Tests in Perth.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Mitchell is Latin for ‘enigma’, as the difference between both Johnson and Starc’s best and worst is a chasm.

Two seasons ago would Mitchell Senior would have thought his chances in the baggy were cooked, dishing up more loose balls than a swingers’ party. Mitch Mark II seems to at least manage to put most rocks on the cut strip.

His namesake, Starc, seems to be equally as talented with bat and ball, the key difference is he has time on his side to close the gap in his performance.

Ben Hilfenhaus, looks likely to be recalled for his home Test after sorting out some technical issues. The Hilf’s arm in Adelaide was lower than the Greek Euro, if he can keep the bowling arm high and wrist cocked behind the ball, he will again be a threat.

Sri Lanka’s bowling
Following in the mould of previous Lankan greats Ranatunga and Aravinda De Silva is finger spinner Rangana Herath, the best performing trundler in the Lankan’s previous tour to the land of the long black cloud.

Looking at the diminutive figure, his favourite sessions appear to be the lunch and tea intervals. The Blundstone Arena kitchen staff can play a significant role for the Aussies by having the left armer coming back for third and fourth spells in the lunchroom.

Herath is now Sri Lanka’s preferred spinner after the retirement of former teammate Muttiah Muraliduran, who is trying his luck in the Major League, errm… Big Bash League rather.

It’s interesting, the two best performing Lankan bowlers over the past decade, Murali and Lasith Malinga, have very unique styles, which I suspect would be coached out of them in Australian system.

It may be time for a re-think on the coaching manual, especially in the spin department.

Sangakarra and Jayawardene
In a day and age where elegance and class has literally been beaten out of players by the T20 phenomenon, the dynamic duo of Jayawadene and Sangakarra are of a rare breed who can stroke, caress and occasionally brutalise a ball to all corners of the ground.

With 20,000 Test runs between them, it is no secret keeping them quiet is the key to retaining the silverware… That and keeping Herath in the lunchroom.