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.
V44
Roar Rookie
Agree 100%
V44
Roar Rookie
I think the point with this run out was Hughes "ball watching" and not going on the call....personally did not see it as Cowans fault. .it is not the first time and will not be the last Hughes is run out because of this trait...it is a flaw in his running.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
But for those last three wickets in succession, Australia would have not only been in the driver's seat but also taken the Ferrari away. For now though, they are six behind Sri Lanka's first innings score of 156 and have seven wickets standing. It was the Australian bowling that set this up for them, with Mitchell Johnson leading the way with a four-wicket haul. Debutant Jackson Bird also got a couple. None of the Lankan batsmen, bar Kumar Sangakkara, got anywhere close to the heights they had achieved in the first Test, and the capitulation was bit of a surprise. In reply, Dave Warner raced away to a 46-ball 62 before Sri Lanka showed some fight with three wickets for 21. And then they dropped both Watson and Clarke, else, 3/150 could well have looked much better at 5/150. Australia will look to bat out the second day to garner full control of the game while Sri Lanka will hope to restrict the Australian lead to as low as possible, probably up to 100 runs. Makes for a fascinating second day for which I will be there to bring the live coverage! Have a good day ahead!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Another maiden to end the 39th over of the innings with Australia still on 3/150. That also ends the day's play, one that was dominated by Australia all the way!
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
Actually they have scored 503 runs together in twelve partnerships at an average of 41.9 since Watson came back into the side in 2008. I guess that's not too bad.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Playing for the end of play now which isn't too far off. The over-rate from both teams has been slow and they might end up bowling six or seven overs short. Three maidens in a row from Welegedara and Eranga. 3/150 in 38
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Strange move from Jayawardene. Herath's been called out and Shaminda Eranga has been brought on and is immediately creamed away through the covers for a four! 3/146
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
There is no doubting that the Sri Lankan bowlers have had their confidence soaring but both batsmen have got a four each in the last couple of overs. 3/138 in the 34th
Red Kev
Guest
And Watson dropped by Sangakkara a couple of overs later ... Australia lucky not to be 5 down.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Edged and dropped! This was no different from the Karunaratne dismissal first up today, a mirror image probably! He was defending at it, gets an outside edge and flies to the right of the keeper...Sangakkara dives and the ball thuds into his gloves and pops up! Sangakkara took over the gloves from Prasanna Jayawardene, but he is no backup keeper having kept wickets all his life as a frontliner! Both batsmen have now been dropped once apiece!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Only one off the last couple of overs as Herath's now bowled five overs for seven.
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
Ah. Cheers, Suneer! Gee, that's not a very good record between two senior batsmen...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The pair has had one century-run stand way back in 2009. Check here: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/406199.html
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Dropped by Dilshan! It was floated up by Herath and Clarke shimmied down the track to hit it over, gets an inside edge to short mid-on, standing next to the non-striker. He had to fly to his right to take it and got his hand to it, but spills it! Big let-off!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Warner's dismissal obviously slowed things down for Australia but the next two have completed silenced them. Michael Clarke won't take it lying down obviously and I can see him try to take the attack to the opposition here. 3/120
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
On a side note, does anyone know what the highest partnership is between Watson and Clarke? Oddly enough, they don't often seem to be batting together. At least, not for long...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Yep, both seemed to be in a world of their own...unnecessary quick singles on the first day of a Test and a poor response to it.
eagleJack
Guest
Plenty of time for another double hundred for Clarke!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And now, without any addition to the total, Australia have their third! Probably still reeling from that run-out, Cowan has edged one from Prasad to the slips and is gone, for 36! 3/117 and in a bit of a trouble here Australia. But not a bad batsman to have at this stage as Michael Clarke comes in now.
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
That's a brain snap from Hughes. It's a tight call for a single from Cowan, but what the hell was Hughes doing? Ball-watching, hemming and hawing, no attention being paid to Cowan whatsoever... You'd be run-out on any tight single in any form of cricket if you back up like that! If that'd been Mike Hussey at the non-striker's end, he would have been ten metres behind the striker's popping crease by the time the ball got to the keeper. Terrible running.