Sri Lanka have a mountain to climb on the second day of the Melbourne Test match after being bowled out for 156 by Australia.
We’ll bring you the live scores of the action throughout this game, with the second day starting at 10.30am AEST on December 27.
The Sri Lankan batting floundered on Boxing Day after having showed great grit in the first game.
Some of the shots the top-order batsmen played belonged to a T20 game, while others were victims of below-par technique on a seaming and bouncing track.
After debutant Jackson Bird sent Dimuth Karunaratne back in his second ever Test over, Tillakaratne Dilshan’s across-the-line mow pegged his stumps back.
Despite a stabilising stand for the fourth wicket and a half-century for Kumar Sangakkara, they found Mitchell Johnson too hot to handle.
Sri Lanka went into the lunch break at 3/79 but a wicket in the first over after the interval and two off successive balls after the drinks break put Sri Lanka on the back foot.
Johnson was on a hat-trick and while he missed taking three in a row, his bouncer not only accounted for Prasanna Jayawardene’s dismissal, but also saw the wicket-keeper break his thumb.
156 was never going to test Australia and Dave Warner’s start to their innings all but ensured the visitors’ dismal form continued with the ball.
Warner smashed a 46-ball 62 and was involved in a 95-run first wicket partnership with Ed Cowan in less than 18 overs. A century looked for the taking before a rush of blood saw him fall to a pull shot with two fielders on the leg-side boundary.
His dismissal brought Sri Lanka a couple more as Phil Hughes ran himself out while Cowan cut one straight to the slips. Life could have been lot worse for Australia had Sri Lanka held the chances that Shane Watson and Michael Clarke offered but the visitors’ off-colour play extended to their fielding as well.
With Australia almost level with Sri Lanka and seven wickets still standing, they will fancy their chances of batting the opposition out of the game.
Sri Lanka, for their part, will look to stall the run-scoring and hope to eke out an early mistake or two from their opposition to remain in the game.
We will bring you live coverage throughout the game from the MCG and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
Jason Cave
Guest
Is it time for the ICC to do away with the antiquated 12th man rule and bring in a new one instead? Instead of a 12th man, how about teams pick the usual 11 plus 2-3 substitutes with the go-ahead to bat and bowl in case one of the players has an injury which might disadvantage the team. So we can still have 11 v 11 instead of 10 (Sri Lanka) v 11 (Australia), which Sri Lanka has to play one batsman short.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Brute of a delivery to finish off the day, hits Lyon on his body before lobbing up to the off-side. Johnson ends unbeaten on 73 and will resume his quest for second Test century tomorrow. Australia have taken a lead of 284 with two wickets still standing. Michael Clarke scored a century today and there were half-centuries for Shane Watson and Johnson. Rangana Herath was excellent without much luck while the pace bowlers shared the rest of the load. Much better needed from Sri Lanka on the third day when they get a chance. Will be back with the live coverage tomorrow!
Johnno
Guest
The aussies could win by an innings tomorrow, if they bowl Sri Lanka out.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Johnson gets one short of length and is punched through the covers for three. Lead goes up to 284
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A couple of runs for Johnson, paddle swept away to fine-leg before a single to take him to 70 and retain strike. Eranga bowling the last over.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Couple of overs remaining and Johnson will like to go back unbeaten.
Johnno
Guest
I agree. I'd love pitches ti be like this today. The good old days, this footage where there was always something lots of bounce for the fast bowlers. They don't have pitches like this anymore, which is a shame.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone, edged to the slips! Caught really well by captain Mahela Jayawardene, diving to his left! Was angling away from Siddle, who fished at it and it flies to the second slip. MJ, at third slip, dives in front of the second slip to grab it well! Eight down now.
linzjames
Guest
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Prasanna Jayawardene is the main keeper who has taken over from Sanga for couple of years or so. He batted in the first innings here and suffered from a thumb fracture on getting out. Ruled out of the game.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The pace bowlers are getting nothing here, tired bodies and no swing is not a combination likes of Eranga and Prasad would have wanted. Add to it the battering from numbers eight and nine. Lead's gone up to 275.
Johnno
Guest
Is Sanga keeping due to injury in the match of another player, or did they pick him as keeper for this test match, any one know. Clarke must be tempted to put Sri Lanka in for a nasty 30 minute session.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The pair of Johnson and Siddle are tapping the ball around before the former punches it through the covers for a four! Wow, would have made a top-order batsman proud there! 7/429
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Kumar Sangakkara's lack of keeping experience in Test matches can be seen by one that is dug in short and goes through head height for Sanga. Seeps through his gloves for four byes 7/423
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Story of the day, Johnson has nicked them so many times and each time it has gone into the gap. Outside the off from Eranga and he was looking to drive it on the up...goes to the fence. 7/417
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Herath is back on now...last spell of what has been a fruitless day for him. 7/413
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Prasad's been removed from the attack and Shaminda comes on now. And Johnson nudges it away to deep square-leg for a couple of runs that gets Johnson a well-made 50! Well done to go with his four-wicket haul.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And for those who missed the Herath catch, you can check it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tkA5OIiFV0
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Johnson continues to flash at the widish ones and it beats the slips yet again...runs away to the fence for four and brings him to within a boundary of a fifty. 7/401
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Something going on between Rangana Herath and Nigel Llong and probably related to appealing. They are conversing at the end of every over it seems. It seemed all serious till now but now having a hearty laugh about it. Feel for Herath, he has bowledlike a champion all day and only has an excellent catch to show for it.