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A dilapidated Sri Lankan side look for a better showing when they take on Australia, who will aim at a clean sweep at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the third and final Test match.
We’ll bring you the live scores of the action throughout this game, with the first day starting at (10.30 am AEST) on January 3.
Sri Lanka were left to lick their wounds after the series was lost in three days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but the captain and could may have well spent the extra time between that game and this one counting the number of fit players standing.
There were three injuries during the second Test match for Sri Lanka, and a fourth went down a day before the game. Of them, Kumar Sangakkara’s batting will be most sorely missed even as Chanaka Welegadara and Prasanna Jayawardene (if he doe not get fit in time) will be vital losses.
Shaminda Eranga injured his ankle just a day before the game and that seriously puts a question-mark on the Lankan bowling attack.
Sri Lanka will now look at Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal to join them for this one, partnering the sole surviving pace bowler from the first couple of Tests, Nuwan Kulasekara.
Sangakkara’s is a void that will be more difficult to fill. For all of Dinesh Chandimal’s potential as a middle-order batsman, expecting him to fill Sangakkara’s big boots on a track very foreign to what he is used to, will be too much to expect.
Chandimal will also need to double up as a keeper in the case of Prasanna Jayawardene’s absence with Lahiru Thirimanne joining in as a replacement in the order.
Australia have injury worries of their own, none of them as pronounced as Sri Lanka’s problems. Shane Watson has been ruled out of the 11 and while Glenn Maxwell was brought in to replace him, the side will go into the game with an extra pace bowler instead.
Fortunately for Australia, captain Michael Clarke has been ruled fit again – after he was expected to miss the Melbourne game too. Usman Khawaja will, therefore, sit out after being named in the squad.
Renowned commentator Tony Greig’s passing away and Michael Hussey’s sudden retirement announcement will add a tinge of sadness to the atmosphere but expect the teams to come out hard once the action begins.
We will bring you the live score throughout the game from the SCG and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.