A new-look Australian side will feature in the opening ODI against a Sri Lankan side looking to avenge their 3-0 rout in the Tests.
We’ll bring you the live scores and blog of the action throughout this game, with play to begin at 2.20 pm AEST on Friday.
After the woes of the Test series that they lost 3-0, Sri Lanka will be hoping for a better start to the limited overs leg of the tour.
Helping them in that respect will be the inclusion of two of the finest specialists of the limited overs setup, Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis.
Also lending balance to the side will be the hard-hitting all-rounder Thisara Perera, who has been acclimatizing in Australia all this while with the Big Bash League.
Where they could hope for some positive reinforcements is in the batting.
The loss of Kumar Sangakkara to a fractured hand puts the responsibility on the shoulders of two other senior pros; Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene.
Opening batsman Upul Tharanga, wicket-keeping all-rounder Dinesh Chandimal and in-form middle-order bat Lahiru Thirimanne will need to come to the party, however, given how poorly Sri Lanka batted as a team in the last couple of Tests.
Australia have made some changes of their own. Some have been forced, others were borne out of the need to rotate while at least one of them is somewhat of a shock.
Shane Watson’s injury put him out of the reckoning while captain Michael Clarke, wicket-keeper Matthew Wade and opening basher Dave Warner have all been rested.
For a cricketer who in reasonably good form and looking to play in his last international series, an axe from the first three games makes little sense to the outsiders.
Michael Hussey’s exclusion from the ODI squad has left many nonplussed including former teammate Brett Lee who expressed dismay at the decision to leave him out:
“The nice thing to do for the sake of one series would be to send him out on a high and finish his career in one-day cricket knowing that he has been an absolute legend of the game, rather than being dropped for his last series.”
In the absence of Clarke, Watson and Warner, George Bailey gets the chance to lead the side and more vitally try and cement his place in the ODI setup.
Brad Haddin makes his way back for the first time since the Adelaide Test last January while Usman Khwaja and Aaron Finch should make it to the top-order along with Phil Hughes.
The bowling attack will consist of two of those who featured in the Sydney Test against Sri Lanka, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc. Clint McKay should get a nod over Ben Cutting as the third seamer with Xavier Doherty going in as the frontline spinner.
Sri Lanka have had a decent recent record against Australia in this format, winning six of the last 10 games they have played. Expect nothing short of a fighting performance from the visitors.
Garcia
Guest
Same fixture last year drew the same crowd with Hussey, Warner and others playing. So I doubt its because of the second string line up. #2015theyearonedayersdie
Cameron
Roar Guru
Garcia, considering the attendances throughout the Sri Lankan's tour, I personally found 25,000 to be quiet good. You also forget to mention the so called 2nd string line up. and with the likes of Clarke, Warner and Hussey not present it was always going to be difficult to achieve 40,000+ which I believe you may personally have deemed as successful.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Only 25,000 turn up Ticket prices were $100 plus for test matches so would be above that for a game that could easily be over in a few hours. Not good value.Channel 9's coverage is so archaic. 3hr delayed in Perth
Garcia
Guest
25000 for a one day international? What a joke these fixtures have become in recent years. Thank god for the Sri Lankan supporters at the G today otherwise the crowd would have looked and sounded even more pathetic than it did. #onedaycricketisdying / #pulltheplugononedayersalreadyicc
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Sri Lanka haven't batted too well all summer and today was another example of that. They did miss the experience of Kumar Sangakkara but for Upul Tharanga and Mahela Jayawardene to depart that early and then to give wickets away to run-outs was simply not on. Australia, on the other hand, came in with an inexperienced side and yet, batted, bowled and fielded like one which has been there and done that. Phil Hughes was involved in an early run-out with Usman Khawaja but did not let that affect him and got to his maiden century on debut - making him the first Australian to do so. Later George Bailey and David Hussey scored punishing half-centuries to guide the side to more than 300, with Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis conceding more than six an over each. That's it then, will be back with the second ODI on Sunday. Have a great weekend!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That's it then, Ajantha Mendis has edged McKay to the keeper and it is all over for Sri Lanka! Bowled out for 198 in exactly 40 overs. Australia have put out a convincing performance in this opening ODI, winning by 107 runs. McKay ends with four wickets, there were three run-outs and Johnson gets two. For Sri Lanka, Chandimal and Dilshan got half-centuries but that was as far as they got.
Johnno
Guest
The match may as well be played at Colombo. Just about 95% Sri Lankan fans. The MCG looks such a wasteland when empty, heck you could get a whole bay or even a stand to yourself today.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The procession continues as Kulasekara finally goes for a fighting 18. 9/198 in the 40th over.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone, caught by mid-off! That is the end of Perera off the bowling of Mitch Johnson. It was a slower one that was pushed up to the bat and he went for a drilling shot over mid-off. Gets a lot of power there but not enough elevation and it goes to Bailey, who takes a good low catch at mid-off. 8/194 and the end is nigh.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And he has slogged it away to deep mid-wicket for a four. Opens his stance up and bashes it over the in-field for a boundary does Kulasekara. 7/192 in the 39th
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Nine off the McKay over keeps the Lankans in the hunt. Johnson continues with the 39th as Sri Lanka get to 7/187
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Three bouncers in a row and Kulasekara wants to go after each of them from Clint McKay. The third one is a slower one and is spanked away to backward square-leg for a four. 7/183
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And finally a four for Sri Lanka, runs they can do with if they are to still believe they can win. Kulasekara has smacked Johnson over mid-wicket for a four. 129 needed from 13. Three wickets remaining.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
What a ripper! Superb Haddin catch to end a good innings from Chandimal! That's on the off stump and he flays at it, as if he is left without too many options. The outside edge flies towards the first slip and Haddin dives full length to grab it well!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The Batting Powerplay has been taken and Clint McKay will bowl the first of those overs. It is Perera who joins Chandimal.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone, caught! That is the end of Mendis, who was looking increasingly troubled against the pace bowlers. It was short of length and he wanted to pull it away, gets a top edge that goes to mid-off for a simple catch. Six down and 139 away with 15 overs remaining.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Almost a catch! It was quick and at the body of Mendis, who gets a leading edge towards point. Maxwell rushes in and almost creates a chance out of nothing, falls just short of him. 5/167 in the 35th
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Drinks at the G followed by Mitchell Johnson to take up the attack. Immediately gets a bouncer and he hooks it away to the fine-leg fence. Continues to feel that hamstring though!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
16 overs remain and they still need 144 for the win. Nine an over is difficult but the current pair has already added 34 from 4.3. Can they up the ante?
The Bush
Roar Guru
No one is.