Sri Lanka has bounced back to level the ODI series, after easily dispatching Australia by 8 wickets at the Adelaide Oval last night.
Set 171 for victory, the Sri Lankans cruised home in the 41st over, guided by man-of-the-match Lahiru Thirimanne.
After winning the toss Sri Lanka sent Australia into bat under overcast skies, following a brief delay due to a wet outfield.
The Australians further highlighted their willingness to share the bowling workload, unveiling two more debutants following the three in Melbourne.
Ben Cutting and local seamer Kane Richardson relieved Mitchells Starc and Johnson of niggling complaints, while Steve Smith replaced Usman Khawaja.
The Australian innings started with the token running mishap, when Aaron Finch, in just his second game, clipped the third delivery of the day straight to square leg and immediately set off for a suicidal single. Fortunately for Finch, Dilshan’s throw went wide despite Hughes conceding his fate mid-pitch.
Like his Melbourne debut, Finch never looked comfortable, eventually chipping an Angelo Mathews delivery to cover for just four.
Hughes followed soon after, leg before to Nuwan Kulasekara for just three, rewarding the Sri Lankans’ consistent line and length.
The Australians were teetering at 2/12, with seven overs without a boundary as David Hussey joined captain George Bailey at the crease.
The first boundary of the innings finally came in the tenth over courtesy of Bailey, but its lengthy arrival exemplified Sri Lanka’s commitment to tight bowling in favourable conditions.
Bailey struck a few more lusty blows including an authoritative pull for six, before falling attempting the same stroke, smartly caught at midwicket by Lahiru Thirimanne off Lasith Malinga.
Steve Smith’s return to the international scene showed promise but was all too brief as he was caught and bowled by Thissara Perera, feathering an expansive off-drive for just eight, leaving Australia four down inside 20 overs.
Despite the regular fall of wickets, Hussey defied the Sri Lankans with a typical counter-attacking display, picking off the bad deliveries and constantly rotating the strike.
He ran into trouble on 29, when he pushed a delivery to the leg-side for Tillakaratne Dilshan to pounce and this time he made no mistake. Hussey uncharacteristically hesitated mid-pitch, and it cost him dearly as he was found well short of his mark.
The carnage continued next over when Maxwell fell for an unflattering eight, caught at the wicket off Mathews. Maxwell looked to be positive from the word go, however it eventually bought about his downfall as he fell walking into a drive.
Brad Haddin and debutant Ben Cutting united in the middle with the Australian’s in monumental trouble at 6/83.
But the pair were determined to set the Sri Lankans a competitive score in tricky seaming conditions.
Cutting in particular looked poised, and showed a sound technique which has reaped him more than 300 runs at an average of 38.66 in the Sheffield Shield this year.
He combined with Haddin for a dogged 57-run partnership, before Cutting was caught behind slashing outside off stump for a useful 27.
Richardson and McKay fell in quick succession, as Haddin guided the Australian total to 170 with a gritty half-century.
For the Sri Lankans, Malinga took home the chocolates with 3/32 but it was Kulasekara (1/24) and Angelo Mathews (2/24) who set the tone early, with probing deliveries and regular wickets which ensured the Australian innings never left first gear.
Defending an under-par total, the Australians needed to take advantage of the new ball. Clint McKay did just that with the third delivery of the Sri Lankan innings, having Upul Tharanga caught behind without troubling the scorers.
Thirimanne leapfrogged his skipper at number three, joining Dilshan for a watchful stand.
The pair cautiously saw off the new ball threat, knowing full well if they got through the allotted overs from each of the three quick bowlers they should sail home comfortably.
On a greenish pitch the Australian XI appeared a pace bowler short, missing the services of Shane Watson or Daniel Christian.
Thirimanne and Dilshan both cruised to half-centuries, as their match-winning stand of 137 paved the way for the comprehensive victory.
Dilshan will no doubt be disappointed he couldn’t finish the job for the tourists as he gifted Cutting his maiden international scalp, spooning a catch straight to Maxwell at point.
Thirimanne brought up his maiden international century off the final delivery, cutting Maxwell to the point boundary to finish the chase unbeaten 102.
The century continued what has been a promising tour for the 23-year-old following his 91 in the third Test in Sydney.
For the hosts Kane Richardson showed promise, asking questions with the new ball before he was bizarrely disqualified from bowling.
Richardson received three strikes for running in the “danger zone” of the pitch after completing just six overs.
The ODI series continues in Brisbane next week.
Rhys
Guest
For those who recall the mid 80s there was Glenn Trimble. He was picked as an allrounder. Nerves got the better of him and he could barely land a ball on the pitch. When it came time to bat he hit one boundary with a crisp clip off the pads then was out next ball. But it was the mid 80s after all, and Australia's cricket stocks were at a low point.
Keagan Ryan
Roar Guru
I agree with the general consensus of Khawaja not receiving fair opportunity. It was revealed today that the plan all along was for Usman to play in Melbourne then to be replaced by Smith in Adelaide. Would've thought such a plan, with each player getting only one crack, puts enormous pressure on the individual to succeed. As opposed to perhaps playing one throughout the current five match series than another gets a shot during the series against the West Indies. How else are the emerging players supposed to gain confidence and continuity in their game?
matt h
Guest
I suspect the plan was always to give Khawaja/Hughes/Finch a game and then replace the worst performer to give Smith a game. Question is why give Smith that game? He's already had about 30 to show he is pretty average.
matt h
Guest
Agreed. All those left arm wide of off stump easay leaves in Tests become tricky in ODI's becasue they have to be played at and scored off. Wahtever Johnson and Starc's failing in the Test arena they both have very good one day records. Nathan Bracken was that way as well. Completely inneffectual in the longer form against top quality batsmen but they had to play those deliveries in the ODI's.
The Dish
Guest
I just read that Khawaja was dropped because they were committed to giving everyone in the squad a game. Not sure if that sends the right message to the players, opposition or fans.
Red Kev
Guest
Good explanation on wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Muller_(cricketer)
Sunil
Guest
Khawaja should have played, i can only think that they will play him in the future games.
Roger
Guest
Chriso i don't think we will get a explanation on why Khawaja was dropped because there isn't one. The young man deserves a proper opportunity and is not being given one.
Roger
Guest
Yes i think Inevarity is still living in the 50s and doesn't like people from other backgrounds playing for Australia. How else can you explain Khawaja getting dropped after just 1 game on debut unless its personal.
Scott Minto
Guest
Hi RK, would you mind telling me about Mr Muller - just a young fella who doesnt quite understand. Cheers
Red Kev
Guest
I am thinking that Maxwell should get a monkier like Muller's, let's call Maxwell the allrounder who can't bat and can't bowl.
Matt
Guest
I hate to give labels but... :) They were a very interesting selection, that's for sure. While they are up and coming, they're definitely not in the top 11 cricketers in the country (either generally speaking, or based on current form).
brendon
Guest
That question was raised in a convo between mates at my house yesterday. I'm glad SL won, maybe the big heads at CA will have learned something.
Red Kev
Guest
Maxwell and Smith ... the worst players ever to be given Australian Caps, or does Scott Muller trump them?
Matt F
Roar Guru
I think the system itself, at least it's basic concept, could have some merit but what is clear is that the people in charge have no idea how to manage the system. Not sure about the run-outs. Your idea probably plays a role but yesterdays one is a bit different as Hussey and Maxwell would have played plenty of games together for Victoria/Melbourne Stars. That one should probably be put down to the pressure of the match situation. Over the course of the summer your theory is probably somewhat accurate though
Matt
Guest
Not to be the guy with the tinfoil hat; however, with the team obviously being SO poor to everyone but the selectors, you really do have to wonder if they're deliberately fielding a B team...
Matt F
Roar Guru
Bowling in tests is different to bowling in one day matches and they require different skills. A good test match bowler isn't nescesarily a good one day (or T20) bowler and vice versa, although obviously some players can excel over all formats. Have a look at their ODI records, particularly their bowling averages. Starc: 21.13 Johnson: 25.47 Siddle: 38.73 Bird: Well he hasn't played an ODI but his domestic average is 34.62 I'd be happy to give Bird a chance based on his Test form but I can understand why they haven't picked him Also, while the batting line-up may be "second string" the bowling line-up is basically full strength
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
I was prepared to give the rotation system (or player management system, or whatever it's called) a go, but I think it's pretty clear now it's not working. I think it's time we just go back to selecting the best possible team, and there are only changes if form or actual injury occurs. Anyone else subscribe to the theory that the reason the running between wickets is so abysmal is because nobody is in the team long enough to build up any understanding with their fellow batsmen? And I'd love to hear an honest explanation by the selectors as to why Khawaja was dropped for this game.
Matt
Guest
Hughes - bad game, but has been playing well. Finch - hasn't looked comfortable at all. A good 20/20 player no doubt. Bailey - surprised last game, was alright this game. Possibly inform, not sure how he's been going for state Hussey - playing very well. Another terrible runout by this team Smith - can't bat, can't bowl. How the hell they thought he would bat at #5 is beyond me. He was found wanting. Only bowled 4 overs. Maxwell - another "all rounder", yet he flopped with the bat, and only got to bowl 3 overs anyway. Why didn't they just have some more batsmen and 1 specialist bowler vs a team full of all rounders. Haddin - played well, off injured. Luckily Wade was rested, we wouldn't want anyone getting injured! Cutting - played alright, nothing super Richardson - can't even bowl properly. Yet to figure out why the commentators who talk so much rubbish, can notice things it seems everyone in the team and selection panel can't. And often they're correct. McKay - alright Doherty - had that great debut game a while back, that's about it. I guess everyone recent has looked pretty rubbish since they're replacing Warne. The squad was a joke. Smith & Maxwell barely bowled, made no runs - 2 useless players out of 11 straight away. That makes 4 fulltime bowlers, 2 all rounders, yet they still could only manage 2 wickets. Gosh, maybe it's the quality not the quantity that gets wickets. They lucked it last game. I'm all for chopping and changing teams in 20/20 format, given it's quick nature; but as anyone who watches NRL knows, when you lose your best players for Origin, even though the replacement team on paper may not be bad, it's very hard to replace them. It's also very hard for everything to just go back to how it was when they come back in, they need a few games to get into the groove.
Red Kev
Guest
Inverarity and Arthur are high during selection meetings maybe?