1st 3 Mobile Test: Australia vs Sri Lanka at Gabba
The first match in a long Australian summer begins with this short test series between Australia and Sri Lanka. Both teams have new coaches overseeing their first test and with that comes some new expectations. This test has been a long awaited one here in Australia with the cricket public waiting to see how the side will look post McGrath, Warne and Langer and also keen to see how they will perform.
The public will still expect Australia to perform well though, no doubt about that. Into the side come Phil Jaques, Stuart MacGill and Mitchell Johnson, all capable players who have massive shoes to fill. It will be interesting to see how these three go as all faced stiff competition to claim spots in the eleven. An out-of-sorts effort could see them back playing domestic cricket with their respective states.
The batting order stays relatively the same with Jaques opening the batting and MacGill's batting "efforts" see him take number eleven. Johnson can bat a bit, he made 50 against the Sri Lankans in the tour game for Queensland. The rest are as normal with a decision to be made about where the two Michaels, Hussey and Clarke will bat, will it be a promotion for Huss or will Clarke stay at four since Damien Martyn called it quits?
Sri Lanka also come to the Gabba with some changes. Kumar Sangakkara is out after injuring his calf in a practice game against the Chairman’s XI a few days ago. Prasanna Jayawardene will come into the side to replace him. Sri Lanka should go in with a pretty potent bowling attack. Warhorse, Chaminda Vaas will head the line-up with the fiery Lasith Malinga expected to share the new ball. Dilhara Fernando will be the first change quick with the controversial Muttiah Muralitharan to bowl his off-spinners, no doubt to the jeers of the Australian crowds.
Muralitharan needs another nine wickets to pass Shane Warne's existing wickets record, something which the Australians are hellbent on preventing from occuring on home soil. With only two tests in the series and the Gabba pitch expected to be conducive to pace, Murali may not get the chance to get his required haul.
Marvan Attapattu comes into the team to open the batting, a welcome addition to the side after being out for a considerable period of time. Michael Vandort drops back to number three with Prasanna Jayawardene expected to take number seven. The rest are as normal.
The pitch is expected to be green-ish so that will assist the bowlers somewhat. Brisbane is also entering its summer which the residents are hoping will be wet (Brisbane is in severe drought) and with rain forecast for the next few days we could see a start-stop test but maybe a pitch even more favourable for the bowlers.
Expect a cracking game here. A new era for the Australians with Sri Lanka keen to seize their best chance to beat the top side.
Australia XI: 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Phil Jaques, 3 *Ricky Ponting, 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Andrew Symonds, 7 +Adam Gilchrist, 8 Brett Lee, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Stuart Clark, 11 Stuart MacGill.
Sri Lanka XI (probable): 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Marvan Atapattu, 3 Michael Vandort, 4 *Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Chamara Silva, 7 +Prasanna Jayawardene, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Dilhara Fernando, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.
Umpires: Tony Hill and Rudi Koertzen
3rd Umpire: Peter Parker
Weather:
(All Temperatures in Degrees Celcius)
Thursday: Cloudy with a few showers, 23.
Friday: Shower or two, 24.
Saturday: Mostly fine, 25.
Sunday: Mostly fine, 25.
Monday: Fine, 26.
Game starts at 9am AWDT (10am local time, midnight GMT).
The first match in a long Australian summer begins with this short test series between Australia and Sri Lanka. Both teams have new coaches overseeing their first test and with that comes some new expectations. This test has been a long awaited one here in Australia with the cricket public waiting to see how the side will look post McGrath, Warne and Langer and also keen to see how they will perform.
The public will still expect Australia to perform well though, no doubt about that. Into the side come Phil Jaques, Stuart MacGill and Mitchell Johnson, all capable players who have massive shoes to fill. It will be interesting to see how these three go as all faced stiff competition to claim spots in the eleven. An out-of-sorts effort could see them back playing domestic cricket with their respective states.
The batting order stays relatively the same with Jaques opening the batting and MacGill's batting "efforts" see him take number eleven. Johnson can bat a bit, he made 50 against the Sri Lankans in the tour game for Queensland. The rest are as normal with a decision to be made about where the two Michaels, Hussey and Clarke will bat, will it be a promotion for Huss or will Clarke stay at four since Damien Martyn called it quits?
Sri Lanka also come to the Gabba with some changes. Kumar Sangakkara is out after injuring his calf in a practice game against the Chairman’s XI a few days ago. Prasanna Jayawardene will come into the side to replace him. Sri Lanka should go in with a pretty potent bowling attack. Warhorse, Chaminda Vaas will head the line-up with the fiery Lasith Malinga expected to share the new ball. Dilhara Fernando will be the first change quick with the controversial Muttiah Muralitharan to bowl his off-spinners, no doubt to the jeers of the Australian crowds.
Muralitharan needs another nine wickets to pass Shane Warne's existing wickets record, something which the Australians are hellbent on preventing from occuring on home soil. With only two tests in the series and the Gabba pitch expected to be conducive to pace, Murali may not get the chance to get his required haul.
Marvan Attapattu comes into the team to open the batting, a welcome addition to the side after being out for a considerable period of time. Michael Vandort drops back to number three with Prasanna Jayawardene expected to take number seven. The rest are as normal.
The pitch is expected to be green-ish so that will assist the bowlers somewhat. Brisbane is also entering its summer which the residents are hoping will be wet (Brisbane is in severe drought) and with rain forecast for the next few days we could see a start-stop test but maybe a pitch even more favourable for the bowlers.
Expect a cracking game here. A new era for the Australians with Sri Lanka keen to seize their best chance to beat the top side.
Australia XI: 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Phil Jaques, 3 *Ricky Ponting, 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Andrew Symonds, 7 +Adam Gilchrist, 8 Brett Lee, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Stuart Clark, 11 Stuart MacGill.
Sri Lanka XI (probable): 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Marvan Atapattu, 3 Michael Vandort, 4 *Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Chamara Silva, 7 +Prasanna Jayawardene, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Dilhara Fernando, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.
Umpires: Tony Hill and Rudi Koertzen
3rd Umpire: Peter Parker
Weather:
(All Temperatures in Degrees Celcius)
Thursday: Cloudy with a few showers, 23.
Friday: Shower or two, 24.
Saturday: Mostly fine, 25.
Sunday: Mostly fine, 25.
Monday: Fine, 26.
Game starts at 9am AWDT (10am local time, midnight GMT).
