Australia vs Sri Lanka – 3rd Test – Match Preview
After securing the series with successive wins, Australia will eye nothing less than a whitewash when they take on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in the dead rubber, played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, tomorrow, January 3, 2013.
The home fans will be in celebratory mood as they prepare to see http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377 following the conclusion of the another home Test series.
With http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, where the team is most likely to bank on his all-round prowess.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558’s international future is under a cloud after he revealed his ambition to be considered as a batter. His injury woes have surely put Cricket Australia’s larger plans in jeopardy but the return to form for Mitchell Johnson is certainly a positive. Not only the left-armer has found his mojo with the ball, but offers a serious threat with the bat, evident from his crucial knock in the Boxing Day clash.
That has propelled the management to slot him at no.7, moving Matthew Wade one position higher in order to fill http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mitchell-Aaron-Starc-c76392 returns to the side after sitting out the previous encounter. Nathan Lyon will be the lone spinner, with the team relying on Clarke and Warner to roll their arms over if the need arrived.
The Lankans have been thoroughly outplayed in both the earlier encounters and there is little to suggest that they can overturn their fortunes. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779, arguably their best overseas batsman, is ruled out the tour, along with leading pacer Chanaka Welegedara, which has created a dense vacuum in the Lankan team.
Moreover, Test wicket-keeper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LD-Chandimal-c1831 is likely to come in the lineup, and further perform the wicket-keeping duties, while Nuwan Pradeep will also get his first game on the tour.
Despite the shortcomings, the Lankans will be aiming to put in an improved showing and prove their mettle as a competitive unit.
The match will be an emotional affair, with both teams wearing black armbands to honour the late http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Anthony-William-Greig-c45123, whose stature is well-known to Sri Lankan fans. The rest will be all about Hussey, who will be looking to cap off an astounding career with yet another commanding display with the bat.
The track at the SCG has always offered something to the slow bowlers but given the unusual greenery on it, and the composition of the host attack, one expects it to maintain its hardness for the best part of the match.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jackson-Munro-Bird-c65187.
Sri Lanka (probable XI) 1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ranaweera-Mudiyanselage-Shaminda-Eranga-c83939, 11 Nuwan Pradeep.
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