http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RJ-Harris-c2330
Australia and Sri Lanka will take on each other in the last Test of the three-match series at Colombo on September 16, 2011. The visitors are currently leading the series 1-0 and look favourites to clinch the Test series after winning the One Day International
series.
This is Michael Clarke’s first full series as the captain of the Australian team and the results of the tour have surely brought great signs for the future of Aussie cricket, which is facing a rough time after ruling the world of cricket for a decade and
a half.
Australia has faced a huge setback before the start of the series as its premier fast bowler Ryan Harris has been ruled out of the third match, after the fast bowler faced a hamstring strain. Harris is the leading wicket taker of the series so far as he
grabbed 11 scalps in two matches at an average of only 14.54 runs per wicket.
The Aussie skipper admitted that the absence of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harris-c61739 is going to be a huge loss for his team as he has been there best bowler off-late. He is facing a little niggle but Clarke is not ready to risk his most precious weapon in the Colombo Test.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 said, “He's [Harris] played an unbelievable part throughout this series, [he is] the leading wicket-taker and someone who we think is really important to our success in the Test format. I certainly don't think it's worth the risk of playing him here;
if that minor strain becomes a big tear he could be out for a lot longer.”
Harris is going to be replaced by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/PM-Siddle-c2197, who is going to make a comeback to the Australian team after a layoff due to injury. Siddle has pace and also possesses the ability to move the ball, which is going to be very handy in the Sri Lankan conditions,
where the ball does tend to move throughout the day because of sea-breeze.
This will also mean that the Aussie all-rounder, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558 will have more workload with the ball. Some of the cricket analysts want Watson to bat lower down the order, so that he can allow his body to put in more effort while bowling. Clarke understands
that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 will have to play a bigger role with the ball in the third Test but said that it is in the best interest of the team at the present moment that he opens the innings.
"I see Watto's bowling as very important for the team so in time, if it's best for the team, he might move down the order. But the priority is whatever's best for the team and right now I think that's Shane opening the batting," Clarke added.
Apart from Siddle and Watson, Mitchel Johnson and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nathan-Michael-Lyon-c78822 will also have to play a bigger role. The two have them have bowled well in patches in the series so far, especially Lyon has been impressive in his debut series as he picked up a five-wicket
haul in the first Test.
However, the performance of Johnson has raised some questions, as the left arm fast bowler has been expensive in the initial two matches. He is still a match-winner and has the potential to dismantle any batting line-up on a given day.
The Aussie bowling attack looks balanced after a long time, which makes them all set to lift the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, 2011.
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