ABC Sport Cricket

As it happened: Third Test Day One

2013-01-13T18:20:00.000+06:00

Adrian Crawford

Updated January 03, 2013 20:55:41

Jackson Bird bagged 4 for 41 as Sri Lanka was bowled out for 294 by stumps on day one of the third Test at the SCG.

Look back on our blog of the first day for updates, scores, interviews, video highlights and images from Sydney.

Today's highlights (all times in AEDT)

7:00pm: That's just about a wrap here on day one of the third and final Test. In case you're just logging on now for a look back at Thursday's play, we've got you covered.

Jim Maxwell and Russel Arnold have tied up today's action, which you can listen to below.

Or if highlight reels are more your speed, click below to hear the thrills and spills from day one.

Thanks for joining Grandstand's online and on-air coverage today and we hope you'll be back tomorrow for more of the same.

Play begins at 10:30am (AEDT) on Friday morning. Until then, I'm Adrian Crawford.

6:10pm: Sri Lanka's top scorer Lahiru Thirimanne, dubbed "The Hero" by Drew, said the tourists are content with where their first innings finished despite wanting to put a few more runs on the board on day one.

"Actually we are happy with the score 294, we batted really well at times but at the end of the day we are happy with the score.
"[At] 4 for 224 we are trying to get 350-plus but the way the Australian bowlers bowled at the end of the end of the day ... they are really good. So 294 is not a bad score."

He said his demise just short of a maiden Test century was unfortunate but he realised he hadn't played the right shot.

"I'm really disappointed because I worked really hard to get 91 ... so I'm really happy with my performance today.
"I was trying to hit over the field to extra cover so it spun a little bit so ... that's it."

It sounds like he expects the Aussies to bat well tomorrow, after confirming what Bird said about the wicket being good for batsmen.

Russel Arnold reckons Lahiru was under more pressure with the microphone in his face than he was in the middle.

Have a listen below.

6:00pm: Drew is talking to Jackson Bird, who said the SCG deck will be a good one to bat on tomorrow after Sri Lanka put on some good runs early on day one.

"It was pretty tough work out there today, it's a beautiful wicket to bat on.
"We probably let them off the hook in the first session, the ball was only doing a little bit, but we fought back well in the last two sessions.
"This morning there was a little bit of help and if you put the ball in the right areas and bashed the wicket with the seam standing up, you got a little bit out of it.
"But towards the end of the day it flattened out a little bit, so it's going to be a beautiful wicket to bat on tomorrow.
"I thought we bowled pretty well in the middle session and restricted them to about 2 for 80, we just built the pressure up in that last session and we managed to get the rewards towards the end.
"I reckon we'd probably take 294 on the first day. It's just going to get better to bat on. Hopefully the boys can dig in and put on a big score for the first innings."

He said sustained pressure in the last session was what helped take quick wickets and knock the tourists over late in the day.

Bird also humbly shrugged off the ongoing parallels Australia's cricketing fraternity is drawing between he and Glenn McGrath.

"Glenn McGrath was a great bowler for Australia, I think he's taken the most wickets for a fast bowler.
"Getting a comparison to him is a good feeling, but I've got a lot of work to do to get even close to Glenn."

Their chat is below.

And here's another good stat from the abacus of Ric Finlay.

@RicFinlay JBird improves his best bowling for the 3rd inns in a row - 2-32, 2-29, 4-41. Now has 8 Test wkts @ 12.75. #AusvSL

Pretty handy stuff for a bloke who's only played one and a half Tests.

L. Thirimanne 91

M. Jayawardene 72

T. Dilshan 34

J. Bird 4/41 (19.4 overs)

M. Starc 3/71 (19 overs)

P. Siddle 2/46 (15 overs)

5:55pm: WICKET! Bird takes his fourth wicket of the innings and Hussey has his thousandth catch of the day with Lakmal edging to gully on 5. Mr Cricket has proven to be a ball magnet today in the cordon. Sri Lanka is all out for 294 and that's stumps.

@RicFinlay Only the 2nd time in Hussey's career he has snared 3 catches in a Test inns - the other one also at Sydney v Ind 07-08

5:53pm: Well I guess that wasn't the last over of the day; we've got time for one more by the look of things. This little rearguard has managed to survive but can Bird break them up?

Not on the first ball - Pradeep's put it in the gap between long leg and mid-on for four.

5:49pm: Pradeep got a hold of that one, with Johnson's delivery following him down the leg side, sending it to the long-on boundary. Cheeky.

5:47pm: Bird is definitely feeling the frustration - he just wants that last wicket to fall this afternoon. Lakmal is going to give him a cold at this rate, the way he's swinging the bat.

Sri Lanka is 9 for 280 and Mitchell Johnson is going to bowl the last over of the day.

5:38pm: Nuwan Pradeep's bat appears to be of the standard width, but as far as Jackson Bird is concerned it's a lot skinnier.

The two-Test paceman can't buy an edge and the Sri Lankan number 11 is switching between his repertoire of wild swings, "leaves" and being beaten outside off.

5:31pm: The crowd at the SCG is loving it as Australia goes in for the kill. Jim Maxwell likens it to a bullring. Can they clean it up before stumps?

Mitchell Starc is bowling like he's staring down the Sri Lankan openers - banging them in short and dialling up the intimidation factor. Putting 'em on the stumps worked with Chandimal...

5:27pm: WICKET! And just like that Bird's done so. Lakmal and Herath are looking to slog and that's what's brought the latter undone, popping up a simple catch above the non-striker for Peter Siddle.

The Lankans are almost done at 9 for 273.

5:25pm: Jackson Bird is back in the attack looking to mop up the stragglers this afternoon, hoping to add to his haul of two for the day.

5:23pm: Lakmal isn't interested in playing gentle strokes...or standing in front of his stumps, it seems. He takes a big wide step to leg before throwing the bat at everything. He's taken a single off Starc to get off the mark, and despite there easily being a second in it, he puts down anchor at the non-striker's end. He doesn't want to face.

5:19pm: WICKET! Watch out for Mitchell Starc. A truly devastating in-swinger has skittled Dinesh Chandimal for 24 with the first delivery with the new rock.

He's got three-for and Sri Lanka is 8 for 271. Unless Suranga Lakmal has a ton in him, you'd be safe to say that the tourists won't get too much further this afternoon.

5:03pm: Well Rangana Herath certainly lives and dies by the sword. He's swinging at everything where he should be taking it easy and supporting Dinesh Chandimal, who really is Sri Lanka's last hope in the order. The tourists are 7 for 261 approaching stumps.

4:56pm: WICKET! Again it's Peter Siddle that strikes, with Dhammika Prasad (2) playing a rash stroke to pull one to mid-on, where Mitchell Starc stretched full length to dive forward and accept the catch.

Sri Lanka's tail is now very much exposed with the score at 7 for 256. Rangana Herath is the next man in to join Chandimal (16*).

4:50pm: WICKET! That's the one Australia needed too. Lahiru Thirimanne's first innings Down Under is over just short of his maiden Test ton. He tried to slash it over the fielders but was caught by a diving David Warner at cover for 91 from 151 balls to give Nathan Lyon a tough-earned first victim.

Sri Lanka is 6 for 250 as we steam towards stumps on day one. Chandimal is still at the crease on 12

And we've been informed by Roshan Abeysinghe that the official crowd figure for today at the SCG is 26,197. Nice job Sydney.

4:48pm: And Grandstand expert Russel Arnold is stoked with how the Sri Lankan number four is batting.

@RusselArnold69 New heroes.... That's what SL needs...

4:45pm: Drinks are in the middle as the final session reaches the half-way mark. Sri Lanka has reached a respectable 5 for 249 with Thirimanne on 90 and Chandimal on 12.

Siddle has the ball for the first over after the break. And with Thirimanne approaching his ton, the ever-ready Ric Finlay has another gem for us.

@RicFinlay Last player to make 100 in 1st Test inns in Aus: MClarke 04-05. Last o/s player: JOram 04-05. Chandimal a chance to be 1st SLankan to do it

4:40pm: Make that 8 for Chandimal; he's just danced down and clipped Lyon flat to the long on boundary for four.

Nope, make it 12. That's back-to-back shots gone to the rope, the second one a less-than-perfect sweep.

4:37pm: Boy that outfield is lightning fast. Thirimanne has just hit his 12th and 13th boundaries of the day, a beautiful straight one and then a perfect cover drive off Peter Siddle, and they're almost at the rope before anyone even realises.

David Warner slid on his stomach to try and reel in the second one, and almost headbutted the ad hoarding around the boundary. He's gone to 90 not out. Chandimal is still on 4.

4:26pm: After Kerry and Jim's back-and-forth about complex Sri Lankan names earlier, Drew Morphett delved further into the cultural reasons behind long names with Russel Arnold's insight.

It's an interesting chat, and Russel does take the mickey out of Drew, so it's well worth a listen.

4:24pm: Well Dinesh Chandimal isn't wasting any time. He knows what his team needs and he's right to it, hitting Starc for four to get off the mark.

4:20pm: WICKET! Angelo Mathews is gone for 15, caught at second slip in front of Michael Hussey's chest.

Mitchell Starc has his second and Sri Lanka is 5 for 222. If Australia can take a couple more cheaply in this afternoon session then the hosts will be batting by lunch tomorrow, you'd reckon.

And in case you were wondering, Mathews has a penchant for getting out on an odd number. But I didn't know that - Ric Finlay told us. Obviously.

@RicFinlay AMathews' lowest 19 Test scores (excl 1 duck): 1 1 3 5 5 5 5 5 7 9 11 13 13 15 15 17 17 19 19. Then 22. Bizarre!

4:17pm: Thumped. This is an engaging little battle between Thirimanne and Nathan Lyon. The Sri Lankan leftie won't let the Aussie spinner get into a rhythm and he's just belted him for a six straight down the ground. He's 75* and Sri Lanka is 4 for 222.

4:10pm: Woah. Lyon's thrown one down to Thirimanne that rocketed off the pitch and turns sharply past the bat...and thudded into Matthew Wade's shoulder. That thump was clearly audible in the effects mike. Imagine how much spin he'll get once the deck is all roughed up!

4:03pm: Nathan Lyon has the rock again and Thirimanne has taken a shine to him, hitting back-to-back fours as Sri Lanka brings up the 200. This partnership is now worth 35 for the fifth wicket.

4:00pm: CLOSE CALL! That would've been a handy scalp for Australia. Thirimanne has swiped at Mitchell Johnson and got a big top edge.

But it was on such an angle that it barely flew over the outstretched mitt of Michael Clarke at first slip to run away for four. The left-hander moves to 57* with Mathews on 9* and Sri Lanka is 4 for 198.

3:58pm: It's been a fixture all summer, but you know that when play is moving slowly in the middle Kerry O'Keeffe will make his own fun in the commentary box.

He and Jim Maxwell have been discussing the complexities of Sri Lankan players' extensive names...except Grandstand expert commentator Russel Arnold.

Isn't it funny ... Jayasuriya, Muralidaran, Wickramasinghe, Arnold...how did he get in?

Have a listen:

3:42pm: 50 FOR THIRIMANNE. Well hasn't he turned his innings around after being given a life first ball. That's another crucial knock for Sri Lanka, with the relatively inexperienced Thirimanne clocking up his second Test fifty in eight matches.

The tourists are 4 for 182 with Angelo Mathews still yet to score.

@RoshanCricket Good fighting effort by the young Tirimanne. Need him to go on for a bigger effort.

L. Thirimanne 37*

A. Mathews 0*

M. Jayawardene 72

J. Bird 2/29 (14 overs)

P. Siddle 1/35 (11 overs)

M. Starc 1/48 (11 overs)

3:11pm: Hussey produces a maiden in his second over and that's tea, with Sri Lanka at 4 for 169. Lahiru Thirimanne has quietly worked his way to 37 while captain-in-waiting Angelo Mathews is yet to get off the mark.

That was a similar session to the first one as far as the scorecard is concerned, with the tourists adding 89 for the loss of another two wickets.

3:04pm: Tidy stuff from Mr Cricket, who concedes a miserly one run in his first over.

3:01pm: Oh the Sydney crowd loves this. The man himself, Mike Hussey, has been thrown the ball for a roll.

"Despite Australia naming four fast bowlers, Hussey is going to bowl his little yerters," according to Drew Morphett. I think that's a technical term. Can he add to his seven Test wickets?

2:59pm: WICKET! Thilan Samaraweera has walked. He shuffled across the crease and back, and Peter Siddle has rapped him dead on the pads in front. Don't worry about bothering the third umpire on that one.

Samaraweera departs for 12 after some sustained pressure from Siddle, who's got his first of the Test. Well done son. Sri Lanka is 4 for 167 now.

2:56pm: There's one very good reason Geoff Lawson eats faster than colleagues Drew Morphett and Jim Maxwell, the man himself says. It's because he's not busying himself drinking.

Drew rates Henry as the best eater he knows, and fastest. So now you know.

2:47pm: Peter Siddle is back into the attack, hopefully a little more efficiently than he was directly after lunch when Jayawardene took him to task.

2:32pm: Oh, that's silly stuff from Starc. The intimidatory tactic of throwing the ball back at the batsman's stumps has gone awry and Thilan Samaraweera has earned himself four runs after the ball flew past Matthew Wade to the fine leg boundary.

What's the point Mitch? Sri Lanka moves to 3 for 155.

2:18pm: WICKET? WICKET! Mitchell Starc has dismissed Mahela Jayawardene for 72 and the score is 3 for 134. Michael Clarke took a regulation catch at first slip off a thick edge.

The delivery was initially called a front-foot no-ball but the replay indicated the heel was just legal at the point of impact. That's just what Australia needed, because Thirimanne doesn't quite look settled yet.

But to be honest, I wouldn't either if I'd been hit twice in four balls by "Notch" Johnson.

2:15pm: And two balls later he's gone for a maximum! That's a big six from the captain.

2:14pm: "Gazza" Lyon has the rock after the drinks break and he's immediately belted to the mid-on boundary by Jayawardene, who goes to 65 not.

2:11pm: Ouch. Mitchell Johnson is lining up the body blows on Thirimanne - he's 16 not out but he's copped two blows in the over before drinks.

Sri Lanka is still only two down at the halfway mark of the middle session, reaching 2 for 132, with the skipper on 61*. They're hanging in there pretty solidly despite the pace barrage.

2:03pm: Meanwhile, Shane Warne has anointed the other Hussey brother to replace Mike at Test level for Australia.

With the Test team bled dry of 247 Tests worth of experience with Hussey and Ricky Ponting retiring this summer, Warne believes it is crucial to call in another hardened professional for the looming tours of India and England.
Usman Khawaja, 26, is currently the next cab off the rank after being put on injury stand-by for captain Michael Clarke ahead of the third Test.
But spin great Warne has named David Hussey, 35, ahead of Adam Voges, 33, as his preferred choice.
Warne even went in to bat for 38-year-old Brad Hodge, who no longer plays first-class cricket, on Thursday despite his Melbourne Stars BBL team-mate being ineligible.

Read the story: Warne tips another Hussey for India and Ashes

1:44pm: 50 FOR JAYAWARDENE. On Johnson's first ball of the spell, a fat edge falls JUST short of Mike Hussey in the gully and rockets to the rope for four.

That's a heart-in-throat way to bring up a very important half-century for the Sri Lankan skipper. That's his first Test fifty outside of his homeland since Ahmedabad in 2009. He went on to make 275 in that innings.

@RicFinlay Only the 2nd time Jayawardene has passed 50 in 13 inns in Aust. Aver here before this inns 25.67 with 104 at Bellerive his best. #AusvSL

1:42pm: A strangled shout as Thirimanne edges Lyon over where second slip would've been standing. If this deck is going to turn, Pup needs a second slip in there in catching position.

1:40pm: Now Nathan Lyon is back into the attack for the first time since his two overs before lunch. Australia needs to break these two up.

1:30pm: Thirimanne likes saving his legs too though - in fact his four brings up the 100 for Sri Lanka. This is quite the turnaround from the second innings at the MCG last week.

1:17pm: Jayawardene is definitely taking to Siddle early in this session. He's hit four boundaries to move to 46 not out and Sri Lanka is 2 for 96.

1:13pm: Make that two boundaries in the first over after lunch. That outfield looks beautiful but it's acting like an absolute road. It's 2 for 88 and Jackson Bird will continue the attack from the other end.

1:10pm: Trouble is afoot already at the SCG, with Mahela Jayawardene whipping Peter Siddle away to the square leg boundary on the first ball after lunch. Ouch.

1:07pm: We've got a few moments before play gets underway in the second session. That means there's still time to have a listen to Jim Maxwell's lunchtime chat with former BBC Radio and Test Match Special producer Peter Baxter about the late Christopher Martin-Jenkins.

M. Jayawardene 30*

L. Thirimanne 4*

T. Dilshan 34

J. Bird 2/14 (8 overs)

P. Siddle 0/12 (4 overs)

N. Lyon 0/3 (2 overs)

12:30pm: That was a lightning-fast over if I've ever seen one, and that's lunch. Sri Lanka is 2 for 80 after the first session and that's a pretty good morning for the tourists.

Jackson Bird kept Australia in the hunt with the key wickets of Dimuth Karunaratne (5) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (34) but skipper Mahela Jayawardene is proving to be a pest.

The captain has reached a defiant 30 off 56 deliveries at the interval alongside Lahiru Thirimanne (4 not out). The runs might even flow a bit more freely this afternoon as the Sydney sun dries out that deck a bit more.

12:27pm: Lyon will bowl the last over of the session. Given the turn he got in his first six balls, a wicket isn't out of the question.

12:23pm: Bird has been switched to the Paddington end and Starc is spelled. The tourists are 2 for 76 with the break approaching.

12:20pm: Only a couple of overs left before lunch now and Nathan Lyon has been thrown amongst the pigeons.

He's definitely got some turn out of this first over, and the opening delivery was an uppish edge through the cordon where there wasn't a slips fielder. Encouraging stuff.

12:13pm: SO CLOSE. Thirimanne has been given a reprieve after being given out lbw on his first delivery. Bird could've been on a hat-trick there.

The DRS replays showed the ball was missing leg stump. What was that I was saying about Thirimanne having a tough job 20 minutes before lunch? Pressure's on him now.

12:11pm: WICKET! The new kid strikes again. How about that. Jackson Bird has brought Dilshan forward prodding, and offered Matthew Wade the most textbook catch behind of all.

Dilshan goes for 34 and Bird has got the scalps of both openers. Sri Lanka is 2 for 73 with 20 minutes until lunch. Tough time to come to the middle for Lahiru Thirimanne in his eighth Test match.

12:04pm: Ooh that was almost the break Australia needed. A corker of a Bird delivery had Dilshan playing forward and edging, but the ball fell just short of Hussey at gully.

12:02pm: Just now, Sri Lankan expert commentator Roshan Abeysinghe has been reminiscing about his playing days against the late Tony Greig.

It's an engaging and entertaining few minutes of commentary. Take a listen below.

12:01pm: Wicket-taker Jackson Bird has the ball again in the hopes of changing Australia's fortunes.

Sri Lanka is 1 for 70 with this pair putting on 44 between them for the second wicket and looking pretty settled. Dilshan is 34 not out with his skipper Jayawardene 10 runs behind on 24.

11:49am: Dilshan wants in on the action too, and he does it in style with a drive through mid-wicket for a boundary off Starc. Didn't come off the middle of the bat but the fieldsmen could save their legs anyway.

11:45am: Ouch - Johnson is now the man belted to the boundary off Jayawardene's blade. Great sharp cut shot behind point for four and the captain moves to 22 and his side is 1 for 55.

11:40am: Kerry reckons Sri Lanka is moving the ball through the field better than the Wallabies do. Ouch. Let's hope Robbie Deans, who's in the SCG crowd today, isn't listening in to the coverage.

Meanwhile Jayawardene has hooked a short Siddle delivery to the fine leg boundary for four more. Wasn't pretty but a four is a four on the scorebook.

And a few minutes ago Geoff Lawson and Drew Morphett were discussing what they think are flaws in Australia's decision to bring four quicks to Sydney for the final Test of the series, which is essentially a dead rubber.

Henry reckons this was the perfect opportunity to give Usman Khawaja some extra experience in the baggy green ahead of the Ashes this year. Have a listen to their chat below.

11:29am: Four bits for Jayawardene off Siddle with a brilliant cut shot. These two are really looking for runs out there early. It's drinks in the first session and Sri Lanka is 1 for 42. The skipper is unbeaten on 13 and Tillakaratne Dilshan is 17 not out.

As Henry Lawson has just noted on-air, the bowling attack hasn't been as foot-to-throat as you might have imagined early on a green-tinged deck on the first day.

Jayawardene and Dilshan have taken some daring but not risky singles and punishing the bad ones.

11:25am: The wicket of Karunaratne put Jackson Bird on Ric Finlay's finely tuned statistical radar. Take a look at these numbers.

@RicFinlay Only two current Test bowlers have bowling av < 20: JBird 13.40, VPhilander 16.83. Next best JPattinson 22.10 (excl NZ's RossTaylor 21.50)

11:21am: The Birdman has been spelled and Melbourne man-of-the-match Mitchell Johnson is into the attack.

11:20am: For Brisbane readers, you'll get the chance to see Test 12th man Glenn Maxwell in action at the Gabba tonight if Big Bash Twenty20 is your flavour.

He's been released from drinks-carrying duties in Sydney so he can join his Melbourne Stars team-mates against Brisbane Heat this evening.

11:17am: OH SO CLOSE. Siddle had Mahela Jayawardene playing forward and tempted him into a thick edge that flew between first and second slip, and it looked like Mike Hussey got a finger on that.

Geoff Lawson reckons the spacing between Hussey and Michael Clarke was fine, but that one was definitely not uncatchable. It's 1 for 36 in the 11th over.

11:08am: If you're not able to listen in at this second, you can probably still hear the roar from the crowd at the SCG. Peter Siddle has been brought into the attack to spell Mitchell Starc.

There's absolutely no denying the love the Australian public has for the Siddler.

11:04am: WICKET! A short one from Jackson Bird has brought Dimuth Karunaratne undone on a silly pull shot with the top edge falling into the safe hands of Mike Hussey.

Sri Lanka needed better than that from its opener, who's gone for 5. It's 1 for 26 in the eighth over. The pair survived the first half-hour without any real hassle but that was needlessly reckless from Tillakaratne.

11:02am: Half-hearted shout for leg-before there with Bird bowling to Dilshan, but it was definitely sliding down leg-side. First appeal of the morning in any case.

10:53am: Meanwhile the openers are chugging along nicely, with Dilshan leading the way on 13 and the score at 0 for 17 after five overs. The right-hander has hit boundaries off both bowlers and seems to be settling in solidly.

10:45am: Given that it's Mr Cricket's final Test for Australia, we want to know your favourite Mike Hussey moments.

Here are some of your responses.

@MattyP_11 when he hit the winning runs against the poms in the miracle test in Adelaide.

@little_me1497 His 195 against the Poms at the GABBA when critics wanted him dropped. One of the best knocks.

@joshua_hann Standout moment from Huss was run chase in Adelaide versus England in 2006. 61* off 65 balls. Match winning boundary #special

@_VANDY_ Being the best finisher in ODIs #MrConsistency

10:42am: Bird's first over was a maiden, which we've now come to expect after his efficient debut effort in Melbourne.

But Tillakaratne Dilshan has just sent Starc to the boundary with a beautiful, aggressive cover drive. It's 0 for 5.

10:35am: Well that's the first over survived anyway. Sri Lanka is 0 for 1. Jackson Bird is at the Randwick end.

10:29am: Both teams are out in the middle and we're almost ready to go. Mitchell Starc will bowl the opening over and after his nice rest over Boxing Day, you can imagine he's raring to go on this green Sydney deck.

First ball is outside Dimuth Karunaratne's off stump and there's plenty of swing already. As Kerry said earlier, Sri Lanka really needs to dig in and survive the first couple of sessions intact.

10:18am: The SCG is observing a moment's silence to honour Tony Greig ahead of the national anthems.

10:14am: There have been a couple of changes in the Sri Lankan line-up for this dead rubber Test after the visitors were left looking like a hospital ward after Boxing Day.

Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne come into the fold to replace Prasanna Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara with the bat while quicks Chanaka Welegedara and Shaminda Eranga have succumbed to their own injuries, making way for Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep.

After the toss Jim caught up with the Sri Lankan skipper for some insight into the new team members. Have a listen to their chat below:

10:11am: Down on the pitch Kerry O'Keeffe says it's imperative that Sri Lanka toughs out the opening day and lets the Sydney surface dry out if the tourists want to win their first Test ever at the SCG. He reckons 360 in Sri Lanka's first innings is crucial.

And Skull is predicting a bruising morning for Mahela Jayawardene's men...

"There'll be so much carry, so many people are going to be hit here this morning, it'll be tough to survive."

10:02am: Skipper Michael Clarke has won the toss and will bowl first on a green deck at the SCG. A surface like that could prove tough for Sri Lanka's top order to get settled in.

He told Jim Maxwell his four-pronged pace attack made the decision to send Sri Lanka in first a very easy one. And he's got faith in both the man who made his debut in Melbourne and the man who sat out:

"Mitchell Starc and Jackson Bird will open the bowling for us ... It always spins at the SCG so Nathan Lyon will definitely get a bowl."

Have a listen below:

10:00am: It's been a tough week for cricket, with the passing of former England captain and iconic Channel Nine commentator Tony Greig on Saturday.

Not long ago Drew Morphett joined ABC News Breakfast from the SCG to provide a heads-up ahead of day one's play. Take a look below:

9:52am: While we're waiting for the action to get underway in Sydney, how about South Africa? In case you haven't caught up with the overnight scores, the Proteas skittled New Zealand for 45 on the first day of their first Test at Newlands.

Vernon Philander was the chief destroyer, taking 5 for 7 in an incredible 20 deliveries. And the hosts didn't stop there either - South Africa proceeded to build a lead of 207 by stumps thanks to Alviro Petersen's unbeaten 103.

Read the story: Philander acclaimed as New Zealand crashes

9:35am: Jim Maxwell, Drew Morphett, Roshan Abeysinghe and Kerry O'Keeffe will lead off our commentary team at the SCG. They'll hit the airwaves at 10:05am and you can contact them via email (cricket@abc.net.au), SMS (0467 920 222) or on Twitter (@abcgrandstand, using the hashtag #abccricket).

9:30am: A very warm good morning cricket fans and thanks for joining me for the last Test of the summer. I'm Adrian Crawford and I'll be keeping you updated throughout the next five days. Play will begin at 10:30am.

We've had a longer than expected hiatus after the Boxing Day Test finished before the Christmas lunch leftovers did. As you'll remember, Australia leads the three-Test series 2-0 after beating Sri Lanka after convincing wins in Hobart and at the MCG.

Will the hosts send Mike Hussey out a winner and can Mr Cricket end a remarkable career with his 20th Test century?

Tags: sport, cricket, sydney-2000

First posted January 03, 2013 09:44:53

View the original article here

Debutants Finch, Hughes to open for Australia

2013-01-13T17:48:00.000+06:00

Updated January 10, 2013 22:50:42

Australia will field debutants in its top three batting spots in Friday's one-day series opener against Sri Lanka in Melbourne, but captain George Bailey denied it was a second-string side.

Bailey said on Thursday that Aaron Finch and Phil Hughes would open the batting, with left-hander Usman Khawaja coming in at number three.

Bailey will bat at number four in an inexperienced line-up that also includes all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who has only played four ODIs.

David Hussey and Brad Haddin add some experience to the middle order.

The selectors resisted naming a fourth debutant, leaving quick Ben Cutting out of the bowling attack.

That leaves Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Clint McKay to fill the pace spots with Xavier Doherty the specialist spinner, supported by Maxwell and Hussey.

Bailey rejected claims he will lead a B-team into the opening match of the five-match series.

"For these two games this is the best side that Australia can put out," Bailey said.

Selectors on Sunday announced a 13-man squad for the first two ODIs.

"I've got no doubt that if guys perform well, for sure there'll be a few debutants in this game.... I think you'll see these guys a lot more in one-day cricket, I think you'll see some of them play Test cricket."

Bailey added that it was the perfect occasion for the debutants to shine.

"It's a huge opportunity and a great one.... What you want from your top four, top five (batsmen) in one-day cricket is for them to score the bulk of the runs and to win you the game," he said.

"Whether it's your first game or your 50th game, that expectation doesn't change."

Underlining the Australian team's relative inexperience, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene (386) has played more one-dayers than Australia's entire XI (366).

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sri-lanka

First posted January 10, 2013 12:55:05

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Brett Lee cleared over public criticism

2013-01-13T17:15:00.000+06:00

Updated January 02, 2013 16:29:11

Former Test fast bowler Brett Lee has escaped punishment following a Cricket Australia code of conduct hearing into his public criticism of Cricket NSW and its chief executive David Gilbert.

Lee had publically criticised Gilbert last week, saying he should have been sacked instead of NSW Sheffield Shield coach Anthony Stuart, who was axed half-way through his second year of a two-year deal.

But charges of unbecoming behaviour and detrimental public comment have been withdrawn by mutual agreement after a three-hour hearing in Sydney on Wednesday.

Instead, Lee was invited to take a bigger role by advising a Cricket NSW sub-committee looking at the future direction of cricket in the state.

"I'm really, really pleased with the outcome," Lee said.

"For them to drop all charges in regards to bringing the game into disrepute, I'm really happy about."

In a statement, Cricket NSW confirmed the charges had been withdrawn, with the board saying it looked forward to working with Lee in future.

"Cricket New South Wales and Brett Lee are pleased to state that they have arrived at a consensual resolution of the matter, including that Cricket New South Wales will immediately establish a Sub-Committee of its Board to which Brett Lee will be invited to contribute to address issues as to the future direction of cricket in New South Wales," the statement read.

"Both parties are very pleased to have found a way forward and at having arrived at a very positive mutual outcome.

"Brett Lee looks forward very much to working constructively with Cricket New South Wales into the future."

ABC/AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 02, 2013 13:54:03

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Starc pulled from one-day squad

2013-01-13T16:44:00.000+06:00

Updated January 12, 2013 13:55:27

Australia will go into Sunday's second one-day international against Sri Lanka in Adelaide without the services of young paceman Mitchell Starc, who has suffered mild calf soreness.

Cricket Australia announced Starc's withdrawal from the side on Saturday morning, just hours after Australia's crushing 107-run victory over the tourists in which the 22-year-old took 1 for 25.

Team physio Alex Kountouris said he was not too worried about the niggle.

"Whilst we are not majorly concerned about it, we have withdrawn him from the game on Sunday as a precaution," he said in a statement.

"He will be reassessed over the next few days and is a possibility to play next weekend's matches against Sri Lanka if his symptoms resolve."

Australian selectors have called up Kane Richardson as cover for Starc.

"Kane has been called in as cover in the squad due to his impressive form in the limited overs formats this season," chief selector John Inverarity said in a statement.

"This provides another great opportunity for a young player as we look to build towards Cricket World Cup in 2015."

Right-armer Richardson is yet to make his Australian debut but has 16 domestic one-day caps and 20 Twenty20 games under his belt for South Australia and Adelaide Strikers.

Tags: onedayseries, cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted January 12, 2013 13:55:27

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Starc agrees with rotation policy

2013-01-13T16:10:00.000+06:00

Updated December 30, 2012 17:56:57

Australian paceman Mitchell Starc says the decision to rest him from the Boxing Day Test was the right one for the team, even though he was disappointed to miss out.

The young left-armer is expected to return to the side for the final Test against Sri Lanka at the SCG later this week.

It will be Starc's first Test at his home ground in Sydney.

He was philosophical about missing out on what would have been his first Boxing Day Test in Melbourne which finished in just over two and a half days on Friday.

"If it went five days, I could have ended up bowling 50 overs or 40 overs, so it was the right decision for the team at the time," Starc said.

Starc said last week he was "shattered" to miss the Boxing Day showdown and asked again on Sunday if he was disappointed to miss out in Melbourne, he said: "absolutely, any player who misses a Test is going to be disappointed.

"But it's all about the team. It was the right decision for my well-being and the team as well."

Starc was unsurprised that his replacement for the Boxing Day Test, debutant Jackson Bird, got amongst the wickets.

"It was no real surprise that he's taken wickets at Test level, he's done it at domestic level for two years now," Starc said.

He was rendered speechless when he found out on Saturday that middle order batting linchpin Mike Hussey would be making the SCG Test his last.

"It was quite a shock, hopefully we can send him out the way he deserves," Starc said.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 30, 2012 14:50:42

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Renegades win as Hales storms SCG

2013-01-13T15:35:00.000+06:00

Updated January 10, 2013 08:41:51

English opener Alex Hales ended the Sydney Sixers' Big Bash League title defence in spectacular style as the table-topping Melbourne Renegades sounded an ominous warning ahead of the finals.

Hales, signed as injured Jamaican Marlon Samuels' replacement on Tuesday, walloped 89 from 52 balls, smashing eight sixes to lift the Renegades to a total of 5 for 178 and a 29-run victory.

The performance came less than 12 hours after he completed the exacting journey from London to Sydney, but the 24-year-old showed no signs of jetlag in Wednesday night's easy win.

"I was lucky enough to get a bit of sleep on the plane," Hales said.

"I knew if I got through the tough bit at the start with Brett Lee bowling very well, then it was a pretty good deck and I could make up for it later on."

After a slow start by the visitors, who opted to bat first, Hales turned the game on its head when he single-handedly plundered 22 runs from Josh Hazlewood in the fifth over.

Hazlewood fumbled the one and only chance of Hales' innings and it was comfortably the most costly of the four catches the Sixers put down in front of 17,801 fans.

Hales took a particular liking to the spin of Steve O'Keefe (0 for 50 from three overs), smacking four sixes off one over including a punishing blow over long on that travelled 111m and landed on the roof of the Members' Pavilion.

"There was a little bit of close your eyes and swing as hard as you can," Hales said.

Ben Rohrer (57), stand-in Renegades captain in the absence of Aaron Finch (national duty), shared a 112-run partnership with Hales and was in awe of the young gun who was in India three weeks ago with England's national T20 side.

"I think he was in business class and slept all the way, so he had no excuse," Rohrer laughed.

"I was wondering if the flight might have affected him, and I hope it has to be honest because it'll be pretty special if it gets better than that.

"He played perfectly really ... he's done really well to adapt so quickly."

Hales' knock was the second best of the tournament, with Finch's unbeaten 111 in the season opener the only better effort.

Hales' eight sixes was also the most for an innings this season.

The Sixers were a mathematical chance of sneaking into the top four and keeping their BBL title defence alive, but needed to reach the Renegades' total in approximately 12 overs and also rely on other results going their way.

The first hurdle always looked insurmountable, and so it proved as the Renegades made it seven wins from eight matches and rolled the Sixers for 149 with the last delivery of the game.

O'Keefe, who top-scored for the Sixers with 41, exacted a small degree of revenge with the bat when he pulled a short ball to Hales in the deep that the Englishman lost in the lights.

Veteran tweaker Muttiah Muralitharan was a last-minute withdrawal from the Renegades' side. A team spokesman confirmed it was a precautionary move and that he was in no doubt for the upcoming semi-final.

The absence allowed Pakistani immigrant Fawad Ahmed to make his Twenty20 debut, and he turned in bowling figures of 0 for 34 from four overs.

ABC/AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted January 09, 2013 22:22:27

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Bailey's 'B-Team' buries Sri Lanka

2013-01-13T15:04:00.000+06:00

Updated January 11, 2013 22:41:54

They may be Australia's "B Team" but George Bailey's men made a mockery of that moniker with a 107-run one-day win over Sri Lanka at the MCG on Friday.

Man-of-the-match Phil Hughes (112) became the first Australian to score a century on one-day international debut as Australia clobbered 5 for 305 before Clint McKay (4 for 33) helped bowl the Sri Lankans out for 198 with 10 overs to spare.

Mitchell Starc removed Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga for 1 and McKay struck a key blow when skipper Mahela Jayawardene was caught at slip for 5.

Sri Lanka recovered to reach 2 for 111 at the 25-over mark but Tillakaratne Dilshan (51) was run out next ball by a direct hit from Usman Khawaja.

In a remarkable double-play of suicidal Sri Lankan running between wickets, cover fieldsman Glenn Maxwell ran out Angelo Mathews (12) and Lahiru Thirimanne (0) in consecutive deliveries in the 30th over as Sri Lanka slumped to 5 for 128.

Mitchell Johnson (2 for 43) dismissed Jeevan Mendis (20) caught at mid-off and 35-year-old wicketkeeper Brad Haddin pulled off a diving catch to remove the danger man Dinesh Chandimal for 73 in the following over from McKay.

Johnson also removed Thisara Perera (4) and McKay claimed the last two wickets in successive deliveries.

Despite fears of a very low crowd figure, 27,461 fans attended including several thousand Sri Lankan supporters.

Stand-in skipper Bailey (89 off 79 balls) and Hughes (112 off 129) shared a crucial 140-run stand for Australia's third wicket.

Australia's other top-order debutants Aaron Finch (16) and Khawaja (3) failed to match the crowd-pleasing strokeplay of Hughes who hit 14 fours.

David Hussey made a good fist of trying to slot into the finishing role made famous by his brother Mike with an innings of 60 not out from 34 deliveries.

Australia rested skipper Michael Clarke, opener David Warner and injured vice-captain Shane Watson while veteran Mike Hussey has been dumped after announcing this will be his final international season.

It was the first time since 1986 Australia has fielded a one-day side with at least three debutants, prompting criticism that it was a "B-team".

The second match in the five-game series is on Sunday in Adelaide.

AAP

Tags: onedayseries, cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sri-lanka

First posted January 11, 2013 22:32:25

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Hussey salutes at end of dream career

2013-01-13T14:34:00.000+06:00

By James Maasdorp

Updated January 06, 2013 23:49:33

Michael Hussey says his whole career has felt like a dream after ending his last Test match for Australia a winner at the SCG.

Australia successfully chased down the 141 runs required to beat Sri Lanka with five wickets in hand in Sydney and sweep the series 3-0, with Hussey (27 not out) in the middle to see the hosts home.

The Aussies lost wickets at regular intervals as the crowd repeatedly chanted for Hussey to come out and cap off a fairytale finish to a wonderful Test career, alongside Mitchell Johnson (1 not out).

As it happened: Third Test, Day Four

"I couldn't have dreamed of it, I can remember when I hadn't even played and Jason Gillespie said to me 'I reckon you've got 50 Tests in you, Huss'," he told Grandstand.

"I laughed at him straight in the face.

"I said 'no way, mate', I was already probably 30 years of age, I would have bitten his hand off right then (to get 50).

"To go on and play 79, to be part of a World Cup and an Ashes-winning team, that's what it's all about.

"I've exceeded anything I could have ever dreamed of, and the game's given me so much, so I feel very fortunate."

Hussey leaves the long form of the game with a sterling record, averaging 51.52 with the bat having scored 6,235 runs for his country.

He thanked the SCG crowd for their send-offs throughout the four days of cricket, but said he was hoping the batsmen above him could get the job done without him.

"I'm a little bit embarrassed about [the send-offs], to be honest - the support has just been overwhelming," he said.

"I can't believe it and I've got to thank the Sydney crowd so much because they've been absolutely fantastic.

"There's always pressure, that's what Test cricket is all about. I was hoping not to bat, I was hoping we would have got the runs none down, but it was nice to go out there and be there close to the end.

"To be there with Mitchell Johnson was brilliant, it's another Australian win and I'm very proud.

"I was hoping Michael Clarke and Ed Cowan could get through to tea because the crowd were beginning to call for one of them to get out, and I wanted to make sure that both of them stayed there and finished the job.

"It was great to get out there. I admit I was a bit nervous ... you just don't want to let anyone down there, and I'm just proud to be out there."

Wicket-keeper Matthew Wade, who hit a gutsy 102 in the first innings but was bowled out by for 8 in the second, lauded Hussey's performances throughout his career and said his farewell was a fitting one.

"What a Test match, awesome. It was always going to happen like that, Mr Cricket was ... always going to bat out there for the winning runs," Wade told Grandstand.

"The crowd's been amazing, the whole Test match. [Hussey is] a little bit embarrassed about it, he didn't want any fuss over him, but unfortunately it was always going to happen."

Read the story: Hussey left out of ODI squad

Hussey steps away from Test cricket and, while he has yet to retire from the limited overs game, he was omitted from Australia's squad for the first two ODI matches against Sri Lanka.

But his younger brother David will continue the Hussey tradition in Australian gold, with Michael wishing him all the best.

"I hope [David] goes well, it's a great opportunity for a lot of guys now around the Australian team," Hussey said.

"We'll see which one's going to stand up and take his opportunity and be part of the next generation of Australian cricket.

"I hope it is [David], he really wants it, but we'll really have to wait and see."

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, sri-lanka

First posted January 06, 2013 17:11:59

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Stars make it unlucky 13 for Thunder

2013-01-13T14:01:00.000+06:00

By Andrew McGarry

Updated January 09, 2013 10:44:04

Sydney Thunder's season of futility has been completed after the bottom-of-the-ladder side lost its 13th straight match by 13 runs against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Tuesday night.

The Stars, missing two big names in Shane Warne and Lasith Malinga, struggled to set a total before finishing on 8 for 145 off the full 20 overs.

But after star import Chris Gayle put his team in a brilliant position, the Thunder lost 9 for 70 to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory.

Paceman Dirk Nannes produced the ball of the night to dismiss dangerman Brad Hodge (39 off 26) with a ball that beat the batsman and crashed into middle stump.

The Thunder also removed David Hussey for 32 and then bowled well at the death - taking 4 for 16 in the final overs - to keep the Stars well below a par score.

Gayle - who has been under pressure to perform after a series of failures - took 2 for 5 and ran out Stars opener Luke Wright.

He then came out firing in the Thunder's innings, hoisting paceman Jackson Bird for a massive straight six over the sightscreen in the second over.

The real fireworks came two overs later, as Gayle crashed three boundaries and another big six off John Hastings to get the Thunder off to a flyer.

Gayle flayed the attack to all parts of the ground, bringing up his 50 off just 25 balls and the visitors were 1 for 59 after six overs and cruising to victory.

The Stars tightened the bowling and Bird gave his team a lift when he took a diving catch to dismiss Matt Prior for 7, leaving Sydney 2 for 62 in the eighth over.

Gayle finally went for 65 off 43 balls, holing out in the deep to Glenn Maxwell off Dimitri Mascarenhas (2 for 27).

Then Usman Khawaja fell for 23 off 18 balls, caught in the deep by Hodge off Bird (1 for 20), and the Thunder were 4 for 100 and struggling to reach the target.

The innings disintegrated from there with Sean Abbott (3), Ryan Carters (2), Mark Cosgrove (8) and Adam Zampa (8) and Luke Doran (4) as the visitors lost confidence at the end of a terrible season.

Gurinder Sandhu was last man out for 6 off James Faulkner (3 for 24) as Sydney were dismissed for 132 with two balls left.

The Thunder had been winless in seven games this Big Bash season, and the defeat now continues the franchise's 13-match streak dating back to last season.

The result means that the Stars (10 points) join the Melbourne Renegades (12) in the finals.

The remaining places will be filled by two of the Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes, who are separated only by net run rate going into the final round of matches.

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, melbourne-3000, vic, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 08, 2013 23:01:08

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Sri Lankan shambles takes shine off milestone

2013-01-13T13:26:00.000+06:00

Dan Lonergan

Updated December 26, 2012 19:21:37

Cricket is a game full of stats and if you are good enough to play for a long time the milestones will arrive.

Only 11 players have been good enough to reach the 10,000 Test runs club, with the latest member being welcomed at the MCG on Boxing Day, Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakarra on the first day of the second Test against Australia.

This day is much more than a sporting event - it's a social occasion. Many of the crowd, as well as watching the cricket, enjoy Christmas drinks with old friends they haven't seen for a while.

The 67,000-plus in attendance saw a poor batting display from the Sri Lankans who were dismissed before tea by a fine bowling and fielding performance from Australia.

Tasmania's Jackson Bird became the 431st Test cricketer chosen to play for Australia and his parents flew in for the big day, with his father, who works in the film industry making the trip from Romania.

They were not disappointed as the former Sydneysider claimed two wickets, with his first scalp coming in just his second over.

Mitchell Johnson picked up four wickets and like Sangakkara achieved a milestone of his own, 200 Test wickets.

He became the 14th Australian to get there as he continues to rejuvenate an international career that had stalled for a year due to injury and poor form.

Johnson is inconsistent, but also a match winner and probably needs to be a permanent member of the Australian team.

Fitting all the bowlers in is difficult but with Cricket Australia continuing with their controversial rotation policy there will be plenty of opportunities throughout upcoming Test series for bowlers to get a chance.

Mitchell Starc with consecutive five-wicket hauls in the past two Tests is a certainty to play in Sydney after being told to have a break in Melbourne.

Day one was tough for Sri Lanka. In front of many adoring fans who now call Victoria home - and playing in just their second Boxing Day Test - the tourists have failed to deliver.

Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch that had plenty of grass, but like most MCG Test wickets was expected to offer something for the bowlers early, before settling down and becoming a pretty reliable batting deck.

However, they lost too many early wickets with Sangakarra watching on forlornly at the other end. He played some beautiful strokes with his signature shot, the cover drive, a real highlight.

When he got to 40, he reached the magical figure of 10,000 Test runs. It's a magnificent achievement and thoroughly deserved.

He has been in many peoples' eyes the best player in the world for several years and now joins his captain in making it to the 10,000 mark.

Although Jayawardene has made 600 runs more than Sangakkarra - on account of playing an extra 22 tests - and Aravinda de Silva was also a brilliant player, the elegant left-hander will likely go down as his country's greatest ever batsman.

But this is a team sport and this outstanding feat is going to be overshadowed by his country's substandard performance.

To be fair, after a poor first hour, their bowlers started showing some fight but lacklustre fielding meant Michael Clarke and Shane Watson remain at the crease and likely to cause more misery on Wednesday.

Tags: cricket, sri-lanka, australia

First posted December 26, 2012 18:34:50

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Cowan says he's getting better at Tests

2013-01-13T12:53:00.000+06:00

Updated January 02, 2013 09:26:05

Australian opener Ed Cowan believes he is a better player now than he was just over 12 months ago when he scored four consecutive centuries to knock down the door for Test selection.

Cowan has averaged a modest 34.10 in 12 Tests since his debut in last summer's Boxing Day Test, but feels he is not far from more consistent big scores at the top level heading into Thursday's dead-rubber third Test against Sri Lanka in Sydney.

The 30-year-old said he has wasted opportunities to add to the maiden Test century he scored in Brisbane against South Africa in November.

He was disappointed he could not regain his concentration in Melbourne last week after he was involved in a run-out with Phil Hughes. Cowan was dismissed a short time later for 36.

Looking back at his first year in the job, Cowan says the Test caper is harder than it looks but he feels he is learning from mistakes.

"Those four hundreds in a row which capped off being picked last year, I don't think I'm playing any worse now," he said.

"I just think sometimes the game rolls with you a little bit and luck plays its part.

"Looking back at the dismissals, none are really screaming 'you're out of form or technically you're in trouble', so I think that's a good thing.

"It doesn't feel like I don't know where my next run is coming from, it's just a question of getting my head down for a bit longer."

Cowan said he was enjoying the prospect of redemption in the SCG Test, after last year failing against India.

Born and raised in Sydney, Cowan was unwanted by NSW, before moving to Tasmania to build his case for Test selection.

Cowan says he feels at ease in his home town rather than believing he has an axe to grind.

"It was disappointing last year to sit and watch all those runs (SCG centuries by Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey)," he said.

"But at the same time it was a great learning curve as to the hunger required on a good wicket in Sydney and if you do get in to really go big.

"It's just nice to go to your parents' home and have a cup of tea and just a bit of normality and get away from it all."

Australia will hold a light training session on Wednesday morning and captain Michael Clarke is likely to finalise his line-up.

Glenn Maxwell is tipped to make his debut filling the all-rounder boots of the injured Shane Watson (calf), while Mitchell Starc is favoured to come back into the fast bowling rotation at the expense of Jackson Bird.

Another option is to play Johnson as the allrounder over Maxwell and Bird retain his place following an impressive debut last week.

Clarke is thought to be a certain starter despite hamstring trouble.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, sri-lanka

First posted January 02, 2013 09:26:05

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Heat beat Stars to keep finals hopes alive

2013-01-13T12:20:00.000+06:00

Updated January 04, 2013 09:50:49

The Brisbane Heat weathered a Lasith Malinga onslaught before keeping their Big Bash finals hopes alive with a 24-run victory over the Melbourne Stars at the Gabba.

In a match where tempers frayed between Australian one-day teammates Clint McKay and Dan Christian, the Heat (5 for 171) ended the Stars' four-match winning streak with a spirited comeback on Thursday night.

Super slinger Malinga continued his destructive BBL form with an amazing 3-0 from his first 10 balls to have the home side staring at a sub-par total of 140.

But thanks largely to Shane Warne's rusty fielding and Chris Lynn's late-innings hitting, Brisbane set a respectable target which couldn't be reined in.

Dropped by Warne, his second embarrassing miss in the field, Lynn (26 not out) then helped peel off 17 runs off the final over by Malinga (3-26).

Heat skipper James Hopes followed his 49 with the bat to take 3 for 28 with the ball in a man-of-the-match performance which tormented the Stars' international-quality line-up.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera, in his last match for Brisbane, chimed in with 3 for 18 as the visitors were kept to 9-147.

A big crowd of 24,500 - the biggest of the season at the Gabba - lapped up the result which moves the Heat to fifth on the table with 3-3 record.

The Stars (4-2) remain in second place on eight points.

Emotions boiled over in the Heat innings when McKay and Christian engaged in a heated exchange, trading insults from close quarters, after the batsman prevented a run-out with his running line.

Warne, who won the toss and bowled first, showed his own lack of confidence in the field by calling Luke Wright to take a skied ball from Perera that landed where the 43-year-old had been standing.

Warne admitted the Stars let the home side off the hook following their impressive start.

"It was a little disappointing tonight in all three departments - our fielding and our bowling, we didn't quite get it right, and in our batting we lost wickets at crucial times," he said.

"Our last four overs went for 52 and 170 was a par score here as it was a really good wicket so we thought we could chase it down."

Hopes, who set the foundations with a two-paced 63-run second-wicket stand with surprise number three Chris Hartley, felt the Heat had some momentum after winning just one of their first four matches.

"It's a funny thing with our side, we tend to play our best when our backs are to the wall and we have to lose a few first to get on a winning streak," he said.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, brisbane-4000, melbourne-3000

First posted January 03, 2013 23:47:29

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Homesickness prompted Hussey exit call

2013-01-13T11:46:00.000+06:00

Updated December 30, 2012 14:24:02

Michael Hussey says the prospect of spending seven of the next 12 months away from his family led to his decision to quit international cricket.

Hussey said the fact he was dreading rather than looking forward to the prestigious tours of India and England, made leaving the international game an easy one.

"I first started to doubt my desire to continue as a Test cricketer on the last couple of away tours," Hussey told News Limited.

Read Mike Hussey: Six of the Best

"The first I was away for two-and-a-half months and the next for three months. I found the separation from my family very hard.

"It got more and more difficult to say goodbye each time. So I made the decision I wanted to play out the Australian summer and see how I felt.

"To see whether I had the desire to spend seven of the next 12 months on the road, to India and the Ashes.

"If I'm honest, I wasn't anywhere near as excited about those tours as I should have been. And to pull on the baggy green cap you've got to be 100 per cent committed.

"I always have given 100 per cent and didn't want it to get to the stage where I was playing for Australia and wanted to be somewhere else.

"So I decided to move on, while my form is still quite good. It will be nice to go out on top. The next 12 months are going to be brutal and, at 37, I just feel it is going to be too much for me."

Hussey revealed that he told Mickey Arthur and Michael Clarke after the victory in Melbourne and let the rest of the team know since then.

"I told the Australian coach Mickey Arthur and captain Michael Clarke in the dressing room after our Second Test win over Sri Lanka," Hussey said.

"I didn't want to tell the players though, to ruin the song and the special feeling you get when you win a Test series.

"I have spent the past 48 hours phoning them all or talking to them one-on-one.

"Most were a bit shocked. But they were happy for me as well. To be able to go out on my terms."

Hussey, who has to choose the next player to lead the singing of Australia's victory song 'Under the Southern Cross I Stand', said though he will miss being part of the team ultimately it was an easy call to make.

"It may shock a few people but let me assure everyone I am at peace with what was the toughest - yet easiest - decision I have ever made," .

"Toughest because I will miss the camaraderie post-match and leading the team song after a sweet victory inside the dressing room.

"Easiest because the decision has been made for family reasons to be there 24/7 for my wife Amy and children Jasmin (eight), William (six), Molly (five) and Oscar (six months)."

Tags: sport, cricket, wa, australia

First posted December 30, 2012 14:22:49

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As it happened: Third Test Day Four

2013-01-13T11:13:00.000+06:00

Adrian Crawford

Updated January 06, 2013 17:11:59

Michael Hussey left Test cricket a winner as Australia swept Sri Lanka 3-0 with a five-wicket win at the SCG on day four.

Look back on Sunday's action with our updates, audio and video highlights, photos, tweets and more from Sydney.

(All times in AEDT)

5:10pm: After blogging two Tests this summer that finished in less than five days, I'm starting to wonder whether I'm a good-luck charm for Australian cricket.

It's safe to say that's a wrap for this afternoon, this match and this summer of Test cricket. Thanks for following along with us throughout the South Africa and Sri Lanka series.

We hope you've enjoyed the coverage as much as my right-hand man James Maasdorp and I have enjoyed bringing it to you. Until next time, this is Adrian Crawford signing off.

5:00pm: As always, Jim Maxwell and Kerry O'Keeffe have been good enough to summarise today's thrilling final day of cricket, which you can hear below.

And to hear the best parts of Grandstand's day four commentary, make sure to have a listen to our highlights package.

4:15pm: He's unstoppable! Drew is now with Jackson Bird, who's thanked the Sydney crowd for their support in his second Test but said he can't rest on his laurels yet.

"It's been a good start so far. There's a lot of hard work to do in the next couple of months.
"If selected there's a couple of tough tours coming up and there's a lot of Test cricket.
"So I've just got to concentrate on what I can in the next couple of weeks and see what happens from there."

He reckons he'll have to brush up on the words to the team song before they get to the sheds.

The baton has been passed too - Nathan Lyon will be the leader of the song with Hussey's departure.

4:12pm: Drew is having a chat with Mahela Jayawardene, defeated in his last Test match as captain.

"I've enjoyed it, it was a one-year stint which I said from the beginning and the time is right.
"Angelo [Mathews] will gradually slowly get into this role and I can help him while I'm around.

He said his side showed improvement after a two-and-a-half-day defeat in the Boxing Day Test.

"It was especially important to pick ourselves up after the MCG.
"It was not the way we wanted to play, not to our potential, not up to the standard with bat and ball. We had our opportunities but didn't grab them.
"It's tough to compete in that situation but I'm sure we'll learn from this."

4:04pm: The major sponsor has named Jackson Bird the player of the match after finishing with figures of 7 for 117. Outstanding stuff for the young fella in just his second Test match. Look out for this kid.

Australian skipper and ABC Test Cricketer of the Year Michael Clarke was given the nod as player of the series.

3:59pm: Australian coach Mickey Arthur said he couldn't be happier with the series result.

Now, after the departure of Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey, Arthur says his job is to nurture the new faces in the team through the next phase in an exciting time for Australian cricket.

"I think we are [finding the future].
"You lose Ricky, you lose Mike, you lose such a massive amount of experience.
"We've got to coax and coach the young boys to take up that mantle.
"Hopefully we find some talent, hopefully the younger boys stand up. I thought they stood up this game and I'm excited for the future."

3:57pm: Drew grabbed Michael Hussey fresh off his TV commitments, and true to form Mr Cricket was humble in the face of praise.

"I'm a little bit embarrassed to be honest, the support has just been overwhelming. I've got to thank the Sydney crowd because they've been absolutely fantastic.
"I was hoping not to bat and hoping we would get the runs none down, but to be there at the end with Mitchell Johnson was brilliant.
"I'm more than happy, I was hoping Michael Clarke and Ed Cowan could get through to tea.
"The crowd was starting to call for one of them to get out.
"I was pretty nervous, you just don't want to let anyone down I guess. I was just very proud to be out there."

I don't reckon he could have let anyone down today. Well done Mr Cricket, and thanks for everything.

3:55pm: Out on the boundary Drew Morphett has managed to collar Matthew Wade, who ducked out to the middle to snag a stump to commemorate his first Test ton on home soil.

He seemed a little lost for words.

"What a Test match, awesome.
"It was always bound to happen, I think Mr Cricket was bound to be ... out there for [the winning runs].
"He didn't want any fuss over him but it was always going to happen."

M. Hussey 27*

M. Johnson 1*

E. Cowan 36

R. Herath 3/46 (16.5 overs)

S. Lakmal 1/18 (6 overs)

T. Dilshan 1/57 (18 overs)

D. Chandimal 62*

D. Karunaratne 85

M. Jayawardene 60

M. Johnson 3/34 (15 overs)

J. Bird 3/76 (21.2 overs)

P. Siddle 1/42 (17 overs)

Australia 9 (dec)-432 (107 overs)

M. Wade 102*

J. Bird 6*

P. Hughes 87

R. Herath 4/95 (31 overs)

N. Pradeep 2/114 (24 overs)

T. Dilshan 1/58 (19 overs)

L. Thirimanne 91

M. Jayawardene 72

T. Dilshan 34

J. Bird 4/41 (19.4 overs)

M. Starc 3/71 (19 overs)

P. Siddle 2/46 (15 overs)

3:51pm: THAT'S ALL THERE IS. Johnson has poked a single through the infield to score the winning run that clinches a 3-0 series sweep for Australia.

"Thanks Mike" flashes up on the SCG video screen as Hussey shakes hands with the defeated Sri Lankans.

Hussey's team-mates have come out to congratulate him and the crowd in the members' stand and around the SCG are on their feet applauding the retiring veteran.

@RusselArnold69 Well done Huss... True professional and great competitor.... Probably the only Aussie who did not sledge us too.... Good luck in Retirement

3:50pm: Hussey might not want the limelight! He's pushed a single to bring the scores level and Johnson is back on strike. Three balls left in Herath's over!

3:48pm: Hussey's single puts his partner back on strike. Johnson graciously holds serve and defends through the end of the over, giving Mr Cricket the strike for the last two runs.

3:46pm: They're back in the middle and Hussey takes two to backward square leg off Dilshan.

M. Hussey 23*

M. Johnson 0

E. Cowan 36

R. Herath 3/44 (16 overs)

S. Lakmal 1/18 (6 overs)

T. Dilshan 1/54 (17 overs)

D. Chandimal 62*

D. Karunaratne 85

M. Jayawardene 60

M. Johnson 3/34 (15 overs)

J. Bird 3/76 (21.2 overs)

P. Siddle 1/42 (17 overs)

Australia 9 (dec)-432 (107 overs)

M. Wade 102*

J. Bird 6*

P. Hughes 87

R. Herath 4/95 (31 overs)

N. Pradeep 2/114 (24 overs)

T. Dilshan 1/58 (19 overs)

L. Thirimanne 91

M. Jayawardene 72

T. Dilshan 34

J. Bird 4/41 (19.4 overs)

M. Starc 3/71 (19 overs)

P. Siddle 2/46 (15 overs)

3:28pm: I guess the umpires like drama, because NOW they've called tea. Bails are off. This is going to be tense. Australia needs just five runs to win.

So Mike Hussey (23*) and Mitchell Johnson (0*) face a few nervous minutes' wait before they can resume the chase.

"Shut up. Oh please," was Skull's response. "That's like the Beach Boys doing a concert and not singing Barbara Ann."

3:26pm: Mr Cricket has popped it up off the pad! Straight to short leg and you should have heard some of the noises from colleagues alongside me. Luckily there was no bat in it.

3:24pm: Hussey is showing just why he's a great batsman. He's shielded Johnson from the strike at the end of the over with victory in sight.

Brilliant running between wickets too - he might be 37 but he's just raced through two off Herath to cut the target down to six.

3:20pm: WADE IS OUT! The 'keeper has gone for what Kerry called a "smear across the line", and the ball crashes into his off peg to dismiss Wade for 8.

Victory is close but Wade won't be in the middle for it. Mitchell Johnson is the next man up.

3:18pm: Oh Huss. A reverse sweep for four! He's evergreen. Why's this guy retiring again? The target is 10 runs away.

3:16pm: Heart in throat moment there! An edge off Hussey's bat falls just short of the man at slip. That'd be an ignoble way for the great man to depart the Test arena.

3:11pm: They've opted to delay tea and play on with Australia 20 runs from victory. Good call, although it's thrown super-producer Ned Hall's commentator schedule out!

Herath has the ball in hand.

3:09pm: A bit of a wild uppish cut off Dilshan by Matthew Wade that flies to the boundary for four. Twenty runs to win.

3:03pm: In the shadows of tea Hussey has pulled Dilshan to the mid-wicket boundary for a boundary to release the pressure a bit. They now need 29 to win.

2:59pm: COWAN IS OUT! Trapped in front by Herath and the finger has gone straight up. Australia calls for the review but there's not much to question.

His front leg was well in line and he's only hit half-way up the pad. Cowan's day is done for 36. The hosts are 4 for 108.

Australia can only be thankful that Chandimal ran out of partners earlier today, because with another 40 or 50 on the board this would be a very tough position to be in.

2:55pm: I'd hate to see the reception the SCG faithful will give if Hussey loses his wicket, judging by the booing that went up when Mr Cricket's first scoring stroke was fielded.

2:53pm: CLARKE IS OUT! Popping up Dilshan to Thirimanne at short leg for 29. And you'd never guess Australia just lost a wicket because the crowd is on its feet and elated.

There's only one reason for that - Michael Hussey is at the crease for his last ever Test innings. The hosts need 37 more to win at 3 for 104. Stay tuned folks.

2:47pm: When it's short and wide it goes to the boundary, as Pradeep just found out. Cowan on the back foot punched it through the off side to the rope, then flicks one off his pads down to fine leg for four more.

That brings up the 100 for Australia, with just 38 more needed to send Mike Hussey to retirement with a 3-0 series sweep. Cowan is 36, Clarke 28.

2:37pm: Case in point - Ed Cowan slashes between gully and point to find the boundary and move to 27, bringing the target four runs closer. Australia needs 56 for victory.

2:35pm: Nuwan Pradeep is into the attack, which could prove handy for the two batsmen in the middle as the tight fielding around the stumps backs off a bit.

2:29pm: Boy oh boy they want Clarke's wicket desperately. In the last Herath over he survives an lbw decision review and then there's another cry for a bat-pad catch two balls into Dilshan's over.

Two boundaries for the skipper in that over though as he overtakes Cowan (22) and moves to 23, with Australia 2 for 80 at the end of the 26th.

2:20pm: I might just stop posting every leg-before appeal - that one on Clarke from Dilshan was going way down leg. Ho hum.

2:17pm: Another big shout for lbw, which we're starting to get used to in this situation. Cowan came down to Herath and was rapped on the pad, but to no avail.

2:10pm: Drinks are back on the field, meaning we've had an hour's play since lunch. It's 2 for 62, thanks mostly to some strong hitting from Phil Hughes before his untimely demise.

Ed Cowan has patiently crafted 19 off 55 deliveries and Michael Clarke has reached 9 from 18, with Australia needing a further 79 for victory.

It's been slow going with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Rangana Herath pinning the Aussies down out there.

1:54pm: Clarke is off the mark in typically aggressive fashion, coming down to Herath (who's coming around the wicket) and pushing him to the cover boundary. More of those please.

1:52pm: Australia wants us on the edge of our seats apparently. Cowan has edged Dilshan through the slips for a nervous boundary. Spinners at either end; the pressure is on.

1:51pm: ANOTHER BIG SHOUT! Cowan's pad was on the end of a Dilshan delivery and subsequent appeal this time, but Jayawardene isn't interested in questioning it.

Australia is 2 for 45, needing 96 more for victory. Michael Clarke is out there with Cowan.

1:49pm: HUGHES IS OUT! Forget the catch at short leg, the DRS says he's out lbw! Well this is odd. Hughes is gone for 34 off 49, trapped in front by Herath. What a curious turn of events.

1:47pm: ANOTHER REFERRAL CALL. Sri Lanka shouts loudly for a catch at short leg off Hughes, who may or may not have brushed the ball off the pad when he popped it up.

1:43pm: BIG SHOUT FOR A STUMPING. Cowan has gone for the sweep a second time and there's questions about whether his foot is on or behind the crease.

The third umpire's services have been called for, and Nigel Llong is taking no chances. Cowan is safe though and Australia is 1 for 43.

1:42pm: A rare showing of aggression from Ed Cowan, who sweeps boldly past short leg to the square boundary for four. That brings the target into double figures at 98.

1:33pm: Another glorious four for Hughes, who moves to 25 and pushes the Australian score to 1 for 30. Cowan took three to go to 6 off the last over, Herath's first appearance in the attack today.

1:24pm: This is shaping up to be a slow-moving session but Hughes provides some more scoreboard relief with a boundary to the on-side. It's 1 for 20 and Hughes has 17.

1:15pm: And Tillakaratne Dilshan holds court from the other end. Still no sign of Rangana Herath but that'll change.

1:10pm: We're back underway here at the SCG after what may have been our quietest lunch break of the Test.

Ed Cowan (1) is on strike and will square up to Suranga Lakmal for the first over of the session.

At the other end is Phil Hughes on 12 not out.

P. Hughes 12*

E. Cowan 1*

D. Warner 0

S. Lakmal 1/7 (2 overs)

T. Dilshan 0/6 (3 overs)

D. Chandimal 62*

D. Karunaratne 85

M. Jayawardene 60

M. Johnson 3/34 (15 overs)

J. Bird 3/76 (21.2 overs)

P. Siddle 1/42 (17 overs)

Australia 9 (dec)-432 (107 overs)

M. Wade 102*

J. Bird 6*

P. Hughes 87

R. Herath 4/95 (31 overs)

N. Pradeep 2/114 (24 overs)

T. Dilshan 1/58 (19 overs)

L. Thirimanne 91

M. Jayawardene 72

T. Dilshan 34

J. Bird 4/41 (19.4 overs)

M. Starc 3/71 (19 overs)

P. Siddle 2/46 (15 overs)

12:32pm: And that's lunch, with Hughes surviving an up-and-down Dilshan over. Australia is 1 for 13 at the interval with Hughes on 12* and Cowan 1*.

12:30pm: SRI LANKA ASKS FOR THE REVIEW. Hughes pads up to the third delivery from Dilshan's over without offering a shot!

He wasn't given out but Jayawardene wanted another look. The DRS shows the ball was missing off stump, so the tourists are down to one review.

12:29pm: Huge shout for lbw from the first ball of Dilshan's next over but Hughes was hit well outside off stump. Not out.

He rubs salt in Sri Lanka's wound with a great boundary through extra cover next ball.

12:21pm: Pressure relieved there a little bit, as Phil Hughes gets up on his toes to meet one and drives it to the cover boundary for four to get Australia on the board.

He said after making 87 on day two that he wants to make number three his own - now Hughes has his best chance yet.

12:17pm: WARNER IS OUT! This is not the start Australia wanted.

Mahela Jayawardene took a low catch in his safe hands off Suranga Lakmal to send the Aussie danger man back to the sheds for a golden duck.

It wasn't a slog either - Warner was pushing forward defensively but an excellent delivery found the outside edge and brought the leftie undone.

12:15pm: Early scares with an appeal for lbw against Cowan, who then took off for a quick single that Warner didn't want a bar of.

Communication between wickets needs to be improved if these two are going to spearhead the Australian attack in India and England this year.

12:12pm: Unsurprisingly spin bowling will feature straight away, with Tillakaratne Dilshan opening the bowling in the fourth innings here.

12:03pm: PRADEEP IS OUT! That's all he could muster, departing for 9 caught behind off Bird just one ball after sending him to the rope.

Sri Lanka is all out for 278, setting Australia 141 for victory and a clean sweep. Chandimal was the last man standing on 62 not out after a gutsy and defiant knock for the tourists.

Mitchell Johnson (3 for 34) and Jackson Bird (3 for 76) were the best in the second innings for Australia, although Sri Lanka took the long handle to the latter a little bit today.

We've got about 20 minutes before lunch, which is going to be tough for Australia's openers. A target of 141 on this fourth-day deck is nothing to blink at, even with the fast SCG outfield in play.

Ed Cowan will be best to play it safe while David Warner plays his normal game.

12:02pm: Pradeep will face Jackson Bird in the second over with the shiny rock and he's belted an on-drive for four! The lead is 140.

12:01pm: The second new ball is out there, by the way, with Starc delivering a maiden over first up.

11:57am: If Australia needed an extra call to arms before lunch, maybe Warney is the man to deliver it:

@warne888 Just sat down & turned TV on, nice to see Sri Lanka fighting hard in Sydney.... Enough now though, come on the Aussie boys....

11:51am: Chandimal moves to 61 with a classy drive to the long-off boundary for four. Sri Lanka moves to 9 for 272, a lead of 134.

Kerry O'Keeffe was just telling Roshan Abeysinghe this is certainly going on a lot longer than Michael Clarke would have wanted it to.

11:37am: Starc has the ball for the first over after drinks.

11:34am: Ooh that's a sharp one. The last ball before drinks is a short one from Siddle that rises and ricochets off his lid.

At drinks Sri Lanka is 9 for 263, with Chandimal on 52 and Pradeep unbeaten, but ears probably ringing, on 4.

11:28am: 50 FOR CHANDIMAL! That's his fourth Test match fifty and he brings it up in style, flicking to the square leg boundary.

It's just the innings that Sri Lanka's tail needed and Australia's bowlers dreaded. Can he continue to frustrate the Aussie attack?

Finally something positive for Roshan Abeysinghe to tweet about.

@RoshanCricket Great maturity by Chandimal batting with the tail and also reaching his 50. Pradeep deserves a promotion at least to no.10.

Sri Lanka is 9 for 263, leading by 125 as Mitchell Johnson makes way for Peter Siddle.

11:12am: Nuwan Pradeep feels the same. He survives almost popping a short one to short leg before flicking Johnson over the slips to the rope for four to get off the mark.

11:09am: I think Dinesh Chandimal sees the bottom rushing up at Sri Lanka here and he has no intention of going down without a fight.

He's taken 14 off this Jackson Bird over to move to 44. That's got to be the most expensive Bird over in the economical youngster's fledgling Test career.

11:05am: LAKMAL IS OUT! If you intend to capitalise on lower ticket prices, you'd want to hurry up. Johnson has just toppled Suranga Lakmal for a hard-fought zero.

The Sri Lankan tail-ender threw a wild swing at it, moving his body well out to leg and exposing his castle to Johnson's delight.

Sri Lanka is on the brink now at 9 for 237, in front by 99 with a wicket in hand.

11:01am: Cricket Australia and Cricket New South Wales are keen to get the stands full today, given it's looking like Michael Hussey's final day of Test cricket and an early finish to boot.

They've dropped ticket prices to $30 for adults, $15 for children and $20 for those with concession IDs, while a $67 family pass will get two grown-ups and two kids in the gate.

So if you've been sitting at home with Grandstand's coverage wondering if you should get along to the SCG, maybe that will sway you.

10:56am: HERATH IS OUT! Bird takes first blood on day four, with Herath dragging it on from outside the off-stump and departing for 10. Sri Lanka is 8 for 235, a lead of 97.

10:52am: WHAT A MIX-UP. That's just going to give fuel to the vocal critics of Matthew Wade's wicketkeeping.

There was a golden chance for Australia to run out Rangana Herath by a mile but the throw from Wade to Mitchell Johnson at the bowler's end was stunningly wayward and went to mid-on. Yikes.

The thought though is that Wade checked his throw somewhat because Herath was obstructing the throw, whether intentional or not.

10:41am: There's the first boundary off the day after Chandimal takes a single to retain the strike and meet Johnson in the next over. He's sent a thick edge down to the rope to move to 28 not out.

10:37am: SHOUT FOR LBW! Bird has rapped Chandimal on the pads but it looks to have been sliding down leg. The umpire said no but Australia has gone up for the review.

Replays show the impact would have hit leg stump but it's been ruled as umpire's call. No wicket. Sri Lanka is 7 for 228.

10:35am: At the other end Jackson Bird resumes service, although the crowd probably would have preferred Mike Hussey. Can't win 'em all.

10:30am: And here we go. Dinesh Chandimal will face Mitchell Johnson for the first delivery of the day.

10:15am: As the first over of the day approaches, Shannon Byrne caught up with spinner Nathan Lyon, who figures to play a key role at the SCG on Sunday as the fourth-day deck starts to crumble.

He said the surface has been ideal thus far.

"I didn't think it was that green rocking up on day one, it was quite dry, but it's been a good Test match pitch.
"Hopefully it'll [have] a bit more variation but not too much for our bats, so hopefully we can get the job done today."

Lyon has 1 for 63 from 13 and said he'd love to take another couple of scalps, but that's not his end game.

"I couldn't care if I get none or get five but if it turns out Australia gets a Test match victory, that's all I care about.
"To bounce back the way we did to take seven late in the day was fantastic.
"We're placed in a good position but we know we've got a lot of work to do ... early to get those three wickets then hopefully our batters can get the job done."

9:35am: This morning national selector John Inverarity named the squad which will contest the first two one-dayers against Sri Lanka at the conclusion of the Test series. Here's how it shakes out.

Read the story: Hussey left out of ODI squad

Here are some of your thoughts on the squad.

@benhateley they claim to be having an eye on the World Cup which is why they don't pick Hussey, yet they pick Haddin!

@phil_staley No M.Hussey, Clarke, Warner or Wade? This is Australia 'A' - fans not getting the players they want. What a shame.

@punter_hero Fair chance we'll get spanked and that most of these players for 'the future' won't even be in the reckoning then

@AlexDonnelly14 George Bailey does not deserve to play cricket for Australia yet alone be a captain #disgrace

@A_n_d_r_e_w_S Looks like they want to let Sri Lanka win something... Warner and Wade should both definitely be included. #ODIs

@Fariha_23 Delighted with the squad!! So good to see Haddin back and the new players as well! :D

@randall_wagner bailey one of best performed for oz in last twelve months. why all the critics?

@thecattery Great to see Aaron Finch in the side; Xavier Doherty a gun limited overs bowler too, he deserves it. But Hughes has to prove

9:30am: Jim Maxwell, Drew Morphett, Roshan Abeysinghe, Russel Arnold and Kerry O'Keeffe will lead off our commentary team at the SCG. They'll hit the airwaves at 10:05am and you can contact them via email (cricket@abc.net.au), SMS (0467 920 222) or on Twitter (@abcgrandstand, using the hashtag #abccricket).

9:25am: Good morning cricket lovers and thanks for joining us for live coverage of Day Four. Once again I'm Adrian Crawford and I'll be keeping you updated across what could be the final day of the series, if Australia plays its cards right.

Sri Lanka resumes at 7 for 225, a lead of 87, on a quickly deteriorating SCG wicket. The tourists have a genuine threat in the middle in Dinesh Chandimal (22*) but their tail is well and truly exposed.

If the Aussie pacemen can break the initial partnership early then it's more or less curtains for Mahela Jayawardene's boys in their last Test under his watchful eye.

But the deck will also hold some surprises for Australia once it eventually begins its chase, which is where Rangana Herath and Tillakaratne Dilshan's tweaking will come in handy.

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 06, 2013 09:51:00

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Khawaja can dominate like Clarke: Gayle

2013-01-13T10:41:00.000+06:00

Updated December 31, 2012 13:36:11

West Indian powerhouse Chris Gayle believes Sydney Thunder team-mate Usman Khawaja can emulate Michael Clarke's rise to the top of world cricket if he is given another chance in the Test team.

With the imminent retirement of Michael Hussey leaving a sizable gap in Australia's middle order, Khawaja has been thrust back into the spotlight as a proposed replacement.

The 26-year-old left-hander is in fine touch, scoring the third most runs (438) in the Sheffield Shield this summer while also peeling off a crisp, unbeaten 66 in the Thunder's four-wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers in their Big Bash League Twenty20 game on Sunday night.

Khawaja played just six Tests before being unceremoniously dumped for failing to ignite the top order after averaging 29.22, with a top score of 65 in a brief stint peppered with scores in the 20s.

But Thunder teammate Gayle sees a bright future for Khawaja, likening his anticipated Test return to that of captain Clarke, who was dropped in late 2005 only to return and develop into the world's number one batsman.

"He definitely has a bright Test career ahead of him," Gayle said.

"If given the chance, I can't see any reason why he can't score runs and be dominant like a Michael Clarke in the future.

"Once he gets his chance, hopefully he'll make use of it."

Khawaja is on standby for Clarke (hamstring) for the third Test against Sri Lanka at the SCG starting on Thursday, which will be Hussey's last.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 31, 2012 13:36:11

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Eranga injury adds to Sri Lankan woes

2013-01-13T10:11:00.000+06:00

Updated January 02, 2013 22:58:07

Sri Lanka's miserable Australian tour has hit an incredible new low with promising fast bowler Shaminda Eranga suffering a freak leg injury during training on the eve of the third Test in Sydney.

Eranga was playing in a warm-up game of soccer with his teammates on Wednesday when he collapsed to the ground - causing an immediate end to the game.

Nervous coaching staff attended to the 26-year-old while he lay on the ground before he gingerly got to his feet.

The right-arm quick, who has taken five wickets at an average of 50 in the opening two Tests, limped his way to the dressing rooms where he was due to receive further attention.

It is unknown whether he will miss the final Test of the series starting at the SCG on Thursday, but captain Mahela Jayawardene admitted he could still not finalise a team.

Wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene (thumb) appears certain to miss the match while paceman Nuwan Kulasekara (ribs) is also in extreme doubt.

Mahela Jayawardene admitted the disruptions had taken an enormous toll on his team already this summer, but urged them to rise above it.

"It is (disruptive), but like I said after Melbourne ... these are unexpected things that we need to get our head around and handle the situation the best possible way," Jayawardene said prior to the Eranga setback.

"You don't anticipate three or four guys to go down in just one Test match.

"But it happened so we just need to sit down and see what other options we've got.

"We've got two guys flown in ... we're back to having a full 16 in the squad now."

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, sydney-2000, sri-lanka

First posted January 02, 2013 16:19:23

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Bird dismisses McGrath comparisons

2013-01-13T09:36:00.000+06:00

By James Maasdorp

Updated January 03, 2013 20:06:46

Jackson Bird has shrugged off comparisons to Glenn McGrath after another promising display with the ball for Australia.

Bird picked up 4 for 41 as Sri Lanka collapsed late on day one of the third Test at the SCG, bowing out for 294.

Kept in the side as part of the fabled four-pronged pace attack after his 4 for 61 at the MCG, Bird showed the same placement and movement off the seam that saw him dominate Sheffield Shield line-ups this season.

Bird was crucial in removing the Sri Lankan openers before joining in the late carnage to prevent the visitors amassing a big score.

But he has dismissed any notion of being the next McGrath, saying it is far too early in his career for comparisons with the pace great.

"Glenn McGrath was a great bowler for Australia, I think he's taken the most wickets for a fast bowler," he told Grandstand.

"Getting a comparison to him is a good feeling, but I've got a lot of work to do to get even close to Glenn."

As it happened: Third Test, Day One

After a slow start which saw Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene (72) and Lahiru Thirimanne (91) stroke the Australian attack to all parts, Mitchell Starc (3 for 71) triggered a collapse with the wickets of Angelo Mathews (15) and Dinesh Chandimal (24).

Bird joined in the fun, taking another two wickets as Sri Lanka lost its last five batsmen for 72 runs on a green SCG pitch.

But the Sydney local, now plying his trade for Tasmania, reckons the wicket could favour batsmen heading into day two.

"It was pretty tough work out there today, it's a beautiful wicket to bat on," Bird said.

"We probably let them off the hook in the first session, the ball was only doing a little bit, but we fought back well in the last two sessions.

"This morning there was a little bit of help and if you put the ball in the right areas and bashed the wicket with the seam standing up, you got a little bit out of it.

"But towards the end of the day it flattened out a little bit, so it's going to be a beautiful wicket to bat on tomorrow.

"I thought we bowled pretty well in the middle session and restricted them to about 2 for 80, we just built the pressure up in that last session and we managed to get the rewards towards the end.

"I reckon we'd probably take 294 on the first day. It's just going to get better to bat on. Hopefully the boys can dig in and put on a big score for the first innings."

Sri Lanka will rue the fact it could not build on Jayawardene and Thirimanne's innings to post a 350-plus score, as its middle order failed to properly support its chief run-scorers.

But Thirimanne - drafted into the Sydney Test after injuries crippled the visitors' line-up - says his side is happy with 294.

"We are happy with the score, we batted really well at times," he told Grandstand.

"[At] 4 for 224 we are trying to get 350-plus, but the way the Australian bowlers bowled at the end of the end of the day ... they are really good. So 294 is not a bad score."

Having previously only scored one half-century in seven Tests for Sri Lanka, Thirimanne was a picture of confidence after surviving a first-ball LBW shout from Bird.

Saved by the smallest of margins on review, Thirimanne shrugged off the scare to post his highest Test score after captain Jayawardene hit his first Test 50 outside of Sri Lanka since 2009.

But Thirimanne threw his wicket away in the nervous 90s, top-edging a square drive to a diving David Warner off Nathan Lyon (1 for 69).

"I'm really disappointed because I worked really hard to get 91," he said.

"I was trying to hit over the field to extra cover so it spun a little bit so ... that's it."

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, sri-lanka

First posted January 03, 2013 19:18:20

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Warne cops one-match ban after Samuels incident

2013-01-13T09:06:00.000+06:00

Updated January 07, 2013 14:49:38

Shane Warne says he has been handed a "pretty harsh" penalty following his altercation with Marlon Samuels in Sunday night's Big Bash League match at the MCG.

Warne was banned for one match and fined $4,500 for his heated exchange with Samuels during the match between the Stars and the Renegades in front of a record crowd of 46,681.

Warne and the Melbourne Stars have decided against appealing the penalty and he will miss his side's clash with Sydney Thunder on Tuesday night.

Angry at Samuels for having obstructed team-mate David Hussey running during the Stars' innings, Warne grabbed at the West Indian's shirt during the Renegades' run chase and the pair exchanged angry words.

Moments later Warne, in an apparently deliberate act, hit Samuels with the ball when fielding near the batsman.

This led Samuels to throw his bat in the air and invite Warne to engage in an extended physical exchange.

Warne was charged with four alleged breaches under Cricket Australia's (CA) code of behaviour, although his fine only related to three offences.

He was fined $3,000 for engaging in inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with another player and $1,000 for using obscene and offensive language.

A $500 sanction was also handed down for showing dissent at an umpire's decision but he was cleared of a charge of throwing a ball at a player in an inappropriate or dangerous manner.

Warne briefly appeared before the media on Monday and expressed his displeasure with the sanctions handed down by CA.

"I'm very conscious about the image of the game and I'm disappointed in some of my actions last night," he said.

"But I'm also pretty disappointed with the severity of the penalties. I think that was pretty harsh."

The Stars will consider their legal and appeal options in regard to the sanctions.

Samuels has been handed two alleged breaches, including participating in "unbecoming behaviour".

He is still to face his disciplinary hearing.

Warne's Stars team-mate Cameron White was also charged with showing dissent at an umpire's decision and given a suspended $1,000 fine.

After the match Warne attempted to play down the incident, preferring to focus on the result with the Stars having suffered a nine-wicket loss to their cross-town rivals.

"I tried to throw the ball to (wicketkeeper) Bobby Quiney and the next minute I decided to get out of the way of that bat," Warne told Fox Sports.

"I'm more disappointed that we lost, that was just a heat of the moment thing.

"That's just the way it goes, I hope he's OK."

The latest incident has again put Samuels in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

Adelaide Strikers coach Darren Berry will face a CA disciplinary hearing for an argument he had with with Samuels prior to last Wednesday night's match between the two sides.

Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann was given a suspended $3,000 fine and a reprimand for doubting the legality of Samuels' bowling action last month.

Samuels was forced to retire hurt on 17 against the Stars after a top edge from a Lasith Malinga short-pitched delivery hit his helmet.

He left the field bleeding under his eye socket and is set to miss the remainder of the tournament.

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted January 07, 2013 09:40:31

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Hussey 'very comfortable' with retirement decision

2013-01-13T08:33:00.000+06:00

Updated December 31, 2012 13:37:18

Michael Hussey says he knows he has made the "right decision" to retire from international cricket at the end of the Australian summer.

Hussey has announced that the third Test against Sri Lanka starting on Thursday at the SCG will be his final appearance in the five-day arena, prior to making his one-day international farewell.

The 37-year-old will enter the SCG encounter with an impressive Test resume under his belt, having scored 6,183 from his 78 appearances at an average of 51.52.

He has 19 Test centuries to his name and 29 half-centuries since making his debut against West Indies in Brisbane in November, 2005.

His one-day international career has also been solid with 5,442 runs posted at an average of 48.15 from 185 matches.

Hussey says he began to seriously consider retirement prior to the commencement of the recent three-Test series against South Africa.

But he wanted to wait until the current series against Sri Lanka was underway before he made his final decision.

"I have been thinking about for quite a period of time," Hussey told Grandstand.

"But there was probably a bit of a moment when I was away on one of my last trips, probably during the Champions League in South Africa, when I thought ''I'm pretty sure I'll make the decision at the end of the Australian summer'.

"I wanted to come into the Aussie summer and and enjoy it and just play as well as I could, and my feelings pretty much haven't changed coming up to now.

"I'm very happy and very comfortable to be going out on top, I guess."

Hussey will be "going out on top", having so far enjoyed a rich vein of form during the domestic Tests.

He averaged 59 against the Proteas, courtesy of back-to-back centuries at the Gabba and Adelaide Oval, in additional to a half-century in Australia's second innings at the latter.

The Western Australian is also leading the home side's averages with 180 following two Tests against Sri Lanka, having recorded another century in the series opener in Hobart.

He would no doubt have played a pivotal role in Australia's upcoming series away to India and England but he admits the desire to continue had begun to wane.

"I was looking forward to the Indian series and the Ashes series and I didn't have the same excitement and buzz about the challenges ahead that I felt I needed to have," he said.

Hussey also concedes the lengthy absence from his young family while on tour in India and England would have taken its toll.

"I certainly was probably more dreading that than looking forward to the challenges that are going to come forward for that," he said.

Hussey's rise to the Test ranks at the age of 30 was a victory for perseverance, as it came 11 seasons after his first-class debut for Western Australia.

He had long been touted as a future Test player but such was the strength of Australia's batting order he had no choice but to wait his turn.

The long road to making his debut meant his memory is somewhat blurred when he reflects on the presentation of his Baggy Green by the late Bill Brown at the Gabba seven years ago.

"It's such an emotional moment, particularly for me because it took me so long just to get the opportunity to play one Test," he said.

"It just felt like the culmination of so many ups and downs and so many hurdles you had to overcome over the course of my career and just to be standing there that day in front of my team-mates and receive that ... it's just a little green cap really, but it represents so much more than that.

"It represents such a long journey."

Hussey says many of his team-mates were shocked by his announcement, but supported his decision.

Tags: cricket, sport, perth-6000

First posted December 30, 2012 20:15:48

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Clarke backs Watson over ton drought

2013-01-13T08:02:00.000+06:00

By James Maasdorp

Updated December 28, 2012 00:42:13

Australia captain Michael Clarke insists Shane Watson's long wait for a third Test century will end soon, after the all-rounder missed another chance to notch a big score.

Clarke (106) and Watson (83) shared in a superb 194-run partnership to put the hosts in a strong position on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the MCG.

Australia finished the day at 8 for 440, with Mitchell Johnson plundering runs at the death with a stylish 73.

As it happened: Second Test, Day Two

Clarke surpassed Ricky Ponting's record of most runs by an Australian in a calendar year on his way to yet another century, but following his dismissal, Watson failed to kick on and was dismissed soon after.

After Clarke was caught at second slip, Watson succumbed to nerves to hit a careless pull shot to Thilan Samaraweera in the deep.

But Clarke says Watson was simply unlucky, and his long-awaited third Test ton is just around the corner.

"Watto doesn't need to change anything, he's batted really well today," Clarke told Grandstand.

"He was unlucky today, the pull shot's one of his strengths and unfortunately he's hit it straight down the guy's throat.

"Nine times out of 10, Watto hits that for four or six.

"Full credit to him, I thought he played really well and if he keeps batting like that, hundreds will come."

The Test captain said it was an honour to surpass Ponting's record of 1,544 runs in a calendar year.

"It's very special, I didn't know it at the time, I didn't know how many runs I needed," he said.

"To me Ricky Ponting's one of the all-time great players Australia's ever had, so to beat Ricky at anything is a fantastic achievement. I'm very proud."

Clarke spoke of his relief at scoring his first ton at the MCG and praised his side's overall batting performance, singling out Johnson for his late cameo.

"It's always nice to make runs and always nicer to make a century for Australia and put us in a pretty good position," he said.

"I thought the boys played really well today. Watson was outstanding, Mitchell Johnson was really good at the back end of the day.

"It's nice to get that monkey off my back, that's for sure. There was a little bit in the paper in the few days leading up to this Test making it clear that I hadn't scored a hundred [at the MCG].

"It's certainly something that's been on my mind for a while now considering it's a beautiful ground and I love playing in Melbourne. It's nice to finally have made a hundred here."

Following Clarke and Watson's quick dismissals, Matthew Wade (1) was out almost immediately as the Aussies endured a mini-collapse, before Michael Hussey (34) and Johnson steadied the ship with a 61-run partnership.

Hussey was dismissed spectacularly as he top-edged a Tillakaratne Dilshan delivery, only to see Rangana Herath pouch a diving one-handed screamer at deep midwicket.

The catches for the cameras continued as Peter Siddle (13) edged one to Jayawardene in the slips late in the day, with the Sri Lankan captain diving well to his left.

Sri Lanka's batting coach Marvan Atapattu praised the two catches, saying they will hopefully give his players some confidence ahead of their second innings.

"It was two fantastic catches. Hopefully the catches Mahela has taken will give him confidence when he comes out to bat the next time around," Atapattu told Grandstand.

"Herath has been really good in the outfield. You see the same person doing the same old thing again when he was here in January, his performance in the field has been very good."

He says the injury news remains bad for the tourists, with Prasanna Jayawardene nursing a bruised thumb and paceman Chanaka Welegedara straining a hamstring.

"Welegedera doesn't seem to be looking too good at the moment," he said.

"We have Prasanna Jayawardene ... having a bruised thumb, the X-ray shows a hairline fracture, so he probably won't take any further part in terms of wicketkeeping.

"But hopefully in terms of batting he'll contribute.

"We've got batsmen who have made big scores, batted for such a long time. I expect them to put up a good show."

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sri-lanka

First posted December 27, 2012 19:05:26

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Clarke makes batting history in 2012

2013-01-13T07:26:00.000+06:00

Updated December 27, 2012 14:30:27

Michael Clarke surpassed Ricky Ponting as the most prolific Australian batsman in one calendar year in Australia's first innings against Sri Lanka in the Boxing Day Test on Thursday.

Ponting set the mark of 1,544 in 28 innings in 2005, racking up six centuries and six half-tons with a high score of 207.

Clarke, his successor for the captaincy, needed just 18 knocks to break the record, with five hundreds and three fifties contributing to his haul.

The magic number on Thursday was 56, before Clarke scored another 50 on top of it before departing for 106 in the middle session.

His best innings of 2012 was his unbeaten 329 against India at the SCG in the New Year's Test in January, but he compiled three further double centuries in 2012.

He made 210 against India at Adelaide Oval before belting South Africa for 259 not out in Brisbane in November and a further 230 in the following match in Adelaide.

The world record is held by Pakistani Mohammad Yousuf, who amassed 1,788 runs in 11 Tests in 2006.

See Clarke's list of innings below.

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 27, 2012 12:26:46

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Heat topple hapless Thunder

2013-01-13T06:50:00.000+06:00

Updated December 29, 2012 12:41:04

Sydney Thunder import Matt Prior insists he would never "cheat a player out" as the England wicketkeeper avoided controversy over a dubious catch in Friday's five-wicket loss to the Brisbane Heat at the Olympic stadium.

Dan Christian starred for the Heat, taking five wickets as the home side was bowled out for just 126 before the runs were chased down with 20 balls remaining.

But much of the talk post-match surrounded the dismissal of Brisbane skipper James Hopes, which sparked a loss of 4 for 31 and threatened to turn the match before Chris Lynn smashed an unbeaten 51 off 38 balls to guide the visitors to just their second win of the season.

Prior, normally a wicketkeeper, was in unfamiliar territory at wide first slip when he claimed a catch off Dirk Nannes (2 for 31), though replays suggested Hopes was unlucky as the ball appeared to hit the grass before it reached Prior.

The jovial 30-year-old admitted he cringed when replays flashed up on the big screen but insisted he'd spoken to the umpires and that it was most certainly a fair catch.

"I looked up and thought 'ooh, crikey, it doesn't look good'," Prior said afterwards.

"But I do think the cameras can sometimes make it look a little bit dodgy.

"I genuinely felt I caught it. I felt my finger underneath the ball and that's the thing you can't pick up on camera.

"I spoke to the umpire immediately and he agreed it looked absolutely fine to him. That's good enough for me."

It is not Prior's first controversial moment on Australian soil.

In 2011 he claimed Australian batsman Mitchell Johnson had been clean bowled in a one-day clash, despite knocking the bails off with his gloves.

"Ultimately you have to trust each other," he said.

"I'm not going to try and cheat someone out. That's the last thing I want to do."

Hopes queried the validity of the catch on the field before accepting Prior's word and trudging off while replays were shown on the big screen.

"He told me he caught it out there," Hopes said.

"I've been playing this game a long time where replays can be deceiving, the best judge is normally the player, and if he says he caught it, that's good enough for me.

"He's probably got his right hand under it."

The loss keeps the hapless Thunder, who slumped to their 10th defeat on the trot dating back to last season's horror show, rooted to the bottom of the ladder.

Even the free-hitting Chris Gayle, despite top-scoring, failed to reach any great heights scoring 28 at a run a ball, a relatively pedestrian rate for the man proclaimed as the best Twenty20 batsman in the world.

He put on 35 with Prior (18) before both were dismissed in Christian's first over - a massive turning point in the game.

Christian's figures of 5 for 26 are the best ever by a Heat bowler and the second-best from anyone this summer, trailing only Melbourne Stars firebrand Lasith Malinga's exceptional 6 for 7 against Perth.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, sydney-2000, brisbane-4000

First posted December 28, 2012 22:19:21

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Stars down Strikers in Adelaide

2013-01-13T06:17:00.000+06:00

Updated December 28, 2012 10:47:16

A top-shelf showing from vintage batsman Brad Hodge inspired the Melbourne Stars to an eight-run victory against the Adelaide Strikers in Thursday night's Twenty20 match in Adelaide.

Hodge cracked a sparkling 88 from 58 balls as the Stars posted 8 for 175, with the Strikers finishing 4 for 167 in reply.

The Stars, with their fourth consecutive win, took second spot on the Big Bash League ladder from Adelaide.

The Strikers' never seriously threatened to reel in their target despite a star turn from Kieron Pollard (65 from 43 balls) and solid contributions from Callum Ferguson (35 from 28) and Tim Ludeman (30 from 21).

Adelaide's hopes of pinching a win before a sell-out 15,344 home crowd hinged on gun import Pollard.

But the West Indian could not engineer a big-hitting miracle despite whacking four sixes and five fours in his unbeaten knock.

The Strikers needed 27 to win from the final over and, after his side was mathematically out of the match, Pollard smashed two 100 metre-plus maximums and a four to add respectability to his side's score.

Melbourne's import Lasith Malinga was instrumental in restricting the home side, the Sri Lankan paceman taking 1 for 29 from four shrewd overs.

Fellow paceman James Faulkner also claimed an important 2 for 32 from four overs but his team-mate Hodge was the hero with a sensational performance with the bat.

Hodge underpinned the Stars' innings with the veteran dominating scoring - when dismissed in the 15th over, Hodge had made 88 of the visitors' 129 runs.

Two days shy of his 38th birthday, Hodge was vicious on all bowlers and plundered 10 fours and three sixes.

Hodge's assault set the Stars on a path towards a massive total, but when he was dismissed they lost momentum - his wicket started a slump of 6 for 32.

Hodge's opening partner Rob Quiney made 22 from 12 balls but no other Stars batsman passed 17 runs, while Adelaide quick Shaun Tait (2 for 36 from four overs) was the only multiple wicket taker for the home side.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, adelaide-5000, melbourne-3000

First posted December 27, 2012 23:18:04

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As it happened: Third Test Day Three

2013-01-13T05:47:00.000+06:00

Adrian Crawford

Updated January 06, 2013 10:30:49

Sri Lanka leads by 87 with three wickets in hand going into the fourth day of the third Test at the SCG.

Look back with us at all the day three updates as well as the best in audio and video highlights, photos, your tweets and more from Sydney.

Today's highlights: (All times in AEDT)

6:50pm: And with that I'll sign off. We'll be back for more tomorrow as Australia looks to wrap up a 3-0 sweep to send retiring legend of the game Michael Hussey off victorious.

Until Sunday, I'm Adrian Crawford. Thanks for joining us once again for another huge day of cricket action.

6:42pm: With Drew on the boundary rope tonight, the responsibility falls to Jim Maxwell and Kerry O'Keeffe to wrap up the third day's action-packed day of cricket for you.

You can hear their summary below.

And after such a huge day of wickets, runs and cracking commentary, you'll want to check out our highlights package as well.

6:27pm: At 9:00am tomorrow morning, before play begins on day four, national selector John Inverarity will unveil the Australian squad for the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka.

6:20pm: Sri Lankan opener Dimuth Karunaratne also stopped by for a chat with Drew.

He said the tourists realise that they are in the hole and must be realistic with what score they can set for Australia tomorrow.

"150 would be great, we can't think [about] the bigger targets so we're thinking about 150-170."

But Karunaratne said the mood in the dressing room is still good, especially after his strong knock on Saturday.

"They're all happy because I couldn't score much in the Melbourne Test.
"So I just want to play my natural game and do something for the team, and everyone's happy."

Take a listen to the interview below.

6:13pm: Australian wicket-keeper and centurion Matthew Wade is down on the boundary rope with Drew Morphett.

He was understandably chuffed with his ton and said he wasn't worried about running out of partners.

"It was something pretty special; to get my first 100 at home was a great feeling.
"I didn't know what to do to be honest, I carried on a bit but it was good fun. I just want to win this one for Hussey to be honest.
I had a lot of confidence in Siddsy and Starc and Nathan Lyon and the plan with Bird was to come down the wicket and hit the spinner.
"I was full of confidence and you've just got to trust the bloke at the other end."

The crowd, and indeed the Twitterverse, want to see Mike Hussey open the batting when Australia begins its victory chase at some point tomorrow.

But Wade doesn't reckon Mr Cricket wants the limelight.

"Huss was a little bit embarrassed about it all ... but the crowd has embraced Huss as one of their own this week.
"If Huss gets his way I'm sure he'll want to stay where he is [in the batting order]."

And his assessment for tomorrow?

"We've got to get these three as quick as we can with the wicket deteriorating.
"We wouldn't want to be chasing more than 150-200 to be honest."

Listen to their chat below.

D. Chandimal 22*

R. Herath 7*

D. Karunaratne 85

M. Johnson 2/19 (9 overs)

P. Siddle 1/35 (14 overs)

M. Starc 1/48 (10 overs)

Australia 9 (dec)-432 (107 overs)

M. Wade 102*

J. Bird 6*

P. Hughes 87

R. Herath 4/95 (31 overs)

N. Pradeep 2/114 (24 overs)

T. Dilshan 1/58 (19 overs)

L. Thirimanne 91

M. Jayawardene 72

T. Dilshan 34

J. Bird 4/41 (19.4 overs)

M. Starc 3/71 (19 overs)

P. Siddle 2/46 (15 overs)

6:00pm: That's all the play we've got for day three and here's how it has panned out.

5:59pm: HUGE SHOUT FOR A STUMPING! The umpire has gone upstairs but it was obvious even without the replay that Herath's foot was buried behind the crease and Wade didn't have the ball when he crashed the bails off.

Herath takes a pair off the last ball and that's stumps.

5:55pm: In case you heard that roar from wherever you're reading, it's okay. The Mayans were still wrong. Michael Hussey has been thrown the ball for the last over of the day.

Chandimal doesn't care about the occasion - he's stroked Mr Cricket directly for four. Gotta thing Herath is excited to face him too.

5:53pm: BIG SHOUT FOR LBW! Herath was the victim of a Starc sandshoe crusher but it was sliding down leg. Next ball is a bumper that he just gets out of the way of.

Kerry and Jim mentioned reports on social media this morning that Herath had died overnight.

"And now he's batting!" says Kerry. "Very well done him."

"The resurrection shuffle that's called," Jim reckons.

5:50pm: Chandimal isn't going to die wondering. He's just played two delightful strokes through the off-side for consecutive boundaries off Jackson Bird to move to 18 with the lead at 78.

5:42pm: Skull reckons Chandimal needs a dominant century here. But it's worth mentioning, for amusement factor if nothing else, that Herath's best Test knock is 80 not out against India in the first Test at Galle in 2010.

He faced 93 balls and hit 10 fours and a six in the first innings of Sri Lanka's eventual 10-wicket win. So fair warning, Australia.

5:32pm: PRASAD IS OUT! He falls for 15, caught behind, as Mitchell Starc returns to the attack. And just at the right time too, because that's his first scalp for the innings.

He had a flashy little knock to make his runs off 17 balls to add a handy few to Sri Lanka's lead. But the tail is well and truly exposed now.

Sri Lanka is 7 for 202, a lead of 74, with Rangana Herath joining Chandimal (9) at the crease.

5:24pm: Michael Hussey, Mr Cricket himself, has been fielding down at long on and the crowd are absolutely in raptures every time the ball goes near him. They know what they're watching - what amounts to his last afternoon in the field for Australia.

5:20pm: SHOUT FOR A STUMPING! Prasad has stepped down chasing Nathan Lyon, missed the ball and Matthew Wade has whipped the bails off.

But the right-hander's foot was anchored and the third umpire confirms as such.

5:16pm: Our expect commentator Roshan Abeysinghe has all but thrown in the towel on his countrymen.

@RoshanCricket SL has caused its own downfall with very poor and unimaginative cricket.

Not impressed.

5:11pm: I really think Sri Lanka has a death wish. This pair of Chandimal and Prasad have taken on David Warner twice since they've been out there together - literally less than five minutes - and both times they've been close to being run out.

Is it so hot in Sydney they don't want to be in the middle any more?

5:05pm: JAYAWARDENE IS GONE! That's the final nail in the Sri Lankan coffin, according to Roshan Abeysinghe.

He's edged Peter Siddle to a diving Michael Clarke in the cordon to show the SCG crowd the back of the Sri Lankan batting order. Unless the tourists' bowlers can bat the way the Aussie ones did, the door is all but closed here.

Sri Lanka is 6 for 178, a lead of 40, with two days and about 50 minutes to play.

5:01pm: MATHEWS IS OUT! The captain-in-waiting is run out testing the arm of none other than David Warner. How has Sri Lanka not learnt not to do that yet?

Hesitation by the tourists and a sharp spot of fielding by the Australian opener combine to remove Mathews for 16, leaving his side at 5 for 178. Mahela Jayawardene isn't supposed to run out of partners batting at 3.

4:56pm: At the drinks break Sri Lanka is 4 for 177 with Angelo Mathews unbeaten on 16 and skipper Mahela Jayawardene on 59.

4:43pm: Well Mathews looks more settled than the last two did. He's popped three fours in four balls from one Lyon over to move to 16 off just 13 deliveries. Is he going to captain the T20 squad as well?

Sri Lanka is 4 for 176. Jayawardene is 58 not out.

4:26pm: SAMARAWEERA IS OUT! He's absolutely thrown away his wicket there. What a stupid shot.

Samaraweera departs for a duck on a brain explosion playing across the line, skying an edge off Nathan Lyon down the throat of Mike Hussey for a sensational catch at long off. Drew's gone nuts, Kerry's gone nuts, the crowd's gone nuts...what a piece of cricket.

Mahela Jayawardene is not a happy captain right now. Oh boy. Incoming skipper Angelo Mathews has come out to the middle. How about some leadership eh? The score is 4 for 158.

4:23pm: If the Jackson Bird Fan Club has one member, it's definitely Kerry O'Keeffe. Skull is chuffed with the way Bird has not only played in his first two Tests - especially his four-for on Thursday and his gallant supporting effort as Matthew Wade chased a century this morning - but he's playing to the appreciative fans too, signing autographs, interacting and waving to the crowd down at fine leg.

4:20pm: THIRIMANNE IS OUT! Australia didn't have to wait long to dismiss the first innings top-scorer. Mitchell Johnson has tempted the left-hander into a silly hook shot which flew to Jackson Bird at fine leg for 7.

My right-hand man James Maasdorp pointed out that even halfway through the stroke, you could almost see Thirimanne's look of exasperation as he spotted Bird in the deep.

Sri Lanka is 3 for 155, a lead of 17, and Thilan Samaraweera joins Jayawardene at the crease.

4:13pm: BIG SHOUT FOR LBW ON THIRIMANNE! The finger went straight up but without consulting his skipper at the other end, Thirimanne has asked for the review.

The right-hander was given out first ball in the first innings lbw but had the decision overturned, and it's going to happen again this time.

The point of impact was above the flap of the pad on his back leg - it may have clipped the top of middle stump but that's not enough. Lahiru loves the DRS, and the DRS loves him.

4:05pm: 50 FOR JAYAWARDENE! That's a pair of half-centuries in Mahela Jayawardene's last Test as Sri Lankan captain.

He spotted Jackson Bird's late swing and flicked it off his legs for a boundary through mid-wicket. Glorious stroke.

Sri Lanka moves to 2 for 147, a lead of nine runs, with Lahiru Thimiranne on 1.

4:00pm: In case you missed it earlier today, ABC Sport's Jen Browning caught up with former Australian paceman Glenn McGrath on arguably the biggest day of his year.

Have a listen to their chat below.

3:51pm: Jeez, what can't Jackson Bird do? That's a huge diving save at the boundary rope to stop a four from Jayawardene.

"Well saved by Bird! He swooped! Of course he swooped." Thanks Jim.

He can't stop the next one though (given it's through the covers, not at fine leg) that goes to the fence to draw Sri Lanka level with Australia.

3:44pm: KARUNARATNE IS OUT! You could say Siddle softened him up for Jackson Bird to finally take the wicket Australia was after.

The left-handed opener threw the bat at it hard and caught an edge to Matthew Wade behind the pegs for 85. Nothing on Hot Spot on the replay but there was a big noise there.

Sri Lanka is 2 for 132, six runs behind Australia, as Lahiru Thirimanne comes to the middle. Wonder if he's still limping from yesterday's battering in the field.

@RusselArnold69 Brilliant knock from Dimuth.... Took an eternity to walk off in disappointment. Another partnership needed here to keep Oz at bay

3:40pm: At the other end Peter Siddle is also looking for Sri Lankan scalps but to no avail just yet.

3:34pm: Meanwhile Jackson Bird has taken the ball for the first over after tea. Australia desperately needs a breakthrough here or Sri Lanka's innings could quickly get out of hand.

3:31pm: If you missed Drew Morphett's chat with Prime Minister Julia Gillard over the tea break, we've got you covered.

The two talked about the Government's $18.5 million funding boost for breast cancer nurses, their pet dogs and more.

Have a listen below.

D. Karunaratne 83*

M. Jayawardene 38*

T. Dilshan 5

M. Johnson 1/14 (5 overs)

J. Bird 0/26 (8 overs)

M. Starc 0/42 (7 overs)

Australia 9 (dec)-432 (107 overs)

M. Wade 102*

J. Bird 6*

P. Hughes 87

R. Herath 4/95 (31 overs)

N. Pradeep 2/114 (24 overs)

T. Dilshan 1/58 (19 overs)

L. Thirimanne 91

M. Jayawardene 72

T. Dilshan 34

J. Bird 4/41 (19.4 overs)

M. Starc 3/71 (19 overs)

P. Siddle 2/46 (15 overs)

3:14pm: The bails are off, tea has been called and Dimuth Karunaratne has shaken hands with his skipper Mahela Jayawardene before departing the middle. With good reason too.

Sri Lanka is 1 for 130 at tea, eight runs short of Australia's total and with nine wickets in hand. That's a very tasty position to be in at this juncture.

Karunaratne goes to the break at 83 while Jayawardene has made 38. Apart from the early dismissal of Tillakaratne Dilshan (5) the Australian bowlers haven't shown anything in the way of dominance since lunch.

If Sri Lanka can bat for another three or four sessions, we're in for an absolute belter as the tourists battle for their maiden Test win Down Under.

3:09pm: I can never get the "last over before tea" prediction right. Siddle is the man with the ball and he's rapped Karunaratne on the pad first ball! A huge confident appeal denied by Aleem Dar, but Michael Clarke has referred it to the DRS.

Replay indicates it's pitching and hitting in line, but the height was the deciding factor so Siddle misses out. And Prime Minister Julia Gillard has joined Drew Morphett and Russel Arnold in the commentary box.

3:05pm: This is likely to be the last over before tea and Sri Lanka only trails by a dozen. The break will give Australia an opportunity to regroup and strategise, because nothing is really going right for the hosts this afternoon so far.

2:58pm: Starc isn't the answer either. Karunaratne has taken 10 off this over alone and is now 79 not out from 93 balls.

2:52pm: Another change of bowling and Peter Siddle has the ball. Can he be the man to break this partnership, which is now at 88?

2:48pm: Australia doesn't seem to have the answer for separating this pair right now, based on the beautiful cover drive Karunaratne just played to the boundary off Mitchell Starc. Stunning. He moves to 67* with skipper Mahela Jayawardene on 34*.

2:43pm: By the end of Lyon's fifth over, the 24th of the innings, Sri Lanka had reached 1 for 100. Only 38 to go until the tourists draw level with Australia, and they've got nine wickets in the sheds for now.

2:40pm: As can sometimes happen, the middle session and some batting momentum can cause the conversation in the commentary box to take some...wild tangents.

That was the case a few moments ago when, thanks in part to Nathan Lyon's contributions with the ball in the middle, Jim Maxwell and Kerry O'Keeffe began to mull over who might be included in a Jungle XI comprising players with animal-related names.

Have a listen below.

2:26pm: 50 FOR KARUNARATNE! In the battle of the body language, Dimuth Karunaratne is winning and Nathan Lyon is on the other end of the scale.

The Sri Lankan opener has spanked the Aussie tweaker for a huge six a few rows back. That's his second Test match half-century and what a way to bring it up.

2:18pm: Karunaratne's first single off Lyon's next over takes their partnership to 50 and they're looking confident out there.

Meanwhile Starc is spelled and Jackson Bird is back in. First delivery is a front-foot no-ball.

2:12pm: Lyon shouldn't feel too badly though, because Starc has gone for nine in his last over as well. Mahela Jayawardene punctuated the over with a beautiful four off his legs to the square boundary.

The captain moves to 21 not out with Dimuth Karunaratne on 44 in very quick time as the tourists hit 1 for 73 at drinks, more than halfway to parity an hour into the second session.

2:04pm: These two are ticking the scoreboard over steadily and Sri Lanka has reached 1 for 55. Nathan Lyon has the rock now looking for some turn on this baked day three pitch.

He goes for nine in his first over, all to Karunaratne who's moved to 39 from 51 balls.

1:42pm: Short, wide, four runs off the back foot. Brilliant shot by Karunaratne off Johnson - that's how you punish bad balls. He's 24 not out and Sri Lanka is 1 for 34.

1:36pm: We've got Peter Siddle into the attack at the other end so Bird can have a spell.

1:22pm: DILSHAN IS OUT! Johnson has made the breakthrough, eking an edge to Phil Hughes from Tillakaratne Dilshan who wasn't entirely convinced. The batsman walked initially but Aleem Dar asked him to wait a second.

The concerned seemed to be whether Hughes got under the catch, which came through extremely low, but the replays show it was a clean grab. Dilshan is done for 5.

So Sri Lanka is 1 for 24 with Dimuth Karunaratne on 18.

1:16pm: Jackson Bird is pulling the strings at the other end and Dilshan has his first run, as Sri Lanka moves to 20 without loss after six overs.

1:11pm: We're back underway at the SCG with Mitchell Johnson starting proceedings after lunch. Dilshan is yet to get off the mark and Karunaratne is 17.

The batsmen may want to watch their fingers...

D. Karunaratne 17*

T. Dilshan 0*

J. Bird 0/9 (2 overs)

M. Starc 0/9 (2 overs)

Australia 9 (dec)-432 (107 overs)

M. Wade 102*

J. Bird 6*

P. Hughes 87

R. Herath 4/95 (31 overs)

N. Pradeep 2/114 (24 overs)

T. Dilshan 1/58 (19 overs)

L. Thirimanne 91

M. Jayawardene 72

T. Dilshan 34

J. Bird 4/41 (19.4 overs)

M. Starc 3/71 (19 overs)

P. Siddle 2/46 (15 overs)

12:30pm: Lunch has arrived and Sri Lanka has reached 18 without loss, and Dimuth Karunaratne has 17 of them. Tillakaratne Dilshan is yet to get off the mark, but that's an encouraging start for the tourists.

The deficit is just 120 on a batsman's paradise under cloudless blue skies in Sydney. If this pair can stick around and build a strong first-wicket partnership, we've got a very engaging Test match here.

Kerry believes they need to be close to parity by tea and have some sort of lead by stumps this afternoon.

12:22pm: Meanwhile, no one who's watched the stingy Jackson Bird bowl over the last Test and a half will be surprised to hear his first over conceded a solitary run, a no-ball. Sri Lanka is 0 for 9 after two.

12:19pm: Here's an interesting bit of insight on Twitter from former South Australian gloveman Graham Manou, who played a Test and a handful of ODIs for Australia in 2009.

@GrahamManou Like Eng do with Prior, an investment for someone to work with Wade full time as a keeper, he could become one of the all time greats

12:17pm: Well maybe it won't be such a dangerous period? Dimuth Karunaratne has punched Mitchell Starc for two boundaries in the opening over. The deficit is down to 130.

12:08pm: This'll be a dangerous period for Sri Lanka's openers with 20 or so minutes to bat before lunch.

If Australia can shake them up and take a wicket before the interval then the pressure is on.

@RoshanCricket Tough session for SL to negotiate before lunch. 20 mts and may be 5 overs. These sessions always hard with nothing to gain but a lot to lose

Kerry O'Keeffe reckons Tillakaratne Dilshan is going to shine out there with the pitch and the weather the way they are, but he absolutely has to be there at lunch.

12:01pm: WADE IS DROPPED! You're kidding. He's hooked a short one down to fine leg but the fielder has spilled him.

But it doesn't matter because Michael Clarke has called them in. Australia declares its first innings closed at 9 for 432, a lead of 138.

Jackson Bird goes to the sheds unbeaten on 6 while Wade finished on 102 not out.

It's tough to believe Wade resumed this morning on 47 not out, piling on 55 in just under an hour and a half. Have a listen to his morning's efforts below.

Sri Lanka's efforts were led by Rangana Herath, who showed why he was 2012's leading Test wicket-taker with 4 for 95 from 31 overs.

11:57am: CENTURY FOR WADE! He just clipped Lakmal to the deep for a frustratingly close-to-a-six boundary to reach 95, and takes another two, then finds the cover boundary, in consecutive balls, for his second Test ton.

He's piled on 30 runs since Bird arrived at the crease, and his second 50 has come up off 45 balls. That's exactly what the home side needed. Brilliant stuff.

And the Twitterverse is not short of tributes, especially from the Apple Isle:

@PeterNewlinds Love the fluency and power through the off side, gritty too. Made in Tasmania. Matthew Wade. #SCG #Cricket

11:55am: The SCG crowd is practically in raptures every time Bird a) scores a run or b) survives a delivery with his wicket. This is proving to be a fun morning session of Test cricket.

Australia is 9 for 421, a lead of 127. Wade is 91, Bird 6.

11:53am: Couple of quick runs there for Wade - he's determined to reach triple figures and he's determined to keep Bird off the strike.

11:49am: Geoff Lawson isn't impressed with Mahela Jayawardene's field placements, as Wade is allowed to take a single on the fifth ball of the over to all but guarantee himself the strike next over.

A corker of a Pradeep delivery could easily send Bird packing...but the new kid on the block has scored the first four of his career! Well that's tidy. Bird is 6, Wade is 88 and has the strike.

11:47am: It's now or never for Matt Wade. He moves to 83 with a thumping shot to deep extra cover for four off Pradeep. Then two more off the next delivery after miscuing another big flash of the bat that ran down to long off.

11:45am: And there they are - Jackson Bird's first Test runs - via a push through cover for two to end (and survive) the Herath over. What can Wade do with it now?

And as expected, we've got some clever wordplay from Peter Walsh in the studio.

@PeterAWalsh This Big Bird has Sesame Street potential..don't you just love the crowd noise when he got off the mark !

11:42am: Four more for Wade as Australia brings up the 400 with nine wickets down. Wade probably would've preferred a single to maintain the strike, but who really complains about a boundary?

11:40am: The SCG crowd has gone up in support as it looked like Bird had scored his first run in Test cricket...but it was a leg bye. Either way it gives the strike back to Wade, who absolutely buries a hard-hit drive to the cover boundary for four. He moves to 75*.

11:39am: Wade has taken a quick single off Pradeep to bring up the 100-run lead. Is that enough? It might have to be, unless Bird can hang in there.

11:35am: LYON IS OUT! Well one ball after he didn't get to the pitch of a slower one and chipped it loftily (and nervously) to mid-on, Rangana Herath has his man and his fourth wicket for the Test.

Lyon departs for 4 and Australia is just about done at 9 for 393 with Jackson Bird coming to the crease. The lead is 99...and Geoff and Kerry's magic number was 100-plus.

But remember - Jackson's mum told Kerry on day one that he's a "better batsman" than his duck in Melbourne indicates.

11:30am: It's drinks already - where has the first hour gone? Australia has reached 8 for 392, adding 50 so far in the morning session for the loss of two wickets to lead by 98 runs.

Matthew Wade is unbeaten on 69 while Nathan Lyon has 4 to his name after a tidy cover drive off the half-volley to the boundary.

11:23am: STARC IS GIVEN! Herath has rapped the Aussie paceman on the back knee-roll right in front of the stumps and there's almost no question. That was plumb.

Starc asked for the replay but it was almost redundant. He's on his way back to the pavilion for 2 and Australia is 8 for 387, a lead of 97. Nathan Lyon joins Matthew Wade (68*) in the middle.

11:18am: SIDDLE IS OUT! It was a matter of time; Siddle has looked good in patches this morning but there were some nervy moments there too. This time Pradeep has his man with a nick through to Chandimal for a simple catch behind.

He's gone for 38, ending a very tidy partnership of 77 for the seventh wicket. Australia is 7 for 384.

11:13am: Edge! But Siddle is lucky to have nicked Herath JUST to the left of Jayawardene at first slip, and the Aussies take three runs.

It's 6 for 384 with Siddle on 38* and Wade 67*.

11:04am: HUGE SHOUT from Rangana against Wade for lbw, but Aleem Dar says it hit him outside the line.

11:01am: Sri Lanka has gone for the referral on a caught-behind shout on Siddle! Nuwan Pradeep didn't seem fazed but Dinesh Chandimal was very confident about the leg-side take.

But that's a wasted review because Hot Spot shows absolutely zilch on the bat. That was the tourists' last referral as well.

10:55am: Skull has it on "good" authority that after copping a barrage of body blows at forward short leg yesterday afternoon, Lahiru Thirimanne agreed to return to that position this morning but only if he could "field in the PopeMobile".

10:47am: Photo finish in ANOTHER run-out chance for Sri Lanka but it looks like Siddle has just made it over the line. It's not even the first frantic incident of running between wickets this morning.

Kerry's got it right: "Have these two met?"

You're not wrong Skull. Australia is 6 for 364.

10:42am: Nice little bonus for Siddle - he's avoided being run out after the throw that would have caught him short of his ground runs away for four overthrows. Siddle has almost doubled his overnight score already.

And the half-century partnership has come up - that's 53 from 57 balls. Nice little stand for Australia there.

10:39am: 50 FOR WADE! Jeez that's a hairy way to bring up a half-century. The wicket-keeper has gone the slog sweep to Herath and it's fallen JUST in front of the fielder at deep mid-wicket that was there for the express purpose of catching that one.

The two were all he needed to reach his third Test fifty.

10:32am: Play is underway and in style, with Peter Siddle moving to 20 on the second Suranga Lakmal ball of the day with a tidy straight drive to the boundary.

10:22am: Shannon also caught up with Sri Lankan bowling coach Champaka Rananayake, who said Warner made it tough for his charges early on Friday but he was happy with the way they hit back after lunch.

He said he would probably have brought Rangana Herath - 2012's leading Test wicket-taker - on a little earlier.

"He's our main bowler, there are plenty of left-hander in the team so maybe that's the reason the captain wanted to bring him.
"But he bowled really well, even [though] I thought that he would've bowled a bit earlier yesterday."

And as for Lahiru Thirimanne, who took a pounding fielding at forward short leg yesterday afternoon?

"He's okay, he's alright. There was no major issues with him. He took two big shots and he saved fours!"

10:15am: Earlier this morning Shannon Byrne caught up with opener David Warner, who's had a little dig at Ed Cowan for his run-out yesterday morning.

"I just think it's a misjudgement, I think sometimes off the bat you can call one or two straight away. I think the one between me and Ed, he called two off the bat straight away and he was a bit hesitant at the other end.
"Obviously having your gloves in your other hand and carrying your bat can be a bit of a fuss.
"I do that as well but you've got be conscious about that as well and you've got to make the effort to turn the right way as well."

Have a listen.

10:10am: Jim is in the middle announcing the winner of the McGilvray Medal, Australian skipper Michael Clarke.

Ross McGilvray, presenting the father in the absence of his late father Alan, said he's run out of superlatives to describe Michael's 2012.

Clarkey was typically humble and deflected the praise.

"It's obviously an honour to win such a prestigious medal, but without my team-mates I wouldn't have been able to do it.
"2012 has been a big year; we've had some ups and downs, we've had some debutants and some retirements. But 2013 is going to be even better."

Have a listen to the medal presentation below.

10:05am: Kerry O'Keeffe expects intense concentration from both sides today. Australia will be concentrating on putting itself in a position to sweep the three-Test series while Sri Lanka's focus will obviously be on avoiding that sweep, starting with restricting the hosts to a lead of under 100. Anything more than 150 is going to be advantageous for the home side, Skull reckons.

9:45am: Coming up in around 20 minutes' time, coinciding with the start of our broadcast from the SCG, we'll have the McGilvray Medal presentation for ABC Test Cricketer of the Year.

No guesses as to who will take it out for 2012, but in case you're not sure Jim Maxwell has revealed all on Twitter.

@jimmaxcricket McGilvray Medal presentation at 1005 this morning. Many thanks to Michael Clarke for changing the time to give better profile/awareness@jimmaxcricket McGilvray Medal is for ABC's Test Cricketer of the year. With 1595 runs for 2012 Michael Clarke won a few votes; as in voting not required

9:40am: This year marks five years since the passing of Glenn McGrath's wife Jane, who founded the charity in 2003, and the fifth year that Sydney's home of cricket turns pink in support of the foundation.

But it's not just the attendees in Sydney that are garbed in pink for the cause. Our man in Adelaide Peter Walsh loves a bright outfit and tweeted this photo earlier this morning.

9:35am: Jim Maxwell, Drew Morphett, Roshan Abeysinghe, Russel Arnold and Kerry O'Keeffe will lead off our commentary team at the SCG. They'll hit the airwaves at 10:05am and you can contact them via email (cricket@abc.net.au), SMS (0467 920 222) or on Twitter (@abcgrandstand, using the hashtag #abccricket).

9:30am: Good morning cricket fans and thanks for joining Grandstand Online for the third day of the final Test of the summer. I'm Adrian Crawford and I'll be updating you throughout Ladies' Day at the SCG, where you can be sure the pink clothing will be out in force.

Matthew Wade (47*) and Peter Siddle (16*) will resume service in the middle with Australia 48 runs ahead of Sri Lanka's first innings of 294.

The pitch showed a decent amount of turn yesterday and Rangana Herath and Tillakaratne Dilshan both had some success with the ball. The surface is only going to be drier and rougher today so expect to see this pair feature early in the hopes of skittling Australia for not many more.

Grandstand's Geoff Lawson said yesterday afternoon that if the Sri Lankans can bowl Australia out for a lead of less than 100, it's anyone's game. Let's see what happens this morning.

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, sri-lanka

First posted January 05, 2013 09:43:16

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Strikers down Hurricanes to boost BBL chances

2013-01-13T05:15:00.000+06:00

Updated January 05, 2013 23:15:46

Adelaide Strikers gave themselves a real chance of a top-four finish with a comprehensive 38-run victory over the Hobart Hurricanes at the Bellerive Oval.

Playing in front of a hazy backdrop - the result of bushfires in Tasmania - Strikers skipper Johan Botha won the toss and, unusually for this tournament, elected to bat first.

The move looked to have backfired when Tim Ludeman (3) and Kieron Pollard (9) fell early but Michael Klinger (71 not out) and Callum Ferguson (33) did not let the run rate drop as they put on 59 for the third wicket before the latter was run out by Owais Shah.

Nathan Reardon (29) then gave former captain Klinger support in the middle and after he fell in the final over, Botha (12 not out) remarkably hit fours from each of the three deliveries he faced - two via reverse sweeps.

A target of 163 did not seem beyond perhaps the strongest batting lineup in the tournament and especially not when, following Aiden Blizzard's dismissal for a duck, Tim Paine (33) and Ricky Ponting (26) were at the crease.

After treating his home crowd to some superb pull shots, Ponting was caught at point by Botha as he looked to attack leg-spinner Cameron Boyce.

Boyce also took the crucial wickets of Paine, who holed out to long off, and Travis Birt (1) who was a victim of perhaps the catch of the tournament from Kane Richardson who made a diving one-handed grab while running backwards from long off.

Richardson then bowled Shah (9) and after two fours George Bailey (17) joined him in the sheds in the following over.

Xavier Doherty and Ben Laughlin gave some respectability to the scoreline putting on an unbeaten 23 for the final wicket but never threatened the Strikers' total, the home side finishing on 8 for 124 off the full 20 overs.

Both sides now have 8 points, with the Strikers up to third - above the Melbourne Stars on run rate - and the Hurricanes just outside the top four in fifth.

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, hobart-7000, adelaide-5000

First posted January 05, 2013 22:14:30

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