 The third and final Test between Sri Lanka and Australia will be played
at Singhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Friday, September 16 at 10:00 IST or 4:30
GMT.
Australia have now 1-0 lead in the series. It could have been 2-0 but rains saved
Sri Lanka in the second Test match at Pallekele.
This Test is like "Do or Die" for Sri Lanka. If they can manage
a win this game, the series will end in 1-1 draw which will be a terrific result
for Sri Lanka as they were pretty dismal throughout the series even unable to
score not more than 175 runs in their opening innings.
Click for Live Score Card of Sri Lanka Vs Australia
What the side would hope is that they can get their batting firing, after the
kind of dismal performances in the previous games. The bowling has done a fair
job, but without the batting, it has found the controlling of runs difficult.
It will be former captain Kumar Sangakara's 100th Test match, and he will hope
that each and every player will be a lot more focused to bring best out of them
to give the legendary batsman a nice treat. He is only the fifth Sri Lankan to
achieve this level. Sangakara made his debut against South Africa in 2000 and
since then he has been performing extraordinarily averaging 55.66 runs in his
99 Test matches.
Australia will be going to the ground to win the series by winning the Test
match. Ryan Harris will be missing the Test due to hamstring strain.
He has been the best bowler for the tourists taking 11 wickets. Either Peter
Siddle or James Pattinson will replace him.
As Ricky Ponting is back after the birth of his second child, the Australian
team management is now in dilemma because of Shaun Marsh who has become the
nineteenth Australian batsman scoring a debut Test century. It will be unfair
to drop him. So, Phil Hughes whose highest score is only 36 runs in the
series as an opener might be replaced by Shaun Marsh as Ricky Ponting
is still irreplaceable though he have not scored any hundred for twenty months.
Sri Lanka will try hard to draw the series by winning the match but the mighty
Australia may have smelled blood and look to expose the Australian chinks by
ensuring that they can continue attacking the Lankan batsmen. Mitchell Johnson
will hold the key.
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