Sri Lanka will be hoping to take full advantage of any weakness
or chinks in the armour of a tired Australian attack when they face the world
Champions for the first time in ODI format since the recently concluded World
Cup final in the West Indies last summer. The Australians have been involved
in over a month of non-stop cricket action and as invincible they might be,
Sri Lanka would be entertaining thoughts of revenge when they face them
in Melbourne this coming Friday
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of Sri Lanka vs Australia match
Sri lanka have put out their strongest possible thirteen for
the CB series in Australia and the influx of as many as six fast
bowlers along with Champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will give skipper
Mahela Jayawadena plenty of attacking options to fall back upon as they go head
to head with what is arguably the finest batting line up in world cricket right
now. With the step-up to prominence of quickster Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka have
put together a very potent attack and will be looking to create panic in the
Australian ranks on Melbourne. Whilst Sri Lanka's bowling armoury has been improved
upon in recent years, their batting remains as strong and powerful as ever with
Kumara Sangakarra together with Sanath Jayasurya more than capable of out batting
any team on their day. Sri Lanka will have bad memories from their humiliating
loss to Australia in the World Cup finals earlier this year and will be hoping
to make it up with a victory over Australia that would put the host's qualification
prospects in some trouble.
Australia will be distraught to see their opening match against India washed
out to rain when they had all chances of going on and inflicting a defeat on
the Indian team. However, not all was gloomy for the side down under as paceman
Brett Lee ripped apart the Indian batting line up in wet soddy conditions at
the Gabba giving further testimony to the fact that he is more than capable
enough to take over the reins of the Australian bowling attack after the retirement
of Glenn McGrath. Australia's batting however, did suffer a dent under some
fine swing bowling in their short stint in Brisbane and Ricky Pointing will
be hoping to marshal his batting line up efficiently so as to inflict an early
series defeat over their emerald island rivals, which would set up the tone
for the reminder of the series. Australia have enjoyed a lot of success over
Sri lanka in the recent past and will be hoping to continue that run when they
take the field hopefully under better weather conditions on the 8th of February
2008 against Sri lanka at the MCG.
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