and it's all over! The injured men won't come out to bat. Australia have claimed the series with one dead rubber to play. This was short on the body, Eranga couldn't fend it off properly, lobs off the handle to Cowan at short leg. Two men are absent hurt, Sanga won't bat, and Australia have wrapped this up in two and a half days.
Australia vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test at Melbourne, , Dec 26 2012 - Match Result
Presentation: Mitchell Johnson is the Man of the Match: "I was seeing the ball well out there and really enjoying my batting. I just focused on playing each ball on its merits. My bowling is coming together as well and the short ball is going well. The time that I've had out of the game has been really good for me, and now that I'm back playing, I'm just trying to be as consistent as possible."
Mahela: "This is the most disappointing day of the tour for us. Winning the toss and batting first you expect to put a big total on the board, but we lost wickets up front and were behind from day one. We had chances to get back in the game in the field as well and didn't take them."
Unfortunately we cannot get you Clarke's quotes. Of course, we will have videos of the press conferences over the next couple of hours. There's lots yet to read about this match from our team at MCG.
Kasun Anuradha picks his replacements: "Only positive came through this defeat is we could see young men playing the next test. Perera,Chandimal and hopefully Lahiru or Angelo Perera will play."
That's it from us here. Painful Friday morning for Sri Lankan supporters. Hopefully the new year will bring better luck. Thanks for your company. Cheers!
End of match: Australia have been clinical in this Test and hats off to them. Shrugged off the series loss against SA and they are all smiling again. The fast bowler rotation didn't bite them in the back with Johnson taking 6 and nearly scoring a century. Watson made runs too and Bird had an impressive debut. When Johnson's hurting them, he's deadlier than ever.
SL have at least three injured men who may not take part at the SCG. This reminds us of the 1975 World Cup when Jeff Thomson sent five Sri Lankans to hospital. What's worse is that even Sangakkara is injured. Wholesale changes for the next Test.
I think Sri Lanka's best chance of winning is if they can somehow simulate Galle at the SCG - model fort ramparts and ocean noises in the background. Can't think of anything else.
short ball outside off and he jabs it to the off side
Uzair: "Thisarra Perera should be one of the replacements. He is already in Australia playing Big Bash."
spins back in and he defends
comes well forward and defends
tossed up and he comes forward and defends
Adrian Meredith thinks out of the box, regarding replacements: "Chaminda Vaas, Sanath Jayasuriya and Hashan Tillekeratne I reckon. Oh sure they are old but they aren't doing anything."
goes for the hat-trick of sixes and it doesn't come off! Anything but. Tossed up and he goes down the track and gets a top edge that lands down Warner's throat at cover
make that two in two! Tossed up and he charges down the track and clears long-off this time, clean!
Prasad has some fun against the off spinner, tossed up and he gives the charge and lofts cleanly over wide long-on
goes for another pull, he fails to make contact
little short again and he swivels and pulls to the deep in front of square this time
gets some wood on it this time! Short again and down the leg side and he swivels and hooks to fine leg
tries to play a short arm pull, not in control of it, ends up dragging it to short leg
short of a length outside off and he chooses to leave it alone
Sri: "Looks like what many Sri Lankans have been clamoring for will come true: Dinesh Chandimal should play in the next test as keeper-batsman."
tossed up and he stays back and defends
chips down the track and tries to launch him straight and ends up getting an outside edge that drops safely at short third man
stays back and defends with soft hands
tucks it away down to square leg for a single
flatter delivery and he defends
chips down the track and he heaves him wide of midwicket
Melbourne Cricket Ground | |
Toss | Sri Lanka, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2012/13 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | Australia led the 3-match series 2-0 |
Match number | Test no. 2068 |
Hours of play (local time) | 10.30am start, Lunch 12.30-13.10, Tea 15.10-15.30, Close 17.30 |
Match days | 26,27,28 December 2012 - day (5-day match) |
Test debut | |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |