All the highlights from day three at the MCG (28/12)
All the highlights from the third day of the second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka from the MCG.
Jackson Bird celebrates bowling out Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene. Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty
AUSTRALIAN captain Michael Clarke says his side has set the standard
it must play at ahead of next year's back-to-back Ashes campaigns after
its thumping series win against Sri Lanka today.
It took less than eight sessions for Australia to dismantle the
tourists at the MCG, securing an innings and 201-run victory in the
Boxing Day Test to record an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the series.Clarke, who made the sole century of the match, said the "ruthless" approach stood out as the most impressive feature.
SCOREBOARD: See all the details and videos of key wickets here
“Considering we were on top in the game we had to come out and bowl well and execute our plans but we had to do it with good intent and our goal was to win the Test match today,” Clarke said after the win.
RE-LIVE OUR ROLLING COVERAGE OF TODAY'S ACTION BELOW“I think we need to be realistic as well. It’s about consistency.
“It’s nice we’ve done it in the first two Tests against Sri Lanka and it’s great we’ve won the series, but we have a lot of work to do as a team.
“This is our standard now, we’ve got to continue to get better from here.”
Australia took just 24.2 overs to rattle Sri Lanka today, with Kumar Sangakkara retiring hurt and two players failing to bat due to injury.
Mitch the main man for rampant Aussies
The Lankans were left reeling at 4-13 before lunch, with Mitchell Johnson and David Warner combining for a first-over run-out.
The next ball Johnson removed the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan, while debutant Jackson Bird claimed the top-order scalps of Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera.
Meanwhile, Johnson backed Australia’s controversial rotation policy which saw Mitchell Starc axed from the successful side in Hobart two weeks ago.
“The rotation system can work if the guys are going to be a lot fresher,” Johnson said after his man-of-the-match performance.
The rejuvenated quick finished with six wickets for the match and an unbeaten 92 with the bat today.
2.11 AEDT - SL 7-103 (all-out)
Wicket! Australia wins!
And she's all over! Australia takes an insurmountable 2-0 series lead with Peter Siddle chiming in for the seventh and final wicket.
The paceman dismissed tailender Eranga for a duck to finish off the tourists in an innings which lasted a woeful 24.2 overs.
Eranga was caught by Cowan to give Siddle a much-deserved second-innings wicket.
In two digs the Lankans compiled just 259 runs. Ouch. That's an innings and 201-run victory to Australia.
Now off to Sydney for a dead rubber!
2.06 AEDT - SL 6-101
Wicket!
Well, Dhammika Prassad decided he'd had enough. After smashing Nathan Lyon for two big sixes, the tailender thought he'd go again and miscued it horribly!
It went high, high, high but no where else as David Warner did the rest, holding onto it at mid-wicket. Prassad gone and the Aussies are one wicket away.
He made a run-a-ball 17. Enter Shaminda Eranga.
1.51 AEDT - SL 5-75 (Two wickets from victory)
Sri Lanka is effectively eight wickets down with the news two of its men are unlikely to bat and after Sangakkara's retirement with a finger injury.
SCOREBOARD: See all the details and videos of key wickets here
It appears Prasanna Jayawardene and Chanaka Welegedara will pass on their innings due to injury, meaning this one could be done and dusted in a matter of overs.
Basically, it looks the Aussies are just two scalps from victory now, and breathing fire with two new bats at the crease. Bring it on.
1.44 AEDT - SL 5-74
Wicket!
And it's the big one! Angelo Mathews gone, clean bowled by MJ. Johnson is wrecking havoc at the MCG. He splashed some runs, took some wickets and injured a few Lankans.
This was a peach and Mathews simply couldn't keep it out. Mathews departs for a quick-fire 35, giving Johnson his seventh wicket for the match.
1.41 AEDT - SL 4-74
And now Prassad looks in trouble. He's taken some pain relief and looks like he'll go on, but the boy is in trouble.
Johnson smoked one into Prassad's glove and the physio came out.
1.26 AEDT - SL 4-68
SANGAKKARA RETIRES HURT
After clearly favouring his injured knuckle, Sangakkara decides enough is enough and walks from the field.
The Sri Lanka star took his glove off and showed off some serious swelling in his left index finger. Ouch. A sad and sorry day for the tourists now escalates.
The Aussies are now just five wickets from victory, with Dhammika Prassad walking to the crease on a pair.
And there must be doubts on Sanga fronting up for the Sydney Test. He finished on 27 before heading to hospital for X-rays.
1.23 AEDT - SL 4-61
A lucky break for Sri Lanka immediately after the lunch break, with Shane Watson dropping Angelo Mathews in the gully.
Jackson Bird was far from impressed, with him and Johnson resuming the attack for Australia in the second session.
This partnership looms as the key - if Australia can snap it the home side will be into Sri Lanka's second-string batsmen and well on the way to finishing the match.
12.30 AEDT - LUNCH
What a session for the Aussies! They picked up four wickets, pushed their mega lead past 300 runs and are seemingly within a session of burying Sri Lanka and pocketing the series.
It started with the Mitch Johnson hour of power. The paceman rocketed to 92 not-out before running out of partners with the bat, before joining David Warner to run out Dimuth Karunaratne.
Johnson then removed the dangerous Dilshan for a duck, the very next ball, while debutant Jackson Bird continued the horror run for the tourists' captain Mahele Jayawardene, dismissing him for a duck.
Bird has two, the Lankans have six pegs left and we're headed for a cricket-free weekend. Thank you for coming!
But now the questions begin to stew... how does Mitchell Starc get back into this side for the Sydney Test?
Will it be for injured all-rounder Shane Watson, or does Jackson Bird face the axe despite a fine debut? Surely Johnson couldn't be rested?
Does Australia persist with struggling spinner Nathan Lyon? Argh... time for lunch!
Sri Lanka 4-43 and trailing by 261 runs
Kumar Sangakkara 22*
Angelo Mathews 17*
Decision reviews remaining: Australia 2, Sri Lanka 1
12.12 AEDT
Finally, some calm. Sri Lanka has lasted 2.3 overs without a wicket, give them a round of applause.
About six overs left until the lunch break and the Aussies must fancy their chances of tying away a series win in the next session.
They lead by 283 runs... but forget that number, it's all about the last six wickets. And who gets them could be telling given Mitchell Starc is due to return in Sydney.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER
28: Australian players celebrate the run out of Dimuth Karunaratne of
Sri Lanka during day three of the Second Test match between Australia
and Sri Lanka at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 28, 2012 in
Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Source: HWT Image Library
11.54 AEDT - SL 4-13
Wicket!
This. Is. Embarrassing. If there was a mercy rule it would well and truly be actioned by now.
This time it's Thilan Samaraweera who goes. He made one run before Jackson Bird trapped him plumb lbw. The Lankan reviewed it, but Eagle Eye showed it would have battered middle and leg stump.
Well, at least when he returns to the dressing room, he can brag about not having a duck next to his name like two of his teammates.
Bird now has two, Johnson one and a run-out this innings. Forget seeing out the day, can Sri Lanka make it to lunch?!
11.37 AEDT - SL 3-3
Wicket!
Would you believe?! The third duck of the innings! Jayawardene is marching towards the sheds, Jackson Bird the hero.
Bird rocked one through Jayawardene's defence and his stumps came clattering down. This is a train wreck. The Aussies might get the whole weekend off here, with a few after-work Friday drinks to boot.
As if things can't get worse, two of the Lankans to come are battling injury. Can they see out the day?
For the record, New Zealand "boasts" the lowest ever Test score - a whopping 26.
11.28 AEDT - SL 2-1
Wicket!
Sorry, jumped the gun too early. THIS is the worst possible start for the tourists! Dilshan is gone for a duck, with both openers removed almost immediately.
Dilshan brushed it straight up in the air off his hips and Ed Cowan did the rest at short leg, all off the bowling of Johnson.
That's his fifth wicket for the match, while the captain Mahela Jayawardene joins Sangakkara at the crease.
Lankans officially reeling at 2-1. Two for one? Sounds more like a Boxing Day sale than a scorecard.
Wicket!
Ohh dear! The worst possible start for Sri Lanka with Dimuth Karunaratne run out for one run in the first over. Who rocked the stumps? You guessed it! Mitch Johnson... should we hand him man-of-the-match honours now?
A ripping throw from David Warner to set up the dismissal, with Dilshan and Sangakarra at the crease.
Boxing Day Test. Day 3. Jckson Bird gets bowled Picture: Klein Michael
Source: HWT Image Library
11.11 AEDT - AUS 10-460
Wicket!
And Bird is gone! And that leaves Mitch Johnson unbeaten eight runs shy of a second Test century. The debutant just couldn't keep a full one out, with the ball cannoning into his stumps.
Shaminda Eranga did the damage, collecting his fourth wicket for the innings. Australia leads by 304 runs and now it'll be the Lankans to start their second innings.
Australia finished 10-460 off 134.4 overs with Michael Clarke scoring the only century of the match.
Bird was dismissed for naught, lasting 11 balls. Time to get the leather in his hand.
11.10 AEDT
Crack! Johnson is on his way to three figures... if he can keep Jackson Bird at the other end. The tailender is starting to take to Angelo Mathews, thumping a boundary past mid-off to take the lead past 300.
The Aussies hold a 301-run advantage, while Johnson has raced to 89 this morning.
Boxing Day Test. Day 3. Mitchell Johnson hooks Picture: Klein Michael
Source: HWT Image Library
10.55 AEDT - AUS 9-451
Wicket!
A soft dismissal sees Nathan Lyon walk for one.
The spinner goes for one run in a disappointing start - it was his job to see Johnson through for a ton. Matthews picks up the wicket, bringing Jackson Bird to the crease for his first bat in Test cricket.
10.45am AEDT
And we're away! Angelo Matthews and Dhammika Prasad have the ball. Not a bad crowd in early given the cool weather and state of the match.
Lyon and Johnson off to a defensive start but the lead has swelled to 289 runs. Will we see the Lankans at the crease by lunch?
Johnson's highest Test score is 123 not-out - can he better that today?
10.30am AEDT
Cricket Australia has confirmed the first ball is due at 10.45 AEDT. The covers are off, the drizzle has stopped and we're ready to resume the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
10.20am AEDT
Ten minutes away from scheduled start of play now - but light rain is causing issues at the G.
The bureau is suggesting some morning showers and the covers are off but a short delay looms.
Can Sri Lanka mop up the tail and get into bat early? You'd think Jackson Bird, Peter Siddle and co wouldn't mind the new ball under these grey skies.
Don't forget to send your tweets throughout the day to @samlandsberger or leave your comments below.
Umpire decision reviews remaining: Australia 2, Sri Lanka 1
10.00am AEDT
THE Aussies went from obliterating Sri Lanka with a firestorm of wickets on day one to a slow grind-like kill in day two, seemingly batting the tourists out of the Boxing Day Test.
And while Michael Clarke scored an inspirational ton a day after passing an 11th-hour fitness test on his hamstring, Mitchell Johnson ignited Australia last night, hammering an unbeaten 73 a day after snaring four crunch wickets.
Johnson will be joined at the crease by Nathan Lyon today, with the Aussies 8-440 at stumps, and leading by284 runs.
But the dominance has seemingly come at a cost, with all-rounder Shane Watson suffering a calf train and expected to miss the third Test in Sydney next week.
Will the Aussies declare? When will the Test be over? And can Johnson make a ton? The first ball is due at 10.30 AEDT.
Source:http://www.news.com.au
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