The series is decided and the best Sri Lanka can hope for now is a
competitive showing in the final Test in Sydney. They will have to do so
without Kumar Sangakkara, who is comfortably Sri Lanka's best batsman
of all time away from home. They will also have to do so without Chanaka
Welegedara, who has been their leading wicket taker in this series.
They may also need to do so without their first-choice gloveman Prasanna
Jayawardene, who remains in doubt due to a hairline fracture of his
thumb. And they'll probably have to do it without Nuwan Kulasekara, who
missed the Melbourne Test with a rib injury. The odds are long, but Sri
Lanka can take some comfort from the fact that dead rubbers such as this
can throw up surprising results.
On paper, it is difficult to see Sri Lanka posing much of a threat,
despite the fact that Australia have shortened their batting line-up by
naming Matthew Wade at No.6 and Mitchell Johnson at No.7. Against a
strong bowling attack it would be a far riskier move, but against a Sri
Lankan bowling outfit missing Welegedara and Kulasekara it may be of
little consequence. It also means Australia have four fast men to rotate
and keep fresh during Sri Lanka's innings, along with the offspinner
Nathan Lyon. By leaving out the uncapped allrounder Glenn Maxwell, the
Australians have also ignored the chance to assess how Maxwell would
handle the challenge of bowling in Test cricket, ahead of the tour of
India in February-March.
But despite the fact the series has been decided already, there will be
plenty of emotion at the SCG over the next five days. Both teams will
wear black armbands in honour of the late Tony Greig, who was not only a
fixture of Australian cricket commentary for 33 years but was also a
much-loved figure in Sri Lanka. And the Australians will also farewell
Michael Hussey, who surprisingly announced his retirement after the
Melbourne Test. Hussey, the leader of Australia's team song, would love
to have one last reason to sing it at the SCG.
Form guide
(Most recent first)Australia WWLDD
Sri Lanka LLLWD
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