Lankan batsmen in for 'chin music'

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting

The Australian pacemen are going to make it hell for the Sri Lanka batsmen when the first of to Test begin at the Gabba on Thursday.

'Chin music' means express pace with the ribs or chin as the target.

At a press briefing at the Gabba yesterday morning after the Aussies had a net, Phil Jacques, the opening batsman and left-arm pacie Mitchell Johnson faced the media and to a question by me whether they would provide the 'Chin music' to the Lankan batsmen he said with a mischievous smile; Well, the Lankan bowlers, especially Dilhara Fernando and Lasith Malinga are going to give it to us, and we will give it good and hard in return, said Johnson who is keenly looking forward to his debut.

The Aussie will certainly go in with three pacemen - Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clarke. The selectors had pruned down the Aussies from the original 13 to 12 and announced that leg-spinner Stuart MacGill would certainly play and the spinner to miss out would be left armer Bradd Hogg.

Ben Hilfenhavs who was named when Tait pulled out will do the 12th man duties. The Gabba wicket is expected to have pace and bounce as it usually does, early on and be batsmen friendly as the Test gathers momentum.

The Aussies had a net in the morning, with the Lankans taking their turn in the afternoon yesterday. Sri Lanka will name their 12 after another net this morning. Phil Jacques who will partner Matthew Hayden, said that it is nice to be back in the Aussie side and was looking to form a line partnership with Hayden as Justin Langer did.

When questioned Jacques said that he had faced Chaminda Vaas and Muralitheran in the county circuit and complimented Muralitheran saying that he is an excellent bowler having captured 700 Test wickets.

Jacques is an attacking opener, like in the mould of Hayden and is one who favours facing short pitched deliveries because he is a good hooker and puller.

Johnson said that he was happy with his bowling form, although he managed only two wickets against the Lankans for Queensland.

Trevor Bayliss later faced the press and said that the Lankans are a talented side and if they believe in themselves and play the way they can, then the Test could be interesting. He said the Muralitheran is not feeling any discomfort with his bowling as proved when he trundled down 44 overs in Adelaide.

A Aussie junior tossed a tricky delivery to Bayliss regarding the unorthodox selection of Marvan Atapattu.

"Atapattu's selection was out of the normal. But as my stint gathers momentum, I would get used to things like that," said the coach who offered a straight bat to that tricky delivery.

Bayliss also admitted that Snath Jayasuriya's cheap dismissals in both innings was a bit of a worry, but he has the ability to lift his game and come good on the big occasion. Bayliss also said that they would have a look at the wicket and then decide whether they would go in with four pacemen and a solidary spinner in Muttiah Muralitheran.