Sangakkara completes 10,000 Test runs:

Gutless batting see Lankans out for 156

Agony ends in 43.4 overs in two sessions:

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia

The Australians have played themselves in to a position where they could strangle the Sri Lankans inside the distance and wrap up the series. After dismissing Sri Lanka for 156, the Australians have replied strongly and are 3 for 150, still trailing by 6 runs at the end of the first day of the Second Test, here today.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson (L) celebrates dismissing Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan (R) on the first day of the second cricket Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), in Melbourne, on Boxing Day. AFP

At the wickets were Shane Watson on 13 and Michael Clarke on 20. Both were both dropped early in their innings. Openers Ed Cowan and David Warner gave the Aussies a rollicking start racing to 95 in 102 balls, Warner who blasted 62 in 46 balls with 8 fours and a six fell to Angelo Matthews hooking a ball to Prasad at mid wicket.

Once Warner went, the run making became pedestrian and the Aussies lost the wickets of Phil Hughes run out 10 and Ed. Cowans for 36.

Gutless batting display

In one of the most gutless batting displays seen on the first day of a Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the presence of over 67 thousand spectators, the Sri Lankans handed over the advantage and the Test to the Australians on a platter.

Believe it or not the Lankans were bundled out for 156 in 43.4 overs in just two sessions. The collapse was caused not by hostile or penetrative bowling but by some rank bad shot selection lacking in intelligence and correct footwork.

From now on it will be a struggle for the Lankans to wriggle out of the noose that they put on themselves and if the Lankans could pride themselves if they could stop this Test from finishing on the third or fourth day.

Batting comedy

In this batting comedy, only left hander Kumar Sangakkara stood out. He showed that there was nothing in the wicket or the bowling as he played it on merit with determination and which should have been an example to all other batsmen. He made 58 with 8 fours in 98 balls.

It dawned a wonderful summer’s day in Melbourne with the sun shining brightly and the cricket fans, both Sri Lankans and Australians streaming in from morning after celebrating Christmas on the previous day.

The Lankans were carrying with them the big sound making papare, papare bands and proudly waving the Lion Flag. The fans were coming in to inspire and cheer the Lankans to realize their dream of winning their first ever Test on Australian soil.

First time

Like playing at Lord’s in England, playing in the Boxing Day Test in Australia is the dream of every cricketer. As for the Sri Lankans this is the first time that every one of them was playing at the MCG in a Test.

Before the toss, the good news for Australia was that skipper Michael Clarke had been declared fit to play having sufficiently recovered from a strained hamstring. Sri Lanka was forced to leave out Nuwan Kulasekera suffering from a bruised rib and Dhammika Prasad was given a go.

Fast bowler, the tall Jackson Bird was making his debut for Australia. He came in for left arm paceman Mitchell Starc who was rested despite his match winning effort in the First Test in Hobart. Bird was given his cap by former Australian captain Bill Lawry. He became the 431st Test cricketer for Australia.

Wicket a belter

Winning the toss and batting first on a wicket that looked a belter was the hunger of the two skippers Mahela Jayawardene and Michael Clarke when they walked out to toss. And did not Jayawardene look elated when he won the toss.

The wicket looked a good one for more than 400 runs and with a strong batting line up running up to number eight, over 400 should not have been beyond their reach.

But they were off to a horror start when both openers, Dimuth Karunaratne five and Tillakerane Dilshan 11 were both out with the score on 19. Worse followed when skipper Jayawardene 3, went at 37.

Karunaratne gave Jackson Bird his maiden Test wicket when he tickled a catch to wicket keeper Wade. Bird jubilated and all team mates rushed to pat and congratulate him.

Jagging back

Dilshan trying to go over mid wicket saw a Johnson delivery jagging back to knock his off stump and Jayawardene hung out a limp bat and was taken behind off Peter Siddle. 37 for 3 and a poor start considering that the wicket was playing well.

Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera steered the ship to safety and went to lunch on 79 for 3 with Sangakkara on 43 and Samaraweera on 10, with Sangakkara joining a select band of batsmen who have scored 10,000 Test runs.

Sangakkara on 39 and requiring one to reach that milestone played a cracking cover drive off Johnson that sped to the boundary and immediately acknowledged the cheers waving his bat around. He will always remember the day, the stroke, the moment and the venue –the MCG the holy land of Australian cricket.

Provide the oxygen

Sangakkara and Samaraweera were expected to provide the oxygen to the innings that was grasping for breath on resumption after lunch. But further disaster struck when Samaraweera went third ball after lunch. Samaraweera failed to keep down a delivery from Bird and was taken by David Warner at short mid wicket 10 – 79 for 4. Then three more wickets fell when Angelo Mathews 15, Prasanna Jayawardene 24 and Dhammika Prasad 0 were out and the board read a sad 134 for 7. Johnson had Jayawardene and Prasad in two balls and was in line for a hat trick. But he bowled a no ball to Rangana Herath and with it went his attempt of a hat trick.

All out 156

Sri Lanka was all out for 156 when three more wickets fell that of Kumar Sangakkara 58 at 147 and Ragana Herath 14 at 156 and at the same score Chanaka Welegedera for no score, leaving off spinner Nathan Lyon on a hat trick if he gets a wicket first ball in Sri Lanka’s second innings.

Left arm bowler Mitchell Johnson coming had the most wickets with 4 for 63, Jackson Bird 2 for 32, Peter Siddle 2 for 30 and Nathan Lyon 2 for 23 in an attack that was cleverly handed by Michael Clarke.

When the Lankans took the field, Kumar Sangakkara put on the wicket keeping gloves with Prasanna Jayawardene seeking medical treatment being hit a nasty blow on his thumb from the Johnson delivery that dismissed him. The Xray revealed a hairline fracture.

Melbourne Cricket Ground, Wednesday.

		SCORECARD
	SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS

D. Karunaratne c Wade b Bird 		 05
T. Dilshan b Johnson 			 11
K. Sangakkara c Wade b Johnson 		 58
M. Jayawardene c Wade b Siddle 		 03
T. Samaraweera c Warner b Bird 		 10
A. Mathews c Hussey b Siddle 		 15
P. Jayawardene c Hughes b Johnson 	 24
D. Prasad c Wade b Johnson 		 00
R. Herath c Hussey b Lyon 		 14
S. Eranga not out 			 04
C. Welegedara c Hussey b Lyon 		 00
Extras (lb5, nb7) 			 12
Total (all out, 43.4 overs) 		156

Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Karunaratne), 2-19 (Dilshan), 3-37 (M. Jayawardene), 4-79 (Samaraweera),
		 5-99 (Mathews), 6-134 (P. Jayawardene), 7-134 (Prasad), 8-147 (Sangakkara), 
		 9-156 (Herath) 10-156 (Welegedara)
Bowling: Johnson 14-2-63-4 (4nb), Bird 13-5-32-2 (2nb), Siddle 8-1-30-2 (1nb), Watson 3-2-3-0, Lyon 5.4-0-23-2

		AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS

E. Cowan c M. Jayawardene b Prasad 	 36
D. Warner c Prasad b Mathews 		 62
P. Hughes run out (Dilshan) 		 10
S. Watson not out 			 13
M. Clarke not out 			 20
Extras (b2, w5, nb2)			 09
Total (3 wkts; 39 overs) 		150

Fall of wickets: 1-95 (Warner), 2- 117 (Hughes), 3-117 (Cowan)

Bowling: Welegedara 11-4-36-0, Eranga 10-2-53-0 (2nb, 1w), Prasad 8-1-39-1, Mathews 4-2-9-1, Herath 6-1-11-0