Glenn Maxwell will debut in Sydney Test:

Lankans arrive in Sydney unheralded and unsung

‘Mr.Cricket’ Hussey goes on his own terms :

Elmo Rodrigopulle - Reporting from Australia

The Sri Lankan cricketers arrived in Sydney, unheralded and unsung, still looking stunned by their unbelievable innings and 201 run defeat with over two and half days to spare in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Supporters of Sri Lanka cricket in Sydney who will be there in their numbers, cheering and looking to lift their confidence and motivate them are confident that the Lankans will come good at the SCG and give a better account of themselves. The Australians like they usually do, heralded the New Year 2013 in grand style with firework displays in the Yarra River in Melbourne and the Harbour Bridge in Sydney being incredible with thousand of revellers letting themselves go.

Illustrious run

One will quit Test cricket after an illustrious run with the bat, while another will begin a career in the big league when he tosses an off spinner at a Sri Lankan batsman in the final of Three Tests at the Sydney Cricket Ground, beginning on Thursday. Known as ‘Mr.Cricket’,Hussey scored bags of runs against all opposition.

He particularly remembers the previous tour of Sri Lanka where he reeled off centuries in each of the Test matches and carried away the man-of-match awards in all Tests. He has scored heavily in this series too.

Hussey was part of the campaign to regain the Ashes against England which they lost very badly the last time round. The onus will now fall on David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja to step in and make good Hussey’s loss.

Came in late

Hussey who came in to the team late played 78 Tests that brought him 683 runs at an average of 51.52, just below former Australian captain Ricky Ponting who retired recently.

‘I feel really happy. I feel I have been able to accomplish way more than I ever dreamed of, so I can walk away not feeling like I have got to do something more or prove anything else to myself.

‘It do feel good, to know I am still in the team and not have that horrible feeling of not playing very well or thinking that you are going to be left out. I’m lucky in that respect. Not many people get to go out on their own terms’, Hussey told journalists fighting back tears.

Warne helps debutant Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell who will make his debut for Australia on Thursday, has help coming from former Australian leg spinning great Shane Warne who is teaching him the art of patience and mind games. The off spinning all rounder has the distinction of smashing 83 from 50 balls against the Sydney Sixes for Melbourne Stars before Christmas in the Big Bash League.

Maxwell is likely to bat lower down in the order and play as a second spinner against Sri Lanka on Thursday and hopes to put the lessons he has learnt from Warne into practice in the Test. Sydney, Monday.