Nuwan Kulasekera will stay for one-day series :

Final fitness test for Jayawardene before Test

A moment’s silence for late Tony Greig :

[Elmo Rodrigopulle - Reporting from AUSTRALIA]

The Australians now that they have the Sri Lankans groggy will not stop until they deliver the knockout punch and make a clean sweep of the series when the Final Test begins at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.

The Lankans must still be dazed after the humiliating defeat slapped on them by the rampaging Aussies. What they have done to recover and then front up to the Aussies could be gauged only once the Test unfolds.

According to Manager Charith Senanayake, wicket keeper, batsman Prasanna Jayawardene who is nursing a fractured thumb did not train with the team and his chances of paying will depend after a final fitness test on the morning of the match.

Kulasekera ruled out

Medium pace bowler Nuwan Kulaskera, who hurt his rib in the Hobart Test is still unfit and will miss the Sydney Test, but will remain for the one-day and Twenty20 series which begins at MCG on January 11. Replacement batsman Lahiru Thirimnne has arrived and will make a strong bid to play.

Cricket fans coming for the Sydney Test have been asked to sport tributes to the late Tony Greig, and retiring batsman Mike Hussey and the pin of the McGrath Foundation.

The fans are expected to wear wide-brimmed hats in honour of the cricket giant and TV Commentator Tony Greig who suddenly died on Saturday. His funeral arrangements are still not known.

Wear white zinc

Organizers would also like spectators to wear white zinc for retiring Australian batsman ‘Mr. Cricket’ Michael Hussey. Both Sri Lanka and Australia will observe a moment’s silence and will sport black arm bands.

Here in Australia, the sudden death of former England Captain and renowned TV Commentator is still big news with all newspapers publishing glowing tributes to Greig.

Century maker in Melbourne and excellent captain, Michal Clarke seems doubtful for the Sydney Test. That is because he still feels the strain on his hamstring. He made a gallant recovery to lead the team to victory which also sealed the series for them.

Not ruled out

But the chances of him leading the team again is in doubt, because of his hamstring strain. The Lankans by gifting the Second Test in two-and-a-half days gave him enough time to rest and recover. If he decides not to take the field then the next man in line to lead is the hard hitting left hand batsman David Warner. Warne is also aggression and if he is given the opportunity to lead he is sure to get his aggression to rub off on his team mates.

With all rounder Shane Watson ruled out of the New Year Test with a calf strain while bowling at the MCG, there would be a leadership void if Clarke s not declared fit to play.

Future leader

Warner 26, is seen as a leader of the future, although he had no experience in the captaincy business, and who made it to the Aussie Test team only about 12 months ago.

Australia has contingency plans and his aggressive approach has made him a potential leader to succeed Clarke in their long term plans. Warne’s only taste of captaincy came when he led a Chairman’s X1 against India last year as well leading Sydney Thunder.

When Watson was out of the game last summer, Warne was made vice captain of the one-day team in the home tri-series against Sri Lana and India.

But when Clarke was forced out with injuries, the Australian selectors called on former captain Ricky Ponting to lead.

Sydney, Tuesday.