Hussey gets guard of honour from Lankans:

Australia hold advantage

Wicket shows signs of deteriorating:

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia

The wicket is showing signs of deteriorating and Australia holds the advantage with a lead of 48 runs with 4 wickets in hand on the second day of the Third and Final Test against Australia at the Sydney

Cricket Ground, here today. At the close Australia were 342 for 6 with Matthew Wade on 47 and Peter Siddle on 16. Rangana Herath had 2 for 69. Sri Lanka made 294 in their first innings and are still not out of the game.

Australian batsman David Warner plays a drive on day two of the third cricket Test between Sri Lanka and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Picture by Nishantha Sumanadasa

THE GREAT ESCAPE ! Australia’s Michael Clarke who scored 50, was plum out as TV replays showed that he was plumb in front. Umpire Aleem Dar did not rule him out, turned the Sri Lankan appeal down as the Lankans refered the appeal would have been upheld. Picture by Nishantha Sumanadasa at SCG in Australia

Thundering ovation

When the retiring Michael Hussey walked in passed the Sir Donald Bradman Gate, he was given a thundering ovation by the spectators who stood up to a man in gratitude of his great contributions to Australian cricket.

The Lankan fielders showed their appreciation by giving Hussey a guard of honour and cheered him on his way to the middle with Mahela Jayawardene shaking his hand and wishing ‘Mr.Cricket’ well. It was a poignant moment and Hussey sure would have had a lump in his throat.

Hussey would have been looking to make a memorable three figure score. But after a brief stay and after making 25 and putting on 56 runs for the 5th wicket, he was cruelly run out. Clarke pushed a ball to the off and scampered. Hussey obliged and his dive to safety was in vain as Karunaratne’s throw was a direct hit and Hussey was run out. He did not hit a boundary. It was poor calling by Clarke.

Clarke made a splendid 50 in 75 balls with 7 fours and a six and Mitchell Johnson 13. Clarke was well held by Karunaratne off Herath and Johnson was taken by Chandimal off Pradeep.

No terrors on wicket

When the Lankans we dismissed just before the close on Thursday, The Australians did not have any time to bat. When they began, openers Ed.Cowan and David Warner did not find any terrors in the wicket or the new ball bowling and batted confidently.

The dashing Warner was explosive. While Cowan kept his end up, Warner who believes that the ball is there to be hit, went after the bowling, playing some audacious shots to rattle the bowling.

The openers raced to 36 quickly and then when they looked to be settling down to big opening stand, Cowan was inexplicably run out. He hesitated when Warner called him for second run and could not beat the throw from Pradeep from mid wicket to bower Prasad and was run out for 4.

Kept tempo going

Another left hander Phil Hughes joined Warner and kept the tempo going matching Warner stroke for stroke. The Lankan bowers were pitching short and allowing them width and they feasted to go to lunch without further loss on 127 for one with a stand of 91.

Both Warner and Hughes cut, drove and at times played the upper cut and Warner who seemed to be playing limited over cricket and was first to 50 with 8 fours in just 37 balls.

Hughes reached his half century just before lunch with 6 fours in 85 balls and they went to lunch with Warner on 68 and Hughes 50. The Lankan bowling lacked sting and none of the bowler used looked like being able to lure any of the batsmen. 127 runs in 120 minutes was excellent going.

After lunch the two batsmen continued to make merry and after adding another 39 runs, Warner who was looking good for a century missed out again when he tried to hit part time off spinner Dilshan out of the ground, mishit and skied to Prasad who took a good catch running back at mid off.

Beefy innings

Warner’s 85 runs came in 84 balls with 10 well hit fours. It was a beefy innings with the cut and drive as his main run scoring shots. It was a sudden rush of blood that caused him his wicket.

His stand for the second wicket was worth 130 in 122 minutes and considering that it was Test cricket it was run making that entertained the near 26 thousand crowd. The crowd on the first day was 27 thousand. 166 for 3.

Skipper Clarke joined Hughes and would have been out LBW first ball to Rangana Herath. Umpire Dar turned down the appeal. Had the Lankans referred they would have had the big fish for zero. It would have been 166 for 3 and the Lankans would have been in the picture.

Hughes and Clarke then went on to put on 29 more runs when Hughes on 87 attempting to cut Herath, got a touch for Chandimal who was standing in for regular gloveman Prasanna Jayawardene to take the catch.

Hughes made his runs in 143 balls with 9 fours. 195 for 3. Then Michael Hussey partnered Clarke and added 46 runs and took tea at 241 for 3 – still trailing by 53 runs with Clarke unbeaten on 42 and Hussey on 18 and motoring untroubled.

To recap- It surprised many when Australian Captain Michael Clarke won the toss and asked Sri Lank to bat first. It is said that when you win the toss bat. You think a second time and you bat. You think a third time, consult somebody and you bat.

That is the norm. But with grass on the wicket, and after penciling four fast bowlers in his hit squad, it would have looked ridiculous if he batted first and it would have raised a laugh. Clarke’s critics must remember that it is not cricket to be wise after the event and roast Clarke.

Previous captain

The previous Australian captain to win in Sydney after the toss and asking the opposition in was Allan Border who had a wonderful run as captain batman and led Australia to win the World Cup.

When Sri Lanka batted it was refreshing to watch first Mahela Jayawardene who is playing his final Test as captain batting in the manner born. His 72 was a fabulous knock and his signature strokes that is from the book – cover drives and square cuts cascading from his straight playing bat.

He would have loved to sign off with a three figure score. It was cruel when Mitchell Starc got a delivery to move that little bit, take the edge of his lunging bat and fly to the safe hands of his vis-à-vis Michael Clarke at second slip. But he will have a second chance.

Future whiz kid

It was also good to see left hander who is one of the country’s future whiz kids Lahiru Thirimanne underlining his importance in the longer version of the game. The 24-year old playing in only his eighth Test survived an appeal by Jackson Bird first ball. Umpire Aleem Dar ruled him out LBW. Thirimanne referred and was successful.

Thirimanne, out of Test cricket for nine months, and arriving only on Monday and having a bat only once in the nets, showed good technique and temperament and excelled in the drives on the V in making a stylish 91, missing the dream figure by nine runs.

Sydney Cricket Ground, Friday.