Humiliated Aussies rush in stars

Australian selectors taken to task:

Lankans have adrenalin flowing:

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia

Mitchell Johnson

Stung to the quick by the humiliation heaped on them by the Sri Lankans in the Second Commonwealth Bank One-day series bash, the Australian selectors have rushed in the stars for the third game at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday.

Buoyed by their easy victory in Melbourne, the Aussie selectors blundered when they rested three payers from that team for the second game and tossed in two debutants.

Making their debut

Out went Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc and in came Steve Smith, Ben Cutting and Kane Richardson.

Cutting and Richardson were making their debut. Khawaja’s and Johnson’s resting was inexplicable.

Regular skipper Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, David Warner and Matthew Wade return to strengthen the squad. The Aussie selectors boobed when they rested the four stars claiming the rotation policy.

Former Australian wicket keeper batsman Brad Haddin who was recalled, made a splendid half century and suffered a hamstring string strain during his innings and is out of the side. With Australia fielding what looked a second string Australian line up, The Sri Lankans who were hungry for a win, feasted on what looked a half baked side and slapped on them an 8-wicket defeat.

Taken to task

Selection Committee boss former Australian cricketer John Inverarity was taken to task for the rotation policy that cost them the game. Former Australian opening batsman and now doing TV commentary for Channel Nine Michael Slater said the selectors should accord more respect for Sri Lanka.

Defence of rotation

David Warner

The retention of off spin bowler Glenn Maxwell who failed to take a wicket in the first two games and also failed with the bat is being queried. But Inverarity defended his retention by saying he was desperate to develop the spinning all-rounder.

The Australian selectors have also sprung a surprise by bringing in New South Wales seam bowling all-rounder 25 year old Moises Henriques who is expected to play in Brisbane.

Inverarity backed up Australian coach Mickey Arthur’s defence of rotation, denying it showed lack of respect for the Sri Lankans. Clarke, Warner and Wade needed a break and they had a break just as others used to in past seasons.

In the meantime, the Sri Lankan cricketers have four days to rest and now that they have got that badly needed win under their belts and now that the adrenalin is flowing, are confident that Adelaide raised their game and put them on the winning trail. The Aussie squad for Brisbane: Michael Clarke (C), George Bailey, Xavier Doherty, Moises Henriques, Philip Hughes, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade and David Warner.

Brisbane, Tuesday.