Ponting could move down order as Marsh keeps place for third Test against Lanka

Colombo, Sep. 16  : Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is likely to come down in the batting order in the third Test against Sri Lanka to allow Shaun Marsh to continue batting at NO. 3 following his outstanding debut century in the second Test at Kandy. According to the Courier Mail, Marsh has kept his place in the team for the third Test, starting in Colombo today but Usman Khawaja has been dropped to make way for Ponting, who returns following the birth of his second child.
Paceman Ryan Harris was overlooked because of a slight hamstring strain and has been replaced by Peter Siddle.
Marsh''s flawless, seven-hour 141 batting at No. 3 means Australia should leave the 28-year-old at first drop as an investment for the future as well as the present.
Ponting, 36, is widely regarded as Australia''s greatest batsman after Bradman but he has not been a success at No. 3 for more than two years.
He has made just one century in 21 Tests since scoring 150 at Cardiff during the first Test of the 2009 Ashes series.
That was a double hundred against Pakistan in Hobart 20 months ago, when he was dropped - hooking to fine leg - before he had scored .
Hindered by significant injuries during the past two seasons, Ponting has averaged 27.6 in 11 Tests since that Hobart innings.
At the end of last summer''s dismal Ashes series, Ponting openly discussed moving down the order, as former greats such as Viv Richards and Allan Border did towards the end of their careers.
Australian team: Shane Watson, Phil Hughes, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (c), Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Trent Copeland, Nathan Lyon.

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Australia will continue domination to win Lanka Test series: Harris

Colombo, Sep 15: Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris is confident that his team will beat Sri Lanka in the Colombo Test, which starts tomorrow, to win the three-match series. Australia had to settle for a draw in the rain-hit second Test in Kandy despite dominating the game, meaning that they head into the final match with a 1-0 lead.
"I think we're batting well. We've been bowling well as a group. I know the guys who haven't been playing have been in the nets every day working their butts off, they're ready to go if they're needed," Fox Sports quoted Harris, as saying.
"Disappointing where we've just come from in Kandy, but I think, particularly as a bowling group, we've put Sri Lanka under pressure and tied down their runs. In those periods we've taken wickets to keep the pressure on them so pretty confident we can continue that," he added.
Harris, however, has been ruled out of the match due to a hamstring strain.
The 31-year-old had been the bowler of the series, with 11 wickets at an average of 15.
Australian team: Shane Watson, Phil Hughes, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (captain), Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Trent Copeland and Nathan Lyon.

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Watson to continue opening Oz batting despite demanding all-rounder role: Clarke

Colombo, Sep 15: Australian captain Michael Clarke has said that Shane Watson will stay at the top of the batting order despite the all-rounder being used more as a bowler. Watson has been used extensively as a fourth fast bowling option in the ongoing three-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
"It (moving him down the order) is something I'll continue to think about. I see Watto's bowling as very important for the team so in time, if it's best for the team, he might move down the order," Fox Sports quoted Clarke, as saying.
"But the priority is whatever's best for the team and right now I think that's Shane opening the batting. In time, we might reassess the situation," he added.
Earlier, Watson had said that he was prepared to shift down the batting order if his increased bowling demands put a strain on his ability to compile big scores as an opening batsman.
"I really do enjoy opening the batting, taking on the quicks with the new ball, but it does depend on what my role is, if I'm going to bowl a lot more," Watson had said.
"I feel my body is really coping and handling the overs a lot better as well. At the moment I'm definitely opening the batting, but if my role changes a little bit I'm happy to bat anywhere to make sure we've got the best people in the right positions," he had added.

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Khawaja dumped from Oz squad for Colombo Test against Lanka, Marsh retained

Colombo, Sep 15: Left-handed Australian batsman Usman Khawaja will make way for Ricky Ponting for the third Test against Sri Lanka, which will begin at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club tomorrow. Ponting will return to the team after missing the second Test to attend the birth of his second child.
It also means that Shaun Marsh, who was Ponting's replacement, will keep his place in the team, the Herald Sun reports.
Marsh became the 19th Australian to score a Test century on debut during the Test played at Kandy's Pallekele Stadium.
The 28-year-old scored 141 of 315 balls, which included 18 fours, and also became the first Australian to make a ton on debut since Marcus North made 117 against South Africa in 2009
Meanwhile, fast bowler Ryan Harris has been ruled out due to a hamstring strain. Peter Siddle will replace him.
Harris had been the bowler of the series, with 11 wickets at an average of 15.
Australian team: Shane Watson, Phil Hughes, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (captain), Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Trent Copeland and Nathan Lyon.

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Watson urges Cricket Australia to fix medical and rehabilitation structure

Colombo, Sep 15: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has said that Cricket Australia (CA) must sign a diverse contingent of specialist doctors and sports scientists to keep the national players away from breaking down.
Watson has also pledged to take a pay cut to fix the board's medical and rehabilitation structure.
"I think now would be a very good time for Australian cricket to build a team of specialist doctors and physios, even some from other sports who've had experience with AFL players, for example," Watson writes in his new book Watto to be released next month.
"That's what you need ... people with a different vision of the traditional view of our sport. I, for one, would take a wage cut if it meant more money was spent getting the best people in the right places."
"You need specialists and you need to spread the knowledge around the states, making sure you've got the right people in place in every team set-up. That's going to cost money but weigh that against the cost of having so many Australian bowlers injured at any given time," he added.
According to Fox Sports, the vice-captain's comments come at a crucial time for Australia, with fast bowler Ryan Harris in doubt for tomorrow's third Test against Sri Lanka with a hamstring injury.

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Sangakkara hopes to celebrate 100th Test with victory

COLOMBO: A hugely proud Kumar Sangakkara hopes Sri Lanka will celebrate his 100th Test appearance with a series-levelling victory over Australia in the final match here from Friday.
“It’s a great honour to have represented my country for a period of time, and also a great honour to play 100 Test matches,” Sangakkara told reporters ahead of his landmark match at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground.
“It’s not often that a player gets that opportunity and I’m very, very proud and also very privileged to be given the opportunity to represent my country and my people for so long.
“But the most important thing is to contribute as much as I can to the side winning games. It’s nice to participate, but you want to say to your team-mates and others that we are winners.
“That is what everyone wants, go out there and win matches. It’s what the whole team is chasing at the moment, to try to win and be the best.”
Sangakkara, who turns 34 next month, will be the fifth Sri Lankan to play a century of Tests after Muttiah Muralitharan (132 matches), Mahela Jayawardene (121), Chaminda Vaas (111) and Sanath Jayasuriya (110).
The elegant left-hander has provided substance and stature to Sri Lanka’s batting along with good friend Jayawardene since his debut against South Africa in Galle in 2000.
His 8,572 runs in 99 Tests at an average of 55.66 with 25 hundreds are second in his country’s all-time list, behind Jayawardene’s 9,801 runs from 121 matches.
Sangakkara said his goal was to compile 10,000 Test runs and score 30 centuries before he hung up his boots, but retirement is still far from his mind.
He could not have asked for a better venue than his favourite hunting ground at the SSC to mark his 100th Test and lead the team’s bid to draw the three-match series 1-1.
In the 18 Tests he had played at the SSC, Sangakkara has scored 1,864 runs at an awe-inspiring average of 74.56 with seven three-figure knocks, including three double centuries.
It was at the same venue that Sangakkara and Jayawardene recorded the highest partnership ever in Test cricket: 624 for the third wicket in 2006 against a South African attack that included Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini.
Sangakkara made 287, while Jayawardene smashed 374 before being bowled by Andre Nel, agonizingly close to West Indian Brian Lara’s world record of 400 not out.
Sangakkara has scored centuries in each of his last three Tests at the SSC, including knocks of 219 and 42 not out against India last year.
But Sri Lanka have not won a Test since the retirement of world bowling record holder Muralitharan last year, losing three of the 10 played since then, but Sangakkara asked fans to be patient.
He also said the younger players in the team should be given an extended run to prove their worth at the highest level.
“They’ve got to be comfortable in the fact they are here because they are good enough and also they are going to be given a nice, long-lasting run to prove what they can do,” he said.
Sangakkara, who gave up the captaincy after the World Cup in April to concentrate on his batting, said his successor Tillekeratne Dilshan was working hard to improve the team’s fortunes. But he felt a lot still depended on how the senior players performed.
“The results will come but the senior guys have to keep putting their hands up and keep performing, which will allow the newcomers to perform even better”, he said.

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Ponting’s return causes selection quandary

COLOMBO: The return of Ricky Ponting following the birth of his daughter and Ryan Harris’s hamstring injury have caused a selection dilemma for Australia as they aim to heap more misery on hosts Sri Lanka in the third and final test.
After winning the first test at Galle by 125 runs, Australia looked poised to wrap up the series with victory in Pallakele but were stopped in their tracks by rain and bad light.
Michael Clarke’s men watched on in frustration as their hard work amounted to nothing and now feel they have unfinished business at the Singhalese Sports Club starting on Friday.
Pace spearhead Harris had been in destructive form, claiming 11 wickets in the series at an impressive average of 14.54, but will almost certainly miss the final match after limping off injured in Pallakele. Scans revealed he was suffering from a minor hamstring strain.
“There’s always been concerns about Rhino’s fitness because unfortunately he’s dealt with a few injuries throughout his career,” said Clarke.
“He’s a very strong bloke and he’ll do anything to get on the park. He’s a wonderful player to have in your team, not just the way he bowls, he’s got plenty of talent with the bat.
“He’s as good as any fast bowler in the world in the field. And he brings a lot to the team as a guy. He’s one of those guys you want in your team. He’s having a big impact in this series.”
Harris’s absence would be a serious blow for Australia. Should he be ruled out either Peter Siddle, who has not played in the series, or James Pattinson, who has impressed with his pace and swing, are likely to replace him.
BATTING HEADACHE
The Australians also have a batting headache to sort out with the return of former captain Ponting, who missed the second test to return home for the birth of his second child.
His replacement, Shaun Marsh, made an instant mark by scoring a century on his test debut.
Hence Australian selectors now have to decide how to make the best use of the batting talent at their disposal.
While Ponting has a proven track record, scoring 39 test tons over his 16-year career, he has recently been going through a lean spell and has not scored a century in five-day cricket for 20 months.
Since Marsh has flourished in the flat Sri Lankan conditions, leaving him out does not seem like a sensible option so the axe is likely to fall on opener Phil Hughes whose highest score in the series is 36.
Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan said that his team still had a chance of drawing the series if the weather stays fine.
Scattered showers have fallen in Colombo over the past few days and weather forecasts suggest there could be frequent interruptions to the test.
“We didn’t bat well in the first innings and that’s why we’re behind in this series,” said Dilshan referring to his team’s failure to score more than 175 runs in the opening innings of each test.
“We told all the players to believe in themselves and in their own game. If we were in a negative frame of mind, with three failed innings, we’re not going to do any better. We just have to give them the confidence,” Dilshan added.
“It’s really disappointing that we cannot win the test series but we still have a chance to draw it. As players, we must grab that opportunity in both hands and if we can do that, it’s really good.”
The test will also mark former captain Kumar Sangakkara’s 100th test appearance.  “It’s a great achievement. It’s not easy to play 100 matches, especially test cricket.
If we can win the test, I think that’s going to be a good gift for Sanga,” said Dilshan.

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No guarantee of Oz Test spot despite Marsh’s century on debut: Tom Moody

Colombo, Sep 14: Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody reckons that Shaun Marsh could be left out of the Australian squad for the third Test against Sri Lanka despite his century on debut in the Kandy Test last week.
Moody highlighted that with Ricky Ponting set to return in the squad, Marsh will find it difficult to find a place unless the selectors drop Usman Khawaja or Phillip Hughes.
"He's obviously put his hand up and batted very well when he's been given an opportunity, but Ricky is going to come straight back at No. 3," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Moody, Marsh's former coach at Western Australia, as saying.
"It's whether they see that they've given enough opportunity to both Khawaja and Hughes, at the top of the order. Shaun, I suppose, has the benefit that he can bat anywhere really from one to six. He may just have to be patient, I'd say," he added.
Marsh became the 19th Australian to score a Test century on debut during the second Test played at Kandy's Pallekele Stadium.
The 28-year-old scored 141 of 315 balls, which included 18 fours.
He is also the first Australian to make a ton on debut since Marcus North made 117 against South Africa in 2009.

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