Australia clinched the three-match series 2-0 with an innings and 201-run victory over Sri Lanka after lunch on day three at the MCG.
Look back on a thrilling day of cricket with our updates, scores, interviews, video highlights and images from Melbourne on day three.
Today's highlights:
Australia won by an innings and 201 runsA. Mathews 35
K Sangakkara 27
D. Prasad 17
M. Johnson 2-16 (8 overs)
J. Bird 2-29 (10 overs)
M. Johnson 92*
M. Clarke 106
S. Watson 83
D. Prasad 3/106 (26 overs)
S. Eranga 3/109 (27 overs)
A. Mathews 2/60 (16 overs)
K. Sangakkara 58
P. Jayawardene 24
A. Mathews 15
M. Johnson 4/63 (14 overs)
N. Lyon 2/23 (5.4 overs)
J. Bird 2/32 (13 overs)
P. Siddle 2/30 (8 overs)
3:52pm: STOP THE PRESS. Skipper Michael Clarke has made some changes to the squad that will front up at the SCG next week for the third and final Test.
The 13-man squad is: Michael Clarke (c), Jackson Bird, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell.
That means Shane Watson has been ruled out with spinning all-rounder Maxwell a chance to make his Test debut in the vice-captain's stead. Khawaja is again brought in on standby. Selectors will have to narrow down the bowling attack from a veritable smorgasbord of options.
3:45pm: I can safely say it - that's a wrap. My early prediction that this would be the final day of the Boxing Day Test came true, which was great news for the Australians but a painful finish both physically and mentally for Sri Lanka.
It's been a wild ride since Wednesday with batting milestones for Kumar Sangakkara and Michael Clarke, a maiden Test wicket for Jackson Bird, some superb guest commentary from Bryce McGain and Andrew "Ronnie" McDonald, and my unsuccessful attempt to re-popularise "Notch" as the go-to nickname for man-of-the-match Mitchell Johnson.
Right-hand man James Maasdorp and I hope you've enjoyed Grandstand Online's live blog coverage of the Boxing Day Test. We'll be back for more in the New Year with the SCG Test on January 3. This is Adrian Crawford signing off.
3:32pm: Despite his tireless work on the boundary rope collecting interviews with Aussie and Sri Lankan stars alike, Dan Lonergan still found time to knock us up a yarn about where John Inverarity and his merry band of selectors might take the line-up for the SCG Test on January 3.
Read the story here: Selectors have work cut out ahead of Sydney
3:12pm: In case, for some reason, you've just clicked onto the blog and discovered it's all over before tea, don't worry.
The ever-gracious Jim Maxwell and Kerry O'Keeffe have wrapped up the final day's play nicely for you in their daily summary below.
Or if that's not full of enough excited shouting for you, take a listen to our commentary highlights package from the early-ending day three.
2:30pm: Australian skipper Michael Clarke said he feels for Sri Lanka, having lost three key players to injury in a disastrous second Test for the tourists.
He's hoping for a competitive showing in Sydney in the New Year.
"The last thing you want is for players to get, injured especially someone of [Sangakkara's] calibre.
"He's a great player and the game needs him playing.
"So fingers crossed, hopefully all the Sri Lankan guys that have injuries can get well soon and can be on the park for the Sydney Test."
But the courageous captain was elated with how far his team has come since the grinding series against South Africa.
"It's a great day for us that's for sure. The way Mitchell Johnson came out and played for us again, unfortunately he missed out on his second Test hundred.
"The way we bowled was outstanding, really good execution and it's a really good step for us as a team knowing we let a few really good opportunities slide against South Africa when we were on top.
"But throughout this Test we've capitalised on the momentum we've had."
He denied that Australia's "killer instinct" is a brand-new trait.
"I don't think you develop it overnight, I think like I say we've learnt from what happened against South Africa.
"We've still got a lot of improvement to do as a team but it's a really positive step for this team to see that we are improving."
Have a listen to the interview below.
2:23pm: Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene just told Dan that Kumar Sangakkara is out for between six and eight weeks with a compound fracture in his finger.
That's a crushing blow for Sri Lanka's hopes in both the third dead rubber Test and the ODI series that's coming up in the New Year.
But Jayawardene said his side cannot lean on injuries as the reason for the biggest defeat in the history of Tests between these two teams.
"These are things that we can't control, [but] they are not excuses. Still with those guys playing we probably would have gotten beaten.
"So we just need to refocus our thoughts and come back strongly.
"We started the tour off pretty well in Hobart with the Test match but here we seemed to never get anything going for us. We just gave up."
He said things didn't go right for the tourists from day one in Melbourne.
"We never got into this Test match and we're very disappointed, the whole group.
"It was a good toss to win to try and put runs on the board but we never batted really well. The Aussies were on top of us, we had few opportunities late on the first day when we had them for 130 and we dropped a few chances off two important batsman.
"Every since then we never made it back. Today to cap it off was probably the most disappointing day on this tour so far."
Have a listen to the rest of the interview below:
2:19pm: Dan also caught up with local legend Peter Siddle, who said it was awesome to play in front of his home crowd in a winning team at the MCG.
2:16pm: Down on the boundary Nathan Lyon has been pretty humble in his assessment of the game with Dan Lonergan.
"It worked out pretty well for us."
It sure did. Have a listen to their chat below.
2:11pm: WICKET! Shaminda Eranga has prodded at a rising one and popped a dolly of a catch straight to Cowan at bat-pad for a duck.
That's all she wrote ladies and gentlemen. Sri Lanka has been bowled out for 103 with three injured batsmen not fit to carry on the fruitless chase.
The Australians are ecstatic - they've retained the Warne/Murali trophy with a 2-0 series win thanks to victory by an innings and 201 runs at the MCG.
And they're thanking the MCG crowd! We should be thanking them for that devastating performance.
Man of the match Mitchell Johnson was phenomenal in his return to the side after missing out in Hobart with match figures of 6 for 79 off 22 overs, as well as a brilliant unbeaten 92.
On top of that we've had a superb debut from Jackson Bird, who finished 4 for 61 off 22 overs with six maidens in there.
Hometown hero Peter Siddle bagged 3 for 62 off 13.2 overs, and Nathan Lyon had 3 for 39 off 7.4.
On top of that we saw batting milestones from Kumar Sangakkara, who joined the 10,000-run club on day one, and Aussie skipper Michael Clarke, who became the most prolific Australian batsman ever in a calendar year with 1,592 runs.
Clarkey also finishes 2012 with a stunning batting average of 106.33.
2:06pm: WICKET! Well, that was the desired result for Lyon anyway. He took a couple of sixes on the chin but getting Dhammika Prasad to hit in the air paid off.
Prasad has been caught by Hughes for 17 and Sri Lanka is on its last legs at 6 for 102, with three batsmen - Sangakkara, P.Jayawardene, Welegedara - unable to come to the middle.
2:05pm: Now Prasad is in on the Twenty20 act, lofting Lyon to the straight boundary for a brilliant flighty six. Nope, two in a row! The 10-Test paceman now has the third-highest score of the Sri Lankan second dig.
2:02pm: It's the charmed life for Rangana Herath! He's got under a Siddle short one and sent a top edge over Wade's head to the boundary. At 10 not out, Herath is now the third top scorer of the innings.
2:00pm: At the other end Peter Siddle has been thrown the rock looking for his first wicket of the innings. He's been expensive today with 0 for 25 off four overs. Maybe he can change that now.
1:57pm: Now they're just tempting Herath to hit. Nathan Lyon is into the attack looking to mop up the Sri Lankan tail for good and clinch the series 2-0.
1:54pm: Well, Herath knows he has nothing to lose really. He's taken a couple of big swats at Mitchell Johnson this over. Might as well go down swinging eh?
1:51pm: The mood isn't great in the commentary box for our expert commentator Roshan Abeysinghe.
"I think I've had enough of the Sri Lankan batting, I don't want to describe anymore. I'll let Drew come in and mop up the rest."
Sorry Roshan. That's cricket after all, mate.
1:43pm: WICKET! Notch has struck again for his second of the innings, with Angelo Mathews playing what my right-hand man James Maasdorp correctly identified as an "agricultural shot".
The aggression just didn't pay off in that instance as he dragged the ball back onto his stumps and departs for 35.
Sri Lanka is on its knees with Rangana Herath at the crease. The scorecard reads 5 for 74 but it's pretty much 8-for.
And Sangakkara has gone for scans on his injured finger, Roshan Abeysinghe reports.
1:41pm: Okay, he's stayed in the middle. That's a good sign for Prasad's health at the very least.
And none of our readers or Twitter followers should be surprised that the unstoppable Ric Finlay even has a statistic up his sleeve for retired-hurts.
@RicFinlay SL getting like Ind v WI 1975-76 Jamaica, when 5 batsmen "absent hurt" in 2nd inns, 5-97 was 97 all out, and WI won by 10 wickets1:38pm: You've got to be kidding. Now Dhammika Prasad has copped one on the digits from Johnson! As soon as he got through his quick single he's yanked the glove off and called the trainers.
Is anyone in Bay 13 of Sri Lankan descent fit to bat? Anyone? Bueller?
1:35pm: Some sympathy has come down through Twitter for the tourists courtesy of former Test player (and Grandstand Big Bash expert commentator) Russel Arnold.
@RusselArnold69 dear oh dear.... When things go wrong they really do go wrong....spare a thought for the boysI reckon he wins Understatement of the Series award for that one.
1:29pm: Does anyone know who Sri Lanka's third-string wicket-keeper is? Because if Prasanna Jayawardene and Sangakkara can't get the gloves on, let alone stand behind the stumps, the next man up better start packing his bags now.
Dhammika Prasad is the next man at the crease with Angelo Mathews on 30.
1:26pm: Uh oh. Kumar Sangakkara has copped a Mitchell Johnson delivery on the fingers and has called for the trainer. TV footage looks extremely painful - that's one swollen knuckle already.
Sangakkara has gone off the field, retiring hurt for 27. The tourists are effectively 5 for 62. They just can't catch a break.
1:23pm: On Twitter Jim Maxwell put it to his followers - if you could ask chief selector John Inverarity and Cricket Australia GM Pat Howard a question, what would you ask?
You responded in very timely fashion. Here are some of the best responses.
@edmund59 should we just pick best 4 bowlers regardless of scg spin as Lyon cannot get wickets
@aegnor79 At what point does call need to be made re Watson as a part of future Test plans given his frequent injuries?
@AllSportsCam if they are pro athletes why do they need a rest? E.g If people work a long hard day do they get a day off...?
@beauy84 how can they openly admit not exposing Hughes 2south Africa yet ruin the chances on quiney. Absolute joke.
@TheRiffMarn who is the next big thing for aust cricket with the bat ?
@coldogs when it comes to bowlers, why are we breeding sprinters & not stayers? The training program is wrong.
@coolingandy why did you pick both John Hastings and Josh Hazlewood ahead of Jackson Bird in Perth?
1:19pm: Sangakkara goes slashing in uppish fashion to edge Johnson over the slips to the third-man boundary to bring up the 50 for Sri Lanka. He's 26, Mathews is 20.
1:17pm: Johnson has the rock at the other end and he's bowling tight lines. Just beat Sangakkara's bat in fine form.
1:12pm: A DROP! Oh no. Shane Watson dived back and to his right and got a paw on a swipe from Mathews, but unlike Herath's screamer yesterday it didn't stick.
Tough way to start the session, but it was a difficult chance. Can't be too tough on Watto for that.
1:10pm: We're back in the middle and Jackson Bird will bowl the first over of the session. Australia only needs six wickets - this could by done by the end of the over? Wishful thinking.
1:01pm: During the lunch break I might sneak in a little plug for Grandstand's newest feature - our Podcasts page.
It's a one-stop shop for all of Grandstand's shows, from Grandstand at Stumps to The Sunday Inquisition (in season of course) and everything in between.
You can now also queue 'em up on iTunes via the individual program pages so you never miss an episode.
Check it out today!
K. Sangakkara 22*
A. Mathews 17*
T. Samaraweera 1
J. Bird 2-10 (10 overs)
M. Johnson 1-7 (4 overs)
M. Johnson 92*
M. Clarke 106
S. Watson 83
D. Prasad 3/106 (26 overs)
S. Eranga 3/109 (27 overs)
A. Mathews 2/60 (16 overs)
K. Sangakkara 58
P. Jayawardene 24
A. Mathews 15
M. Johnson 4/63 (14 overs)
N. Lyon 2/23 (5.4 overs)
J. Bird 2/32 (13 overs)
P. Siddle 2/30 (8 overs)
12:32pm: The bails are off and so are the players as the Sri Lankans miraculously make it to lunch at 4 for 43. At one stage it looked like Australia would have to wait in the sheds until midday ticked over so they could open the bubbly.
The tourists have the toughest of tasks ahead of them but realistically there's no winning from here. Sri Lanka still needs 261 to draw level with the Aussies and even that would be a tall order.
12:29pm: Bit of a scoreboard pressure release there as Mathews hits a pair of boundaries in succession...then takes on David Warner's arm for a quick single and succeeds. Brave stuff.
He moves to 17, with Sangakkara on 22 not out, and Sri Lanka is 4 for 43.
12:23pm: The skipper has pulled Jackson Bird out of the attack with figures of 2 for 10 in five overs, with a maiden in there. Mitchell Johnson is back in to Sangakkara.
12:21pm: Out there in the middle Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews are on a mission. Their partnership is now 19 with the score at 4 for 32 and Sangakkara is running furiously between the wickets as if to win the game by sheer grit alone.
Sangakkara is 21, Mathews is unbeaten on 7.
12:18pm: One of our Twitter followers has made an excellent point which appeals to my love of basketball:
@bm_cooper abcgrandstand The reason why our bowling attack is so good, we have "magic" Johnson & "Larry" Bird guest starringWell said, sir.
12:12pm: It bears repeating again that the Sri Lankans are down at least one batsman (or, one person to hold a bat) to injury in Chanaka Welegedara (hamstring), while first-choice wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene may be less than effective with a fractured thumb.
12:00pm: Phew. Peter Siddle is into the attack. At this rate he could have missed out on being able to bowl at all. The MCG crowd loves this.
The ones that haven't got down there aren't so impressed though - including Australian Opals star Rachel Jarry:
@rmjarry Hmm not sure I'll get much use out of my day 4 tix! #AusvSLI think you're right Rachel.
11:54am: WICKET! Birdy hell, this is ridiculous. Jackson Bird has rapped Thilan Samaraweera on the pads right in front and umpire Nigel Llong has given him for 1 almost without hesitation.
The batsmen have called for the DRS to have another look but all looks kosher from the replays. Front foot is fine, there's no bat on it, it's right in front and below the knee roll.
Bird has his second wicket of the morning and fourth of his debut Test. Wow. It's 4 for 13.
11:48am: Back to the cricket in any case. Kumar Sangakkara again appears to be the rock of the Sri Lankan innings, working his way to 7 in the tourists' total of 3 for 11 so far.
He was far and away the best of the batsmen in Sri Lanka's disappointing first knock of 156, making an individual 58.
11:44am: To address the concerns of some of my colleagues, who've questioned references to man-of-the-match-to-be Mitchell Johnson as "Notch", I promise it's not a nickname I'm making up.
ESPN CricInfo's profile confirms the monikers of choice for our veteran left-armer are "Notch" and "Midge". So that settles that.
11:37am: WICKET! THE BIRDMAN STRIKES. Jackson Bird has taken the crucial wicket of Mahela Jayawardene, bowling the skipper for a duck, and Sri Lanka is in all sorts at 3 for 3.
An uncharacteristically scrappy shot from the veteran Sri Lankan captain had bat all over it as the inside edge sent the rock crashing into Jayawardene's pegs.
Bryce McGain calls it dire straits, but that's putting it lightly. Boy oh boy, we can barely keep up over here.
11:29am: WICKET! Tillakaratne Dilshan has bought a short one and it's popped up for Cowan at short leg to swallow a simple running catch.
Hi, my name is Adrian Crawford and I habitually speak too soon. Of course Johnson takes a wicket on the very next ball. Sri Lanka is 2 for 1. You read that correctly.
11:26am: WICKET! Dimuth Karunaratne has been run out, by who else but Notch Johnson! Give this guy the man of the match award now. What else can he do?!
The Sri Lankan openers took on David Warner for a quick single...not a clever idea. The guy is a gun fielder. Johnson did very well to accept the throw and smash the bails off. Karunaratne was a mile out.
11:22am: And there's no rest for the unbeaten Mitchell Johnson - he'll bowl the first over of the innings.
You'd figure he's frustrated to run out of partners in the 90s for the second time in his Test career, so the Sri Lankan openers might want to practise their ducking.
11:20am: Well, that didn't take long did it? Sri Lanka has a mountain to climb to get out of this one, and if the outfield is a bit more wet than it has been the last two days then that'll be one more hurdle.
Remember, they haven't got a fully fit batting order either, with Prasanna Jayawardene carrying a fractured thumb that's kept him from standing behind the stumps and tail-ender Chanaka Welegedara out with a hamstring strain.
And if the voice of Sri Lankan cricket isn't hopeful, that's not a good sign for the tourists:
@RoshanCricket Australia a lead of 304 in the 1st Innings. Sri Lanka reduced to just 9 fit men in d 2nd innings is bound to struggle to save the game.K. Sangakkara 58
P. Jayawardene 24
A. Mathews 15
M. Johnson 4/63 (14 overs)
N. Lyon 2/23 (5.4 overs)
J. Bird 2/32 (13 overs)
P. Siddle 2/30 (8 overs)
M. Johnson 92*
M. Clarke 106
S. Watson 83
D. Prasad 3/106 (26 overs)
S. Eranga 3/109 (27 overs)
A. Mathews 2/60 (16 overs)
11:11am: WICKET! Jackson Bird has been cleaned up for an 11-ball duck in his Test debut, but these things happen. Mitchell Johnson is stranded on 92 not out as Australia is all out for 460, a lead of 304.
11:09am: Bit of a hairy moment there as Herath threw down the stumps from long off to have Jackson Bird in enough doubt for the umpires to go upstairs. He was a long way home though. Johnson moves to 92.
11:06am: How about this handsome group of blokes!
11:03am: Australia breathes a collective sigh of relief as Johnson receives the strike back...and brings up the 300 lead with a beautiful straight boundary off Mathews! Thank you very much. He's on 88.
11:00am: There's no denying Sri Lanka sees Bird as the weak link. That's two short ones he's ducked in three balls by my count.
He's got a first-class average of 8.22, but so far he doesn't look uncomfortable out there despite the barrage of short balls.
10:55am: WICKET! Nathan Lyon is done for 1. He's pulled Mathews to short mid-wicket and that was a bit of a brain explosion of a stroke. Quick runs might be the order of the day but Mitch could be left stranded out there. In any case, it's a team game.
Australia is 9 for 451 with Johnson on 83. Jackson Bird to the crease to face his first ball of Test cricket.
10:54am: I wish I could hit a cover drive with as much conviction and timing as Mitchell Johnson. What a delightful stroke off Mathews, he was unlucky to be stopped before the boundary to only get one for it. He's 80.
10:50am: Hey Mitch, you're not the only tail-ender with some nice strokeplay. Nathan Lyon is off the mark with a stylish little flick off his legs to send Prasad to square leg for a single. Tasty.
10:48am: Handy first over for both Notch (I'm bringing that nickname back, by the way) and Australia. Five from it, so Johnson retains the strike and moves to 78 not out.
10:45am: And here we go. Mitchell Johnson is facing Angelo Mathews in the first over of the day. Opening delivery is wide outside the lefty's off-stump.
10:31am: Out in the middle, Dan Lonergan informs us that play will get underway at 10:45am (AEDT). Good news!
While you're waiting for the delayed start of play, why not take a listen to Sri Lankan paceman Dhammika Prasad, who spared some time to catch up with Dan earlier today.
10:16pm: Word from the 'G is that the rain is coming across and the covers are still on the centre wicket. Drew is predicting a delayed start although the Bureau of Meteorology's radar doesn't look terribly ugly.
10:13am: On the boundary rope Dan Lonergan has been chatting to opening bat Ed Cowan, who's got plenty of praise for the efforts of Mitchell Johnson.
"He's a bit more comfortable [with the bat], there's no doubt about that. As soon as he plays one sublime cover drive everyone yells out 'number seven' in the press box.
"There's no reason he can't add that depth without wanting to bat up the order.
"If he's bowling well that's a huge key for this team and if he's also contributing runs that's a bonus
"Hopefully he'll push on this morning and then we can put them under pressure with the ball."
Cowan's skipper couldn't escape the adulation either:
"He's making the rest of us look like idiots ... to go out with that clarity to perform consistently and stick to your guns the way he has, it's absolutely mind-blowing."
Showers are forecast for Melbourne on Friday, but Ed's not worried.
"I think as a team we're sitting pretty comfortably well ahead of the game after two days.
"So even if there is a bit of rain there's plenty of time left in this Test match to secure a result."
Have a listen to the interview below:
10:12am: Today it's Drew Morphett's turn to update the nation on the state of play on ABC News Breakfast. Take a look below.
10:05am: Things aren't looking good for Sri Lanka on the injury front though, with paceman Chanaka Welegedara to play no further part in the second Test due to a hamstring strain he suffered on Thursday.
On top of that Nuwan Kulasekara, who copped a rib injury on the last day of the first Test in Hobart and isn't playing here, has undergone scans and it turns out he's got a hairline fracture.
He and Prasanna Jayawardene (thumb fracture) will be reassessed before the third Test.
10:00am: Jim Maxwell, Drew Morphett, Roshan Abeysinghe and Kerry O'Keeffe make up our commentary team at the MCG, with expert comments from Victorian pair Bryce McGain and Andrew McDonald, who've received a lot of love from our listeners via Twitter for their insights over the last few days.
They'll be back on your wireless at 10:05am and you can contact them via email (cricket@abc.net.au), SMS (0467 920 222) or on Twitter (@abcgrandstand, using the hashtag #abccricket).
9:55am: Happy Friday cricket fans. I'm Adrian Crawford and I hope you're ready for what could potentially be the last day of this Test match. That's slightly optimistic thinking but Australia comes into Day Three in a commanding position.
Thanks to the heroics of Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and more unexpectedly Mitchell Johnson on Thursday afternoon, the home side leads by 284 with two wickets in hand.
"Notch" Johnson resumes on 73 not out, chasing his second Test century (drawing him level on tons with Watson ... just saying), while Nathan Lyon joins him in the middle yet to get off the mark.
If we see an aggressive declaration from Clarke - not out of the realm of possibility given his tactics this summer - and some equally aggressive Aussie bowling, the bubbly might flow in the home change-rooms before the weekend is upon us.
Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted December 28, 2012 10:04:22
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