A chance to draw level

Ponting back in the squad; injury worries for both teams

The final Test of the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy series begins here on Friday with Australia leading the three-Test series 1-0. The Sri Lankan team hopes its top order will be able to put up a big score in the first innings as asserted by its former captain Kumar Sangakkara.

“The key is to score big in the first innings,” said Sangakkara. “We have not been able to do this in the previous two Tests,” he added.

For Sangakkara, who made his Test debut in 2000, this will be a landmark Test — his 100th.

“It's not often that a player gets the opportunity to play in 100 Tests,” he said.

He will be the fifth Sri Lankan to play a century of Tests after Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas. It would be a memorable outing for Sangakkara if Sri Lanka can put in a better performance.

Harris out

There are a few injury worries for both the teams. For Australia, its best bowler in the series, Ryan Harris, is out. Aussie captain Michael Clarke said Harris was being rested as a ‘precaution', after scans revealed a hamstring injury.

Ricky Ponting, who had gone home for the birth of his second child, is back in the squad. Since Shaun Marsh made a big century at Pallekele, the axe falls on Usman Khawaja. “He (Ricky Ponting) was always going to walk back into the team,” Clarke said.

Spinner Ajantha Mendis, who missed the first two Tests, has been ruled out for the final one too due to a sore back. However, the experienced Rangana Herath, who had injured his finger ahead of the second Test is likely to come in place of Seekkuge Prasanna. Fast bowler Chanaka Welegedara too was uncomfortable at Pallekele but may play here.

The teams (from):

Australia: M. Clarke (captain), R. Ponting, S. Watson, M. Beer, T. Copeland, B. Haddin, R. Harris, P. Hughes, M. Hussey, M. Johnson, U. Khawaja, N. Lyon, S. Marsh, J. Pattinson and P. Siddle.

Sri Lanka: T. Dilshan (captain), M. Jayawardene, K. Sangakkara, T. Samaraweera, P. Jayawardene, S. Eranga, R. Herath, S. Randiv, S. Lakmal, A. Mathews, T. Paranavitana, D. Prasad, S. Prasanna, L. Thirimanne, C. Welegedara and A. Mendis.

Umpires: Tony Hill and Aleem Dar.

Third umpire: Richard Kettleborough. Match referee: Chris Broad.

Match starts at 10 a.m. IST.