3rd ODI: Australia upbeat with Clarke’s return
Hosts look to regain lead against Sri Lanka.
File photo of Michael Clarke. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Australia would be bolstered by the return of Michael Clarke, David Warner and Matthew Wade for the third One-Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka in Brisbane today.
The hosts – who won the opening match by 107 runs – are looking for a convincing win after suffering a massive eight-wicket defeat in the second ODI at Adelaide. Clarke, who will take over the captaincy from George Bailey, said his absence from the first two ODIs was a welcome break for him as he recuperated from a hamstring injury.
“The break has been great for me,” said Clarke. “It has given me every chance to have a lot of rehab in regards to my hamstring. It has given me a week off mentally as well, to refresh.”
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said his side is undaunted by the return of Australia’s key players.
“It’s good to have Warner and Clarke back, but we’ll prepare the same way,” said Jayawardene. “When we played them last year, we had a good outing against them. We just need to change our game plan a little bit and execute those plans to those guys.”
He said a turnaround from the bowlers had been central to his side’s impressive second performance.
“In Adelaide we had some help from the surface and we bowled good areas and created opportunities. If we can keep up that pressure with the spinners we have and the all-rounders, we have a well-balanced side. Even though we are missing players through injury, and are fiddling around a little with our line-up, we’re pretty comfortable.”
All-rounder Angelo Mathews stressed that Sri Lanka need to maintain the momentum they earned in their last.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2013.
The hosts – who won the opening match by 107 runs – are looking for a convincing win after suffering a massive eight-wicket defeat in the second ODI at Adelaide. Clarke, who will take over the captaincy from George Bailey, said his absence from the first two ODIs was a welcome break for him as he recuperated from a hamstring injury.
“The break has been great for me,” said Clarke. “It has given me every chance to have a lot of rehab in regards to my hamstring. It has given me a week off mentally as well, to refresh.”
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said his side is undaunted by the return of Australia’s key players.
“It’s good to have Warner and Clarke back, but we’ll prepare the same way,” said Jayawardene. “When we played them last year, we had a good outing against them. We just need to change our game plan a little bit and execute those plans to those guys.”
He said a turnaround from the bowlers had been central to his side’s impressive second performance.
“In Adelaide we had some help from the surface and we bowled good areas and created opportunities. If we can keep up that pressure with the spinners we have and the all-rounders, we have a well-balanced side. Even though we are missing players through injury, and are fiddling around a little with our line-up, we’re pretty comfortable.”
All-rounder Angelo Mathews stressed that Sri Lanka need to maintain the momentum they earned in their last.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2013.