Australia ready for showdown

Hosts Australia face Sri Lanka in only Twenty20 today.

Having tasted little success on their tour to India, Australia play Sri Lanka in the only Twenty20 at Perth today, followed by three One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Sri Lanka, who are primarily focussed on the 2011 World Cup, which they will be jointly hosting with India and Bangladesh, are well aware that this series is more of a warm-up for both the teams ahead of their important assignments with Australia more than focused on the Ashes.

Sri Lanka seem in good form following their two comfortable warm-up matches, but the intensity will increase as the team steps out on the field this afternoon. Mahela Jayawardene and off-spinner Suraj Randiv exemplified solid performances in their win over New South Wales on Wednesday while the side’s captain, Kumar Sangakkara, led with a century against Queensland in a one-dayer last week.

Australia go in with a relatively younger team. Dirk Nannes is the veteran of the bowling attack with 14 Twenty20s for Australia, while Peter Siddle, Clint McKay and John Hastings will be his major supporters. Siddle is the only one amongst the three with Twenty20 experience, having appeared in just one game. Steve O’Keefe, the left-arm spinner, will be looking for his second match after debuting against Pakistan in July.

This will be the last chance for the Australians to fight back Muttiah Muralitharan before he retires after the World Cup. The batting line-up must be cautious of the world’s highest wicket-taker, who is on the verge of the end of his career, and looking hungrier than ever.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2010.