Even though Sri Lanka is down in the points table, tomorrows win with bonus point against India will enhance the morale of the team further.Sri Lanka only played 4 matches and maintaining plus Net RR. And from last match against Australia captain Mahela as well as Dilshan back to their normal form with Sangakkara. More importantly Faveez Maharoof proves his quality with fine bowling figures of 8 overs, one maiden, 18 runs and two wickets.
The fielding was exceptional and first time in Sri Lankan cricket history we got three all-rounders in the team who can bowl fast medium and medium fast (Maharoof,Angelow and Thisara).In match against Australia Kulasekara was well supported to Malinga with better Slow left-arm orthodox bowing of Rangana Herath. And up to now in the series Sri Lanka headed by largest victory in terms of wickets and runs (vs Australia).
In bowling Herath,Maharoof(plays only one match) as well as Kulasekera are in the top five slots under “Best Economy rates” category. Dinesh chandimal is in the fourth place among top runners (but he played only four matches as all others played five matches) .The captaincy of Mahela in this series also has been hailed by many cricket experts as well.
On the other hand India having all sought of problems as their inform Match wining captain MS Dhoni has been suspended for one ODI .He was the third most run getter in the series. Furthermore there was a question mark on fitness of Virender Sehwag and specially Sachin Tendulkar who went for a precautionary MRI scan after being hit on the helmet by a Brett Lee bouncer.
So there is a chance to Sri Lanka to win with extra point which would take the team into number two spot in points table. But more importantly it will further boost the morale of the team and cricket loving community in Sri Lanka. And also special gratitude should be given for the Sri Lankans who are living in Australia supporting our team with always playing “our songs” with specific local “Baila” with our identity. This uniqueness can be observed in any part of the world which Sri Lankan cricketers are playing and separate social research can be done on that as well.
The former captain made the announcement in a press conference at the SCG this morning.Ponting was dropped from the one day side for the first time in over a decade after a poor run in the series against India.
He played 375 matches one day matches, scoring 13,704 runs .
Ponting captained the side in 230 games and played some remarkable innings, including a memorable 140no in the 2003 World Cup final against India.
Australia strode through the 2003 and 2007 world cups under his leadership undefeated.
The former captain was dropped from the one-day squad yesterday.
While the 37-year-old overcame a career-threatening form slump to have one of the best series of his career in four Tests against India, the effort appears to have exhausted him and he has been unable to reach double figures in five one-day innings.
Ponting said on Friday night he wanted to keep playing, but the selectors told him of his fate yesterday.
Chairman of the selection panel John Inverarity said the champion was "disappointed" to hear the news.
If Ponting decides to continue playing Test cricket he will travel to the West Indies next month for a three-match series and will have no further cricket until next summer.
All-rounder Shane Watson was recalled to the ODI squad after completing a comeback Shield match for NSW. Plans are for him to miss the game on Friday in Hobart but come into the team for the final match against India on Sunday at the SCG.
Watson has not played for Australia since breaking down in the Johannesburg Test in November. Young bowler Mitchell Starc was dropped to make room for Watson.
Inverarity told The Australian last night that as far as he was concerned Ponting still had a place in the Test side if he wanted it, but conceded that the former skipper was considering his next move.
"We have dropped him from the ODI team. We're looking increasingly toward the 2015 World Cup," Inverarity said. "There is no intention to recall Ricky, but I have consistently said the door is never closed on any player.
"Of course there are implications for Test cricket. If he drops out of the ODI team, then there's a possible lack of momentum there. There are three Test matches in the West Indies, then as I understand it, there are no more Test matches until October or November."
Inverarity described Ponting as "one of the greatest players and one of the greatest ever ODI players" and the numbers back up his assessment. Ponting played his first limited overs match in 1995 and has played 375 matches, scoring 13,704 runs.
He captained the side in 230 games and played some remarkable innings, including a memorable 140no in the 2003 World Cup final against India.
Australia strode through the 2003 and 2007 World Cups under his leadership undefeated.
Ponting has had the worst run of his career in the past five ODIs, scoring 2,1,6,2 and 7.
"Ricky's contribution goes far beyond his batting statistics and brilliant fielding," Inverarity said.
"The example he sets in every respect and his extraordinarily positive influence in the dressing-room is acknowledged by all. He is held in the highest possible regard by his team-mates and there is no higher accolade than this."
Inverarity said it was a mark of Ponting's character that he accepted the task of captaining the side in Michael Clarke's absence over the past two games even though he needed a rest.
"We were looking to rest some players if the opportunity presented itself," he said. "We had a quick ring around and we were all of the view that Ricky should do the job and when I rang Ricky he wasn't keen to do it, but he said, 'Look I think it is the right decision. I will do it for the sake of the team and that is always paramount'.
"He is a fantastic man as you would know. He's a wonderful bloke. He does his duty, he is selfless, he always thinks of the team."
Inverarity said the selectors held informal discussions during Sunday's ODI but were unanimous in their decision when they had a phone hook-up yesterday.
Inverarity made it clear Ponting was dropped "due to his lack of form in the five Commonwealth Bank Series matches to date."
Australia have rocketed to the top of the tri-series standings as Ben Hilfenhaus continued to torment India in his return to one-day cricket.Replacing an ill Clint McKay for his first ODI in more than two years, Hilfenhaus took a career-best 5-33 as the home side pounded the tourists by 110 runs on Sunday night.
But both sides face growing worries about modern-day greats Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar who were both made to look second-rate with ugly failures at the Gabba.
A tired Ponting’s immediate one-day future is on shaky ground after he looked all at sea making just seven – his fifth straight single-figure failure – as Australia posted 5-288.
But the stand-in skipper, due for a rest with Michael Clarke expected to return from injury this week, still managed to marshall his troops to a convincing victory by routing India for 178.
The tourists had no answers to the pace and swing of new-ball duo Hilfenhaus and Brett Lee (3-49) who ripped through their top-order to effectively kill off the contest at 4-36.
Skipper MS Dhoni delayed the inevitable with a patient 56 but once he holed out to Hilfenhaus, in the 38th over, a bonus point was in the bag for Australia.
Australia’s dominant win takes them to the top of the table on 13 points – three ahead of India (10), who will meet Sri Lanka (7) on Tuesday.
While Australia’s selectors have a dilemma in how to handle Ponting’s twilight years, especially with the next World Cup three years away, India appear to have just as big a problem in managing Tendulkar.
The Little Master, searching for his hundredth international century for the past 11 months, was made to look like a rookie as he upper cut Hilfenhaus straight to Xavier Doherty at third man to fall for three.
While Ponting has just 18 runs in the tri-series at an embarrassing average of 3.6, Tendulkar has 68 runs at 17 and hasn’t looked like challenging for his milestone century.
Like Tendulkar, who lasted 12 balls, Ponting struggled to find the middle of his bat and the gaps in the field in a painful 26-ball stay after David Warner propelled the home side to 1-70 with a breezy 43.
Australia’s momentum halted with his innings and only an impressive century stand by Mike Hussey (59 off 52) and adopted Queenslander Peter Forrest (52 off 71) put the home side on track on a good batting wicket.
Late lusty hitting by Dan Christian (30no off 18) and David Hussey (26no off 20) then ensured India would face a tough chase as they blasted 65 off the last six overs.
India shot themselves in the foot in the field with four dropped catches, including two off Mike Hussey, and two muffed run outs.
The comedy of errors wasn’t restricted to the players though with the match officials involved in farcical scenes after third umpire Bruce Oxenford unwittingly giving Hussey out on one.
Oxenford blamed a technical malfunction as he attempted to give the not out call to a stumping review but “OUT” flashed on the big screen before the batsman trudged off, only to be recalled by the on-field umpires.
IT'S the only statistic missing from Mike Hussey's impressive cricket resume – and it doesn't bother him one bit.
The veteran Australian batsman is yet to post a one-day century at his beloved WACA Ground and Friday’s match against Sri Lanka could be his last chance to reach triple figures in front of his hometown fans.
Hussey, 36, is no certainty to play on next summer and will be keen to leave a lasting impression on the ground where he made his international debut in 2004 should it be his last major match in Perth.
A century similar to the one former WA teammate Adam Gilchrist scored in his final international appearance at the venue would be a dream come true for Hussey, but the crowd favourite won’t be losing any sleep if he doesn’t.
“Generally the position and time I come into bat makes it difficult to score a hundred, so for me to have to get a hundred generally means we’re in a bit of trouble and that’s not something I want,” said Hussey, who averages an impressive 76.25 from eight ODIs in Perth, including a highest score of 78.
“To come in with four of five overs to go and try and hit every ball for six would be definitely more the recipe for me.”
Hussey encouraged Perth fans to dress up during for the Friday’s game for a chance to win a trip to the Caribbean next month when Australia tours the West Indies.
“Hopefully the entertainment on the field is going to be very good, but you also get a bit of entertainment off the field as well,” he said.
“Seeing some of the different costumes and get-ups that people get into can make for a pretty humorous afternoon at the cricket.”
Cricket Australia is also offering a number of prizes on the day for the best-dressed fans.
Visit apps.facebook.com/best-dressed-comp for more details.
