Daijiworld Media Network
Brisbane, Mar 4 : Welcome to the first final of the CB series between Australia and Sri Lanka from Brisbane. Sri Lanka have gotten the better of Australia for most of this series and they will look to continue their good form. However, they are plagued by injuries. Thissara Perera has flown home due to injury. Mathews and Maharoof were unavailable in the previous match and the Lankans will be hoping that both of them are back to full fitness today.
Pitch Report: There is a hint of grass on this wicket. The sun is out and it is a hard pitch. Wasim Akram reckons that the team winning the toss should bat first. There will be some help for the pace bowlers.
Another stat snippet: Since the 2006 season of the CB series, Australia have lost the first final in this competition. In the 2006 series, they lost the first final to Sri Lanka but bounced back to win the remaining to. In 2007 and in 2008, they lost the first finals to England and India respectively and they lost the competition on both occasions.
Interesting Stat: Sri Lanka have never beaten Australia in an ODI at Brisbane.
Australia will be smarting after they lost three out of the four league matches to Sri Lanka. However, they are back to full strength with the return of Michael Clarke. Australia will look to start off on a winning note today at their fortress.
Australia have won the last five games that have been played in Brisbane.
Australia have won the toss and elected to bat
Mahela: I would have batted first. We hope to restrict them to a moderate total. We have to start all over again and get the basics right. Maharoof is back in the squad. Mathews has not recovered from his injury. Dhammika Prasad and Upul Tharanga are in the team today.
Michael Clarke: There will be some swing throughout the day due to the overcast conditions. Peter Forrest is not in the team today and Clint McKay misses out. Lee comes back. Warner and Wade are a solid opening combination. Watson will be at No.3 and I will be at No.4. We have to be at our best today.
Teams:
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Mahela Jayawardene(c), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara(w), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Upul Tharanga, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Dhammika Prasad, Lasith Malinga
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Matthew Wade(w), Shane Watson, Michael Clarke(c), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Daniel Christian, Brett Lee, James Pattinson, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus