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Aussies keen to maintain momentum

S. Dinakar

Sri Lanka to play for pride in the last league game

Melbourne: Cricket is a lot about confidence. Teams with self-belief do win more. These sides are relentless in approach, ruthless in execution.

Winning, indeed, is a habit. As Adam Gilchrist said here on Thursday, winning is much about maintaining momentum.

As the CB ODI tri-series nears conclusion, Australia has settled into a nice rhythm. The host is closing out matches with end-game skills. Ricky Ponting’s men have qualified for the finals by a mile, but the Lankans would expect no favours from Australia at the MCG on Friday.

Disappointing lot

Sri Lanka, disappointing in the tournament, will be playing for pride in the last league game. Skipper Mahela Jayawardene admitted his team has been lacking in certain departments. He added Friday’s match gave the side one more opportunity to achieve some positives from the campaign.

Friday’s day-night match will also be Gilchrist’s last international game for Australia at the MCG. The wicketkeeper-batsman dwelt on the significance of the great arena. He reaffirmed his decision to retire from international cricket was the right one.

If the weather holds good — there were spells of rain here on Thursday — Gilchrist will receive a rousing ovation from the MCG crowd. He deserves every bit of the reception he is likely to get.

Gilchrist will also walk out with his long-time opening partner and mate Matthew Hayden. And these have not been particularly happy days for Hayden.

The heavyweight opener struck form at the SCG, batting with panache and power against the Indians. Soon, he found himself in hot water for his comments on Harbhajan Singh on radio.

Gilchrist backs Hayden

Gilchrist spoke in support of Hayden. “I’ve not even cared to think what the other teams think of Matthew Hayden. He’s one of the most respected people in the team.”

Gilchrist said many of the things said or done on the field of play could be wrongly perceived by the others. Often these acts, driven by passion and loyalty to the country and teammates, could be unintentional, he added.

He, however, conceded there had not been so many summers where so many issues had to be sorted out.

“It’s been tough on everybody,” he said.

There were several gains for Australia from the game against India at the SCG. The home batting fired and Hayden, Ponting and Andrew Symonds, key batsmen seeking form, were among the runs.

Johnson returns

The Aussie bowling has been sharp and precise right through the series. For Friday’s match, Mitchell Johnson will join Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken in an impressive pace pack.

Lee, the winner of the Allan Border medal for excellence, and Johnson form a compelling right-left pair of speed and movement. Bracken, with his high-arm action, accuracy and bounce, is an under-rated bowler. Medium-pacer James Hopes has chipped in well.

Brad Hogg will be bidding goodbye to international cricket after the series and he is still a very useful left-arm chinaman bowler with control and variety.

Australia holds the edge but Gilchrist warned against complacency. He wants to treat the dead rubber game as a final.

Invest more in youth

The Lankans would do well to give the youngsters a fling in the last game. The side has declined since the World Cup and the time may have come for the Lankan selectors to invest more in youth.

The side’s batting has holes — there is too much reliance on Kumar Sangakkara and Jayawardene — and the fielding has been ordinary in the series.

The Lankans have not performed as a cohesive unit. The Aussies have.

The teams (from): Australia: R. Ponting (captain), M. Hayden, A. Gilchrist, M. Clarke, A. Symonds, M. Hussey, J. Hopes, B. Hogg, B. Lee, M. Johnson, N. Bracken, B. Haddin, S. Clark.

Sri Lanka: M. Jayawardene, S. Jayasuriya, U. Tharanga, K. Sangakkara, T. Dilshan, C. Silva, C. Kapugedera, C. Vaas, L. Malinga, M. Muralitharan, I. Amerasinghe, D. Perera, F. Maharoof, N. Kulasekara, C. Welegedara.

Umpires: D. Harper & T. Hill.

Match Referee: J. Crowe.

Match starts at 8.45 a.m. (IST).

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