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Melbourne: Australian quick Jackson Bird will make his debut in the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka, selectors said on Monday, while skipper Michael Clarke was given more time to prove his fitness.
Lanky right-armer Bird will line up alongside strike bowler Peter Siddle with Mitchell Starc controversially rested as part of Cricket Australia's rotation policy.
Mitchell Johnson replaces the injured Ben Hilfenhaus while spinner Nathan Lyon retains his place as Australia look to make it 2-0 in the three Test series after winning the opener in Hobart last week by 137 runs.
Australian coach Mickey Arthur said Bird was in great form and deserved his chance.
Bird built a strong case for selection with 80 wickets in his 14 Sheffield Shield matches for Tasmania at 17.54 and has snared 14 of those in two matches at the MCG at 12.07.
On otherhand, the tourists appear likely to enter the match unchanged from their Hobart combination, though Dhammika Prasad is on standby for Nuwan Kulasekara, who is still sore after a blow to the ribs in Hobart.
They have their own pace bowling problems, with their raw attack struggling in Hobart, but they will again pin their hopes of a breakthrough first Test win in Australia on their batsmen and spinner Rangana Herath.
With the team having lost the coin toss and the benefit of batting first, Sri Lanka's batsmen frustrated the Australian bowlers for nearly four sessions on a deteriorating wicket at Hobart, only to collapse after tea and surrender the Test within the last hour.
They will hope to have better luck with the toss at the MCG, where the drop-in pitch traditionally rewards batting sides who survive a torrid first session on day one, before offering something for the spinners on days four and five.
The Sri Lankans have additional motivation in their first Boxing Day Test in 17 years, with master batsman Kumar Sangakkara needing only 40 runs to reach the magical 10,000-run milestone in Tests.
The 35-year-old would become only the 11th cricketer to reach the landmark and second Sri Lankan after captain Mahela Jayawardene.
Teams from
Australia Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Matt Wade, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Usman Khawaja.
Sri Lanka Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tilakratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Pradeep, Rangana Herath, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Suraj Randiv, Dimuth Karunaratne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Tharanga Paranavitana, Dhammika Prasad, Chanaka Welegedara
Pitch and conditions
The MCG pitch spin friendly since last couple of years. Melbourne's weather is forecast to be pleasantly temperate for the week, while the pitch is also on course to be even tempered, if a little lively early on.
Stats and trivia
Match facts
December 26-30, 2012
Start time 1030 local (2330 GMT)
