Sri Lanka to Bat, Pick Two Spinners

Melbourne: Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and chose to bat against Australia in the last league match of the tri-series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on Friday.

Michael Clarke misses the match due to a stiff back and Shane Watson, who was magnificent with the ball in the match against India, will captain Australia.

Sri Lanka have quite a few issues to deal with after the stunning debacle against India. The side was more or less through to the finals before the abject surrender in Hobart, despite putting more than 300 runs on the board, jeopardised their chances.

No bowler has ever conceded a higher rate of runs in an ODI stint of at least five overs than the 12.52 that Sri Lanka's star Lasith Malinga did in his 1-96 against India.

Teams:

Australia: David Warner, Shane Watson (capt), Peter Forrest, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Matthew Wade (wk), Daniel Christian, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Thissara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

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