Australia returns to play Sri Lanka on a pitch that Ricky Ponting fondly termed “basically rolled mud” the last time the two teams played here in a World Cup match. The teams split points then as the match at the R. Premadasa stadium was called off due to rain.

Sri Lanka is looking to level the series and hence, the pitch can be expected to live up to Ponting's description this time, yet again.

Sri Lanka is fresh from a victory at the last game in Hambantota; It has added S. Prasanna to its spin armour as the team searches for a viable replacement for Muttiah Muralidaran. “Prasanna is already here and has been practicing with the team,” said Team Manger Brian Thomas. The leg-spinner was playing in England for Sri Lanka ‘A' when he was summoned for national duty.

Pressure on Dilshan too
There will be pressure on the young man, as well as on skipper Dilshan, as his team fights to keep the series alive. There is some comfort in the fact that the Australian team has just been hit by a full-scale overhaul that team members are trying to come to terms with.
New role for Clarke

Australian captain Michael Clarke said that he looked forward to his new responsibility as ex-officio selector of the team, as Cricket Australia put in place a strategy to regain the No. 1 slot in Test rankings. Australia is now at No. 5.

Clarke said that his becoming selector will help in better communication with the players. “It allows me to give the player the consistent feedback that the player is searching for. And also, give him reasons for his selection or non-selection, I guess. Making the team captain and coach part of the selection panel is among the steps that have been put in place since Cricket Australia accepted many of the recommendations from the Argus committee assessment of the non-performance of the Australian team in last Ashes series.

The teams (from): Australia: Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (captain), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Steven Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, Doug Bollinger, James Pattinson and Shaun Marsh.

Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Jeevan Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga, Suraj Randiv, S. Prasanna, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga and Suranga Lakmal.

Umpires: Tony Hill and Asoka De Silva. Third Umpire: Asad Rauf.