da dobrowin： Ricky Ponting will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and Mark Taylor by winning his first Test as captain on Australian soil, when the second and final match against Sri Lanka begins at Cairns this morning.
Christian Ryan08-Jul-2004
Return of the king: Ricky Ponting all set for leading Australia for the first time in a home Test© Getty Images
Ricky Ponting will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Steve Waugh, AdamGilchrist and Mark Taylor by winning his first Test as captain on Australiansoil, when the second and final match against Sri Lanka begins at Cairnsthis morning.Ponting, who missed the opening Test in Darwin because of the death of hisaunt, is expected to be the only change in Australia’s victorious XI, replacing his temporary stand-in Matthew Elliott.He enters the game confident of both his batting form, having undergone a”really good workout” at a pre-series camp in Brisbane, and captaincypedigree. Already Ponting has led Australia to one World Cup and successiveVB Series triumphs, plus victory in all three overseas Tests in which he hascalled the shots.His vanquished opponents on all three occasions, needless to say, were SriLanka, who have never won a Test in Australia at seven attempts and wouldseem less well-qualified for optimism.Two changes to their side appear probable. Upul Chandana, the legspinner, whostruck an erratic length and failed to trouble the Australian middle orderin Darwin, might make way for the left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, whoimpressed observers in the tour match against a Northern Territory ChiefMinister’s XI.Meanwhile Romesh Kaluwitharana, the veteran wicketkeeper, stands a strongchance of playing his first Test in more than a year at Russel Arnold’sexpense. Arnold, who was himself playing his first Test since November 2002,looked unconvincing in struggling to 6 and 11 at Darwin.Kaluwitharana’s possible elevation would reduce the workload of KumarSangakkara, the vivacious left-hander, who too often looks knackered by thedouble burden of keeping and batting at No. 3. If you discount Tests againstZimbabwe, Sangakkara has not passed 34 in his last 12 innings and last hit ahundred 27 months ago.The days leading up to this match have felt a bit like the traditionalbuild-up to a WACA Test, even if Cairns and Perth – according to the map -might almost be a couple of continents away. All attention has centred onthe rumoured bounce and zippiness, conditions considered ripe for theAustralians and anathema to the visitors.Even Shane Warne, seldom one to talk down his abilities, has publicly allbut ruled out his chance of securing the eight wickets he needs to becomethe supreme wicket-taker in Test history. Warne’s logic ignores the factthat precisely half the wickets during Cairns’s inaugural Test last yearfell to spin, and should be seen for what it probably is: a colossal bluff.As for Ponting, even if Australia conspire to lose this game the omens lookpositive. The last Australian skipper to blow his first Test on home dirtwas Ian Chappell; before him, Don Bradman and Monty Noble also began theircaptaincy careers in Australia with a thud rather than a bang. And thosethree turned out all right in the end. Australia (probable) 1 Justin Langer, 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 RickyPonting (capt), 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Darren Lehmann, 6 Simon Katich, 7 AdamGilchrist (wk), 8 Shane Warne, 9 Jason Gillespie, 10 Michael Kasprowicz, 11Glenn McGrath. Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Marvan Atapattu (capt), 2 Sanath Jayasuriya,3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Romesh Kaluwitharana (wk), 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 NuwanZoysa, 10 Rangana Herath, 11 Lasith Malinga.