So much has changed in the course of an innings. Had India failed in
their most unlikely pursuit of 321 inside 40 overs to earn a win and a
bonus point in Hobart, Australia's final round robin match against Sri
Lanka would have served primarily as a preparatory spar between the two
sides ahead of Sunday's first final in Brisbane. However the
extraordinary effort of Virat Kohli has added plenty of edge to the
encounter at the MCG. Sri Lanka must now win or tie to make the finals,
while Australia have a direct say in which team they face in the
competition deciders.
The task of seeing off Sri Lanka may yet fall to Shane Watson as
stand-in captain, as the selectors weigh up whether or not to play
Michael Clarke in the final qualifying fixture. Clarke began the week by
winning the Allan Border Medal as Australia's most outstanding
cricketer of the past year, while Watson also scooped awards in the ODI
and Twenty20 categories.
Their squad for this match and the deciders
features James Pattinson, recalled after injury, while the likes of
Daniel Christian and Clint McKay will want to perform strongly to shore
up their places for the finals.
Much of the certainty and stability built up by Sri Lanka was shaken in
Hobart, leaving question marks against the captain Mahela Jayawardene
and the fast bowler Lasith Malinga in particular. Jaywardene was not as
tactically sharp as he should have been against India's blazing bats,
while Malinga was treated with astounding contempt by Kohli in
particular. Having only recently begun to demonstrate the consistency
missing since last year's World Cup, a loss at the MCG and quick fade
from the tournament would damage morale as much as anything else.
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