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Hussey ... has established a solid partnership with Clarke. Source: Rick Rycroft / AAP
Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey will look to push on to a big first innings total after making it to stumps unbeaten on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Bellerive Oval.
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1st Test - Blundstone Arena
14 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 3
Australia 1st Innings
| M. Clarke | 70 | 136 | 7 | 0 | 51.47 |
| M. Hussey | 37 | 81 | 1 | 0 | 45.68 |
| N. Kulasekara | 22 | 2 | 51 | 0 | 2.32 |
Stumps
First ball: 10:30 AM December 14, 2012
Location: Blundstone Arena
Match Summary
Australia: 4/299
Sri Lanka:
Latest comments (all times EDT):
1752: STUMPS: Well that's all she wrote on day one here in Hobart, with Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey again coming to the rescue when Australia looked a little shaky midway through the afternoon. Clarke will appreciate some treatment on that left knee after copping a nasty one and hobbling for much of the afternoon. Phillip Hughes helped set up the total with a promising 86 on return to the side, while David Warner also made a good fifty. Sri Lanka's bowlers have work to do tomorrow morning if they're to get back into this Test. Thanks again for joing me, Trent Hile, throughout the day. My esteemed colleague John Clark will be in the chair from 10.30am (EDT) tomorrow as we pick up the action.
1745: FOUR! Clarke flicks one away through the leg side in seemingly effortless fashion. He moves to 69 and Australia are now an over away from stumps.
1736: FOUR! Bang! Welegedara overpitches this time and Clarke plays one of the shots of the afternoon - a brutal straight drive. Save your legs, boys. AUS 4/289
1734: FOUR! Clarke flashes hard at one outside off from Welegedara and gets enough of it for the ball to sail away to the fence behind point.
1729: FIFTY TO CLARKE! The Bellerive crowd give the skipper a healthy applause as he notches another milestone in his remarkable season. It hasn't been easy, with the 51 coming off 117 balls. AUS 4/274
1715: FOUR! Welegedara pitches up and Clarke follows through on a drive with the full face, taking one hand off the bat in the process, as it runs away down the ground for four. AUS 4/271
1713: Bluey of Sydney asks: Has Malinga done a Shaun Tait and only plays in 20/20? Very sad theres only 3 decent sides left in Test cricket, the future is bleak for the 5 day game!
Trent says: Yes Bluey, sadly the Slinger has restricted his talents to the T20 format - and as he showed the other night in Melbourne Stars' win over Perth Scorchers in the BBL, he's still got it!
1707: Clarke is in a fair bit of pain here. Eranga hits him just above the pad with one - the Sri Lankans appeal but there was an inside edge. He's still hobbling a few deliveries later.
1703: A brief delay in Hobart as Umpire Hill raises the new ball. Sri Lanka will be keen to take one, if not two wickets with them to stumps in this final hour.
1657: Ouch! Hussey gets one that rears up at him from Eranga and catches him high on the forearm. Hussey rings his arm in pain. That would've hurt.
1644: Chance ... close! Hussey pushes back to cut the off-spinner Dilshan but gets a thick edge. It flies in the air past Jayawardene at slip but he can't repeat his earlier heroics. He might be standing a touch close there.
1633: Lewis of Macksville must have hit the pub early - too early - this afternoon and says: Punter hung around for the money and in one game Hughes shows that he will be a better batsman then Punter ever was, Ricky who.
Trent says: Can someone up there at the Star get Lewis a water?
1624: FOUR! Mathews strays down the leg side and Clarke just has to help it on it's way round the corner for four. AUS 4/234
1613: FOUR! There we go ... Clarke drives straight into the wicket and it evades both the bowler and man at mid off. He's up to 24 with minimal fuss.
1611: Hussey is just taking his time getting going but rotating the strike nicely. Clarke looks a shot or two away from hitting his straps - he's had a couple of big drives cut off by fielders.
1603: The next hour is shaping as a really crucial period in the context of the match. Sri Lanka have plugged the flow of runs and if they can break this partnership, they can expose Australia's tail this evening. But if these two get in, there could be big runs on offering tomorrow morning.
1556: Here's a beauty from Boof's left foot of SA: Hey Trentster, Tea trivia - notice the 2 current bowlers UWMBCA Welagedara and HMRKB Herath have 11 initials between them. Must be a record no?
Trent says: There's been some beauties in the Sri Lankan team over the years ... David Lloyd tells a ripper about the great Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas. If I recall correctly, the Sri Lankan naming system is very different from the western system where they take on clan names rather than surnames, hence the lengthy titles. And I thought I had trouble learning to spell in kindergarten!
1547: FOUR! Welegedara drops short to Clarke and with the pitch not offering too much bounce, the skipper helps himself to an easy boundary through mid-wicket.
1545: Greg of WA: Hey Trent, why do you think the selectors continually stick with a proven dud like Ed Cowan,giving him chance after chance and only gave Khawaja 6 test matches to prove himself?
Trent says: Well Greg I think people have very short memories - Cowan scored a pretty good ton in the first Test against South Africa, which after seeing Sri Lanka's attack today, will count for more than any runs made in this particular series in my opinion. However, I do agree that he is only a short-term plug. I would much rather see Hughes elevated to opener and Khawaja come into the side to bat at three.
1537: WICKET! (Hughes 86, b Welegedara, AUS 4/198) Hughes is undone almost straight away by a beauty! Welegedara gets a ball that shapes back in late, beating the gap between Hughes' bat and pad. He hears the death rattle and is forced to depart. That brings Michael Hussey to the crease.
1512: That's tea in Hobart, with Michael Clarke surviving a few early jitters and Phil Hughes looking rock solid and poised for what would be a memorable comeback ton. Enjoy your afternoon teas and scones and we'll be back shortly for the final session.
1455: Well that was certainly one of the best catches I've seen this summer - right up there with one from Adelaide Strikers keeper Tim Ludeman in last night's BBL. Check it out and tell us which one was better.
1450: WICKET! (Watson 30, c Jayawardene b Welegedara, AUS 3/183) What a catch! Watson edges one wide of Jayawardene at third slip and the skipper holds on to a one-handed, full length diving screamer. Has the luck finally turned for the visitors? Wait ... Michael Clarke, a man who has scored four double hundreds this year is making his way to the crease ... perhaps not.
1442: Wicket ... wait ... no ball! Well there's a rarity in modern Test cricket: a wicket from a no ball, but without the use of DRS! Hughes gets a big nick from Welegedara and is caught behind, but Umpire Tony Hill has his arm raised. Replays show Welegedara over-stepped the mark by a long way too.
1432: FOUR! Welegedara back into the attack and Hughes greets his warm-up ball with a superb cut behind point for four.
1428: SIX! Hughes comes down the track and swats Herath over the fence at cow corner. A spectator in Row A drops a dead set sitter.
1426: FOUR! Mathews overpitches this time and Hughes is onto it in a flash, leaning into a perfectly-timed straight drive which races down the ground. The clouds aren't the only ominous signs for Sri Lanka now.
1421: FIFTY TO HUGHES! He brings up the half-century in good style too, with a lovely square-drive pulling up just short of the rope. Still, they pick up three. That's his first fifty on Aussie soil. AUS 2/145
1416: FOUR! Crunch... don't bowl there. Mathews bowls short to Watson and his eyes light up like it's Christmas come early. He pulls in front of square for four.
1412: Rippersportspro of NSW says: Hughes is looking good at the moment and it looks like that little tweak in his technique has made him a more expansive player, because although he is still playing the cover drive well, he has added more leg side shots to his repertoire. Watson looks more composed than he has a few times in the past and hopefully he gets some decent runs, ideally a century.
Trent says: Agree on both points Ripper. Although at the moment, I'd back my grandma to make runs against this Sri Lankan attack ... and she usually needs a few scotches to start seeing them in the Christmas Day Test in the Hile backyard. Ricky Ponting must be sitting back wondering 'what if' he made just one score against South Africa...
1405: FOUR! Well Hughes's leg-side play may have improved dramatically but his work on the off-side is still as potent as ever. He sways onto the back foot to Herath and punches him through the gap between cover-point to move within a shot of his fifty. AUS 2/136
1402: Mark offers up this little gem: Wanna hear an interesting stat? Hughes has scored more in this match than Ponting has against Saffers all series.
1400: FOUR! Short from Eranga, Hughes is onto it quickly and plays a fantastic pull shot. He looked in complete control of that one and watches as it flies away through mid-wicket for four.
1354: FOUR! Hughes finds a gap behind point for his fourth boundary of the day. He moves to 39.
1349: Here's one of the more interesting bowling changes of the day ... the left-arm spinner Herath into the attack for the first time. He's certainly no Imran Tahir. He kicks off with a solid over, just the one from it.
1341: Bill of Warilla says: With Warner 54, he played the ball in front of the wicket. It was his call and Hughes reacted. No fault with Hughes.
Trent says: It was Warner's call, and he appeared to say 'no' but Hughes kept coming. He could have either held his ground or set off and hoped for the best. He went with the latter.
1333: FOUR! Classical drive from Watson, who shows the full face of the bat to record his second boundary of the day. I can see Herath loosening up in the distance...
1330: Parko of Queanbeyan chips in on the Warner run out: I was always taught in front of wicket is the striker's call; behind the wicket, non-striker's call. What's so hard about that?
Trent says: I think that's one of the first things they teach you in the Under 10s. Going by that principle, it was Hughes' fault.
1321: Hughes keeps out one that stays awfully low. That prompts a lengthy gardening session that would make Don Burke proud. AUS 2/105.
1318: FOUR! Watson gets away with an elegant drive through the off side. Superb timing.
1314: Just watching a replay of the Warner run out. For mine, Hughes looked at fault - it was Warner's call. What do you think? Post your verdict below or by using the hashtag #AUSvSL on Twitter.
1306: The Sri Lankans are in a huddle and Phillip Hughes and Shane Watson have emerged from the dressing sheds. Play is set to resume at 2/97.
1303: What did everyone think of that unbelievable Big Bash game last night? My cash was on the Strikers, but gee the Heat deserve credit for holding their nerve in those final couple of overs. And what about Kieron Pollard's run out? Check out all the highlights of the match here.
1246: Touching scenes in Hobart with one of Tasmania's favourite sons, Ricky Ponting, completing a lap of honour with his kids in the back of a ute. Farewell Punter. You'll be sorely missed.
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1243: Well that wicket will certainly put a dampener on the mood in the Aussie sheds at lunch, they were travelling along so well after losing the early wicket of Cowan. Sri Lanka's bowlers don't appear to have the pace to trouble Australia's batsmen. It will be interesting to see what impact their brilliant spinner Rangana Herath can have on this wicket.
1229: WICKET! (Warner 57, run out, AUS 2/97) Tragedy strikes before lunch! Dilshan comes into the attack for the last over before lunch, and there's a mix-up between Warner and Hughes. Warner hits one straight to cover, Hughes calls through for a single and Warner hesitates before reluctantly setting off. He's caught miles short. It might be lunch, but there's already been a barbeque at Bellerive.
1225: FOUR! Kulasekara sends a well-directed bouncer down to Warner but he's equal to the task, pulling him away in front of square for a boundary.
1222: Mark asks: Hi trent, What do you think of Hughes. Without Martin and Guptil it seems like he'll stay in for a while.
Trent says: Looks a shadow of the man who just about had those dreaded words 'c Guptill b Martin' branded on his backside 12 months ago. It's very early doors, I know, but he might have the right tools now to become the brilliant, consistent player we thought he could be.
1214: Fifty to Warner! The nuggety opener gets a short one that rears at him but he's good enough to bat it away through square leg and pick up three. That's a half century to Warner and he and Hughes are chugging along nicely. AUS 1/87.
1213: Chance! Just wide! Welegedara throws up a fuller delivery and Warner takes the bait, edging just wide of Jayawardene at slip. That was close!
1212: FOUR! Welegedara drops short and wide and this time Warner loosens his arms with a well-timed cut through cover-point.
1204: Close! FOUR! Warner gets away with a streaky drive that he French cuts - just missing his stumps - and it trickles away to the fine leg boundary.
1202: FOUR! Glorious cover drive from Warner. He's really kept his head this morning and looks in terrific order. That's also the 50 partnership between this pair. AUS 1/70
1155: Drew of Cairns asks: How is the pitch looking down there? has the hulk materialised?
Trent says: Sorry Drew, in the mad rush this morning I forgot to offer you my best Tony Greig impersonation. The pitch looks terrific - there's a slight greenish tinge with a hint of grass. There's been some early movement but it's certainly nothing like 'the Hulk' many feared it would be.
1143: FOUR! Terrific cricket shot from Warner, who simply leans on a straight drive from an Eranga half-volley and watches it run away to the rope.
1134: As the players enjoy a drinks break, just a reminder that Inside Cricket on Fox Sports 2 on Monday from 8.30pm (EDT) will feature one of the blog's all-time favourites, Viv Richards. As part of the show Viv will answer questions from you. Leave your question as a comment here or tweet it to us @FOXCricketLive using the hashtag #FoxChat - and we'll put the best five questions to the great man live on the show.
1129: Angelo Matthews completes a tidy first over of the match, with just a single from it. Hughes (19) and Warner (21) are moving along nicely. AUS 1/49
1121: After that ordinary shot to get out, the Cowan critics are starting to warm their voices:
PM Tony Abbott 2013 says: The selectors must drop Ed Cowan right now, the guy couldn't hit the basketball with the bat. Get either P Hughes or A Doolan to bat at 2 and U Khawaja at 3.
Trent says: Is Cowan skating on thin ice? Tell us what you think the opening pair should be by posting a comment below.
1115: FOUR! Take two! Hughes plays a carbon copy of the first stroke to record his third boundary of the morning and move to 17 off just 15 balls.
1113: FOUR! Shot of the morning from Hughes! The new bowler Shaminda Eranga offers him some width outside the off stump and Hughes crunches a drive through cover-point. That's the shot of a man in form.
1106: FOUR! Welegedara overpitches and Warner launches into a straightish drive through the off-side. The man at mid-off stood no chance there. AUS 1/31
1059: FOUR! Hughes opens his account with a characteristic swipe over backward-point for four.
1056: WICKET! (Cowan 4, c Eranga b Welegedara, AUS 1/18) Poor shot from Cowan. He attempts to pull a delivery that gets onto him too quick and probably wasn't short enough for the shot, and succeeds only in popping a simple chance to Eranga at mid-on. That brings Phillip Hughes to the crease. What a moment for the 23-year-old.
1054: Brett Geeves will be a busy boy this Test, joining the ABC team – and writing his match highlights for us every day right here at www.foxsports.com.au. Keep an eye out for his entertaining pieces throughout this Test.
1047: Warner looking very comfortable at the crease this morning. He picks up seven runs with a cut and two nice drives off that Welegedara over.
1045: Apologies for the slow progress this morning folks, we're experiencing a few technical glitches. Hope to have it sorted ASAP to give you timely updates.
1034: DROPPED! Cowan edges the first ball he faces and Angelo Mathews grasses a tough chance at third slip. It went low - he did well just to get a hand under it. That was very nearly another golden duck for the opener.
1032: David Warner and Ed Cowan are out in the middle with Nuwan Kulasekara to take the new ball.
1031: Good morning everyone and welcome to foxsports.com.au's live blog of the first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka in Hobart. Trent Hile joining you after a spell in the paddock in between series and looking forward to what shapes as an intriguing contest. Will Sri Lanka shape up to the challenge? Can Phil Hughes blossom in his recall to the Test side? Sit back over the course of the next five days as we find out!
Stick with us throughout the day and don't forget to send in your questions and comments by emailing blogs@foxsports.com.au or leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.
