So that’s it from here at Blog Central. RC signing off for the last time this summer, thanks for all your comments, questions and banter, been a heap of fun, and hope we can do it all again soon!
WHAT HAPPENED: Was only ever going to be one result today, but Sri Lanka at least made the Australians work pretty hard for it, both in the field and then with the bat. Visitors added 53 to their overnight score, last pair putting on 41, and keeper Chandimal particularly impressive in his unbeaten 62. Target ended up a far-too-small 141, but, not for the first time, an Aussie top order made hard work of a small run target, Warner out off the seventh ball of the innings. Cowan and Hughes kept runs ticking over, as did Cowan and Clarke, and by then the wickets barely mattered, Australia the victor by five wickets.
WHAT IT MEANS: Sri Lanka had its moments of defiance this series, but not nearly enough and not for nearly long enough, and its capitulation in Melbourne was pitiful. Batting was too fragile and undisciplined, the bowling lacked nearly enough penetration, and in the end the Sri Lankans also ran out of fit bodies. It made it hard to assess just how good a performance by Australia this was, with a visit to India looming, and back-to-back Ashes series to follow. Some good moments this summer, but some important ones fluffed against South Africa. Exciting times ahead, but penty of question marks still linger.
Presentation time ... and the man of the match is big Jackson Bird for his match figures of 7/117 and a big role helping get Wade over the line for his century. And the player of the series is Australian skipper Michael Clarke, has certainly had a golden 12 months!
And big news! Hussey is passing the baton of team song leader on to Nathan Lyon ... better make sure he gets a game!
AUSTRALIA WINS BY FIVE WICKETS
VICTORY! Johnson gets the edge, and Hussey makes him take the single for victory ... guess that's the selflessness that's been a calling card! So that's it! Australia wins by five wickets, and sweeps the series 3-0. And that's it for Hussey, who's getting a standing ovation as he leaves the arena for one last time!
Hussey pushes another single! One to get .... Johnson three balls to block ... better not be a no-ball!!
Pushes a single, just two to get, Johnson to face two balls ... plays them out, and Hussey gets the chance to win it again!
We're back again for the last rites ... Hussey on strike to Dilshan, and pushes a two off the first ball! Three to get!
TEA SCORE: Australia 5/136 (Hussey 23*, Johnson 0*)
Pushes a single, moves on to 23, five to get, Johnson on strike. Another LBW shout, must have been 127 by my count so far this innings! ... and that's tea .. with five to get! Talk about making us wait! Oh well, have a cuppa, and see you back here in 15mins ... Jeeves?! A snack, please!
Another couple for Hussey, six needed to win now. Will he go the tonk?
WICKET! Wade is gone, goes the sweep on Herath, misses, and the off peg is rattled! That's five down, this won't end up being an emphatic win by any means! Main task now, make sure Hussey gets to hit winning runs!
Bang! Hussey goes the reverse sweep off Herath, another boundary, he moves to 18, just 10 runs needed!
That was a half-chance from Hussey through the legs of the close-in fieldsman, gets a two out of it, 26 still required. Then another near-thing, mistimed cut from Wade off Dilshan just wide of point. Brings more runs, and target is down to just 20 ... they're definitely safe now!
WICKET! He's out, Hawkeye shows it would have taken the pegs, 36 for Cowan, doesn't do a lot to strengthen his long-term claims ... and all of a sudden, Aussies have only five wickets in hand still needing another 33 ... more jitters?
There's another one gone! ... Cowan given out LBW to Herath ... and he's going to challenge....
And he's off the mark with a cover drive for two second ball, crowd goes mad! Should be plenty of roars if he's still there at the end. Pushes another single, and keeps the strike.
WICKET! Clarke's gone, caught at bat-pad to Herath, and with 37 still required, the crowd is getting its wish ... Hussey into bat for one last time!
Another four for Cowan through the covers ... and another ... flick down legside goes to the fence ... she's all over as a contest now, folks. Aus. 2/103 and just 38 needed ... Big question now is, will Hussey get another hit in Test cricket? Crowd is certainly hoping so, chanting his name already!
Gee, Cowan's got a wriggle on of late, pressure's come off fair bit in the last 10 minutes, Aussies looking home and hosed now. He's up to 32, target now 47 away.
It's going to be pace (sort of!) again, as Pradeep comes back on to replace Dilshan. And now Cowan takes a chance, slashes through gully, not that wide of fieldsman but enough on it to race away for four. Target's coming down quicker now, Aus. needs another 56.
Lovely shot from the skipper, stepped back to leg to give himeself room and just punched it through covers for another boundary. Clarke hasn't looked toey at any stage, the story of his past 12 months really.
Dilshan drops its short and Clarke puts him away for four, relieves a bit more pressure ... now there's a shout for bat-pad, didn't look out, but SL have no reviews left to find out! Aus. 2/75, more than halfway home.
He's a fair way down ... more than 3 metres from stumps, and while Hawkeye shows it would have hit leg, the distance down track saved him. Clarke lives! That's all SL's reviews gone now.
And yet another LBW shout ... Clarke hit, turned down, but SL is going to take the gamble and use their second referral ...
Just pushing the singles around now, run rate is only creeping along, but at least not stagnant .. that's when the real pressure comes on. Aus. now 2/69, need another 72.
There's drinks, plenty of nervous moments again for Australia, but things have looked a little steadier since Clarke came to the crease. Aus. 2/62, 79 more to go ... more tea, vicar?
And Cowan's sweep fetish continues! Another shout for LBW from Dilshan, we're going to see few more methinks! Aus. 2/61. 80 more for the win.
Clarke off the mark with a lovely drive for four! Good use of the feet to Herath. Just sensible batting required now, Aus. 2/53, wouldn't want to lose another one quickly, though!
Another big shout! Cowan is trying to sweep everything, rapped on pads and SL goes up as one. Long way down and hit outside line, though, no challenge .... then yet another close shave ... Cowan edges Dilshan just wide of Jayawardene at slip, races to fence for four ... wow, it really IS all happening. Aus. 2/49, another 92 required.
WICKET! .... And Hawkeye says Hughes is out to Herath! It's LBW, ball would have spun on to hit leg stump, and Australian jitters begin again. Score is 2/45, 96 runs still required!
Big shout! And they go to the video ... Herath has hit Hughes on the pads, is the appeal for LBW or the catch off the glove after? ... boy, it's close!
Taking some chances now, Hughes, went the sweep and nearly bowled behind his legs, then top edges another sweep which flies just wide of square leg. Now Herath beats him all ends up with turn.
Dilshan's back on from the other end, we're going to have spin from both ends now ... over rate will be good! Cowan sweeps a four, Aus. 1/43 ... now an appeal for a stumping ... it's close, but Ed just has his back foot behind the line.
Beautiful shot from Hughes! Smacks Lakmal through the covers on the front foot for four, raced to the fence. He's looking more confident now!
And now the No.1 spinner Herath is on to replace Dilshan. Three men close in including slip, this will be an interesting few overs, can he get another breakthrough? Cowan goes the sweep, big top edge balloons up behind the bat for two ... that was lucky, then an inside edge goes close to the stumps ... some butterflies going on! Aus. 1/25.
Nice on drive from Hughes to Lakmal, wide of mid-on, races to the boundary rope. Aus. 1/20, another 121 required.
First over completed, Hughes had a dash at Lakmal last ball, wasn't that far away from an edge. Dilshan, again surprisingly, stays on with the new ball. Why wouldn't they be using Herath if they want to go with a spinner?
It's going to be Cowan on strike, facing Lakmal. Let's play ball!
Set to go again here ... "This match is alive and cooking, and difficult to pick," says Mark Nicholas ... hmmmm ... think it's a little too early to be saying that yet Mark. Still, Aussies did look pretty nervy pre-lunch. Wonder if Hughes might open the shoulders here, try to speed things up?
LUNCH SCORE: Australia 1/13 (Hughes 12*, Cowan 1*)
And that will be lunch! Pretty dramatic start, but Australia goes to the break 1/13, with another 128 runs required. Will there be some more nervous moments in the second session? Join us in half-an-hour or so to find out!
Wouldn't have come back far enough to hit off stump, says Hawkeye, and Hughes is safe!
Another boundary for Hughes, too short from Dilshan and he dispatches him past gully for four ... pads up to next ball, and there's a big shout for LBW. Turned down, but Sri Lanka is going to challenge....
Hughes is knocking a few around now, Cowan's off the mark, Aus. 1/9 with one over to go before the lunch break, Lakmal raced through that to squeeze one more in, good bowling, though.
Hughes punches one through cover for four, and you can almost hear the sighs of relief, Australia finally off the mark, 1/4, good over from Lakmal.
Ohhhh ... that was so close! Hughes nearly goes first ball, very late on Lakmal, nearly grazed off stump! Australia looking decidedly nervous here!
WICKET! Warner's gone first ball! Lakmal gets a thick outside edge to the left-hander, and good catch from skipper Jayawardene at second slip. Well, that puts the cat among the pigeons! Aus. 1/0.
Oh Ed, nearly run out again! Was an LBW shout, then he just took off down the track, turning back and getting home just in time! First over ends, 0/0, and it's going to be the more conventional option of Lakmal from the other end to Warner.
Here we go, then. And a bit of a surprise. It's going to be the spin of Dilshan to open, Ed Cowan on strike. Should be four overs at least before lunch.
WICKET! That's it, though, Pradeep is gone, Bird induces a little outside edge through to Wade, who completes the catch. The last pair added 41, Australia is left with 141 for victory ... shouldn't be too hard, surely! Join us back here in 10 minutes for the restart.
New ball is taken, Starc comes into the attack to give it a road test. Chandimal watchful now, this pair is certainly providing Clarke with some think music. And some more still, as Pradeep slams Bird down the ground!
Lovely drive by Chandimal off Siddle for another four, timing is perfect, he moves into the 60s. Probably worth 70-odd, too, given how many singles he's had to turn his back on to keep strike. SL 9/272, lead is 134.
Lyon into the attack now, Aussies need to try something a bit different. Last pair has added 30, the lead is up to 129, enough to at least have the commentators recalling the disaster against South Africa on this same ground back in 93/94, when home side couldn't get 117 for victory!
And that's drinks! Not before Pradeep is almost sconed by Siddle, ducking into a shortish one. Can manage a smile, though, and now a sip or two! SL 9/263, lead is 125.
Siddle coming into the attack for his first spell of the day, replacing Johnson, can he do his thing again? Starting to frustrate the Aussies a little is this 10th wicket resistance.
Fifty for Chandimal! That's a great effort against the tide, the last recognised batsman doing it with some absolute bunnies as partners, farming the strike has let this pair put on 26 thus far, and the lead is up to 125 now.
Great stuff from Chandimal, some healthy strikes land two boundaries in a row off Bird to finish, that's 14 from the over ... only bad thing is, Pradeep is now on strike ... can he survive?
That's more like it! Lovely cut by Chandimal off Bird through point for four, nearly run out next ball ... given Lakmal's effort (and he's at No. 10!), safe to say the keeper is going to have to farm the strike! SL 9/243, and the lead is over three figures at least, up to 105.
WICKET! Jeez, that was ordinary from Lakmal, bowled neck and crop by Johnson! Looked like he didn't have the heart for the battle a few balls earlier when paceman dug one in, and that ball confirmed it, a windy woof backing away towards square leg, the stumps rattling as a result. SL tail has been pretty awful this series.
WICKET! And it doesn't matter anyway, Herath is gone! Bird strikes, pitches outside off, batsman gets a big inside edge on to the stumps. Wonder if he got a little shaken by that run-out fiasco. SL 8/235.
Oh boy, that should have been out! Throw comes in from fine leg, batsmen are mixed up and nearly at the same end of the pitch, but Wade tries to fling the ball to Johnson at the bowlers' end with glove still on and it lobs over the bowlers' head, Herath regaining his ground! SL survive. 7/235, lead 97.
Chandimal squeezes one past gully for the first boundary of the day. He moves on to 28 and the lead is up to 95. SL keeper looks solid enough so far today. SL 7/233.
That's close! ... Big LBW shout on Chandimal by Bird, turned down, but Aussies going for the video ... Hawkeye shows it would have hit leg, but not by enough to reverse the umpire's call! That's about as close as it gets without being out ... and the Aussies are out of challenges now. SL 7/228.
End of the first over, relatively incident free, SL add another three, lead is up to 90, and it's going to be the big Bird from the Randwick end.
All set to go here, going to be Mitch Johnson to start, Chandimal on strike for SL ... Let's play ball!
Interesting debate about selection policy. Plenty of feeling out there about Hussey's summary dismissal from the international arena. Warner being rested from ODI controversial, too, as perhaps is Wade, veteran keeper Haddin's reinstatement for the 50-over games perhaps opening the door for him again in the Test arena. Team rotations are probably THE talking point of this cricket season. Meanwhile, about 10 minutes from a start here.
Aussies in control in Sydney
Sri Lanka has a lead of 87 runs but only three wickets in hand going into day four of the third Test in Sydney.
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Plenty of controversy already today in the selectors' dumping of the retiring Mike Hussey from the ODI squad, meaning today is pretty much the last we'll ever see of the veteran left-hander. Understandable in many respects, but won't win the Aussie brainstrust too many popularity contests!
Good morning, everyone. RC here in the chair at Blog Central to take you through the fourth and almost certainly final day of the third Test at the SCG. Australia is looking to wrap things up here not long after lunch, Sri Lanka simply to hold on as long as humanly possible. What's in store? Stay with us to find out!
Stephen Samuelson: Breaking news this morning is that Mike Hussey has been dumped from the Australian one-day team, therefore denying him a farewell tour of the country. Michael Clarke, David Warner and Matthew Wade also rested.
How Rohan Connolly summed up day three.
STUMPS SCORE: Sri Lanka 7/225 (Chandimal 22*, Herath 7*) SL leads by 87 runs.
WHAT HAPPENED: Sri Lanka made some good inroads into the Australian tail early on, before Wade gave the home side a decent enough lead with a brilliant hundred. Sri Lanka then challenged strongly again in its own innings, at one stage only six runs in arrears with nine wickets still in hand! But, not for the first time, it couldn't sustain the pressure, some irresponsible middle-order batting seeing it lose 6/70, its lead of 87 with only three wickets in hand not nearly enough.
WHAT IT MEANS: Australia should have this wrapped up not long after lunch tomorrow, Sri Lanka without sufficient bowling strength to put the shudders through the home side even if it does grab a few early wickets. The visitors have shown better resolve this Test, but concentration, both in the field, and particularly with the bat, remains an obvious and very large achilles heel. Aussies have got the job done, but India away and two Ashes series will require far more still than they've served up this summer.
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Australia v Sri Lanka, SCG - Day Three
Mathew Wade celebrates as he scores a century for Australia. Photo: Brendan Esposito
