That's it for today, everyone, RC signing off here at Blog Central. Join us back here in the morning at 10am for the 10.30 start on day three. Enjoy your evening, and remember, tweet and blog responsibly!
WHAT HAPPENED: Clarke and Watson came out determined to build Australia's lead and did just that in steady if unspectacular fashion, adding nearly 200. Once more, the Aussies then lost a spate of wickets, but the lower order did more than its bit, the seventh and eighth wickets both adding 50-plus, Johnson looking set for another Test ton with a fine and responsible innings. Sri Lanka stuck to its guns despite losing Welegedera early, but again didn't have enough penetration to bust through the batting order, Australia with a lead of 284.
WHAT IT MEANS: Only one result possible now, surely, with three full days left for the home side to dismiss Sri Lanka a second time. The track offers little for the bowlers, but the visitors don't appear to have the requisite patience or discipline to stave off the bowlers. A clear gap in class between these teams is becoming more apparent, Australia in complete control without necessarily playing to its full potential, the question remaining can they produce the goods against the very best opposition.
STUMPS SCORE: Australia 8/440 (Johnson 73*, Lyon 0*)
That's stumps! Another good day for Australia, never really cut loose, but just steadily built the lead, now close to 300 (284) with Johnson again pushing his all-rounder claims, unbeaten on 73, been a great knock. Aussies will push for more still tomorrow, and have the best part of three days to roll Sri Lanka a second time.
Two overs to go, won't do anything silly here, and can come out tomorrow and get Johnson his ton! Herath again, has bowled really well today with no luck at all.
WICKET! Siddle's gone, a thick outside edge to Eranga and skipper Jayawardene takes his second great catch for the day, flinging himself to his left at second slip. Good stuff from Sids, though, his 13 was part of a 58-run partnership, Aus. 8/434, lead is 278 and Lyon at the crease, suppose you can't really call him a nightwatchman this time!
Siddle out to a blinder
Australia lose it's eigth wicket to a magnificent catch by Sri Lanka captain Jayawardene.
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Great timing from Johnson in this knock, hasn't really tried to belt the cover off the ball at any stage, that was just a textbook cover drive that raced to the rope. He's up to 65, that was his sixth boundary, and brought up the 50 partnership as well. Lead is up to 275.
Sri Lankan bowling starting to look a bit ragged again, Johnson still going great guns, and Siddle offering good support, now this pair has almost cracked the 50 partnership! Aus. 7/423, lead up to 267.
Fifty for Johnson! Great knock, very responsible, important runs, too at No. 8. His 50 has come up in 93 balls with only four boundaries, very restrained by his standards.
Big flash from Johnson, over slips for four, and the 400 comes up ... hello, a pitch invader ... now that's very 1980s!
A few tete-a-tetes today between Herath and umpire Nigel Llong ... not quite Shakoor Rana and Mike Gatting, but they were up as close and personal just then!
Loving this knock from Mitch! Nothing silly, now just guides one between slips and gully down to the rope for four, he's up to 40 and the lead is 236. Aus. 7/392
Lovely swat by Johnson for four, looks good today with the blade. A few issues with this still new-ish ball, too. Aus. 7/383, lead is 227. They're calling the drinks break ... make mine a Pimms, Jeeves.
WICKET! What a catch! A blinder by Herath at deep mid-on and Hussey is gone for 34. Was swirling around, Herath made about 20 metres and ended up diving to his left and taking a one-hander. Ironic, really, can't take a wicket himself, but gets part-timer Dilshan one. Aus. now 7/376.
Hussey goes to great catch
Herath takes a wonderful catch in the deep to end Mike Hussey's innings.
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Sri Lanka needs another bowling change, I reckon, Johnson and Hussey looking comfortable indeed and runs coming steadily. Aus. 6/374, lead is up to 218.
Drive for four by Hussey brings up the 50 partnership, good stuff, nothing dramatic, just knocking them around for ones, twos and the occasional boundary. Lead is up to 212, might end up around the 300 mark perhaps. Herath still bowling well without luck, more support from the other end would have given him one or two at least, you'd reckon.
Part-timer Dilshan on again ... hang on, Four 'n Twenty wrapper blowing across pitch interrupts proceedings ... just as well Greg Ritchie isn't out there, would have been salivating everywhere!
Hussey lucky there. Big edge outside off to Mathews, flies between the two slips and gully at catchable height for four, and the lead goes to 200.
Picking up some handy ones and twos are this pair, have quietly added 35, Johnson looking the accomplished bat we know he can be. Aus. 6/350, and the lead is 194.
Here we go again after tea, Herath to open up with Johnson on strike, off the mark again quickly with a single, Hussey pushes another, Johnson again, four from the over. Will want to keep that scoreboard ticking over, lead still not enough for absolute comfort. And it's Mathews from the other end.
TEA SCORE: Australia 6/331 (Hussey 7*, Johnson 10*)
That will be tea, folks! Good little fightback from Sri Lanka there, looked close to demoralised at 3/311, but managed to snare 3/4. Australia still dominant, though, leading by 176. How many more can they add? Join us for the final session in 15 minutes or so. Me? I'm getting stuck into some leftover plum pudding!
Chance goes begging! Hussey could have gone there, Herath got the edge, Sangakkara didn't get close, popped off his pad up in the air, and first slip couldn't grab it, either. Next ball Herath has big shout for LBW turned down, goes for the review ... and misses out again ... just! Jeez he's been unlucky today!
Mathews coming back into the attack, has 1/26 from eight overs to date. Prasad the main wicket-taker with 3/81 from 21. You have to say so far in this match most of the 16 batsmen dismissed have managed to engineer their own demise! Aus. 6/323.
WICKET! Well, we did say if Wade hung around, something would happen. And it did! He's out, hooked Prasad straight down the throat of Eranga at deep fine leg, Australia has lost three for four!
Australia lose three wickets for four runs
Australia lose three quick wickets as Sri Lanka hold their nerve.
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Interesting to see how Hussey and Wade play this. Lead is 159, plenty of time left obviously, but hard to see Wade hanging around too long without some action happening.
WICKET! Now Watson's gone, and Australia yet again loses another wicket quickly. Ball from Prasad was short outside off, too high and wide to pull, but Watto gambled and lost, hitting it straight down Samaraweera's throat at mid-wicket. What a waste of all that hard work! He's gone for 83 from 198 balls with eight boundaries.
Hussey the new man, and a challenge for Watson, too. He's 82 not out, but how often in recent times have we seen one Australian wicket follow another in quick succession? Aus. 4/312.
WICKET! Pretty unexpectedly, Clarke is gone! Flashed at Eranga, and skipper Jayawardene takes a sharp chance above his head at second slip. His 106 took 187 balls, with 14 boundaries. The partnership with Watson was worth 194 runs.
Lovely drive from Watson for four, almost his signature shot, that. He moves into the 80s. Run rate is climbing. Aus. 3/310.
And there's the 300 up for the batting side. Pretty measured, from 516 balls at a rate of 3.48. The lead is now 144. ... make that 148, as Clarke just swivels and pulls Prasad through mid-wicket.
That will be the drinks break, as the cheers continue for Clarke. Australia's lead is 142 runs, with the 300 nearly up and this pair getting close to a 200-run stand. Aus. 3/298.
And there's the 100 for the skipper! That's his fifth for this year, this one less imposing than others, but still very effective. The ton came up in 181 balls with 13 boundaries, a fitting end to an amazing year of batting. Clarke's 22nd Test hundred, with many, many more to come you'd think.
Clarke century
Michael Clarke notches his 22nd career Test century and first at the MCG.
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Prasad into the attack now, Herath had just the one over with the new ball, not the spinner's go. He's looked SL's best chance of a breakthrough today, and boy, do they need one now. Clarke closing in on the ton, he's 94, Aus. 3/292.
Four runs from the first over with new ball, Herath continuing though, might get a bit more bounce. Has bowled well today without much luck at all. Aus. 3/285.
Here comes the new ball. It's going to be Eranga with the new cherry, just two slips in with little encouragement in the track, can he produce something ... anything?
Lovely drive from Clarke off Dilshan for four, moves into the 80s, runs coming more freely since lunch. And there's another lucky break for Clarke! Gets thick edge to Herath straight between keeper and slip for another boundary! Aus. 3/280.
150 partnership comes up, we seem to have spent much of it talking about neither batsman looking near their peak, but pretty hard to argue with that many runs on the board! New ball only a couple of overs away, can't come soon enough for a bowling side starting to look out of ideas.
Clarke stepping up a gear, hoiks Herath away off leg for a boundary to move into the 70s. Australian lead moves past 100. Herath raps Clarke on the pads, appeals for LBW, turned down. Thought briefly about an appeal, but wisely didn't go on with it, was well outside off and down the track a fair way. Aus. 3/258.
Part-time spinner Dilshan coming in for a trundle, not a great sign for the visitors. Straight away, Clarke cracks him through covers for four to bring up the 250 for Australia.
No post-lunch problems for the batsmen yet. Prasad, like his countrymen, hasn't bowled badly, but there's not a lot there to really have Clarke or Watson in strife, and while both have looked a lot better than right now, they're doing well enough to have reached 60-odd and added about 130. Plenty of batsman around who wouldn't mind looking that scratchy!
Ready to go again here in session two. Watson, looking a little inconvenienced in his movement at the crease of late, will be on strike, Prasad is the bowler, Australian lead 82 and rising. Play ball, gentlemen!
LUNCH SCORE: Australia 3/238 (Clarke 56*, Watson 60*)
And that will be lunch, folks! Was a battle at times for the batsmen, but Watson and Clarke are still there, having added 88 for this session from 30 overs. The Australian lead is up to 82. What will it be by stumps, 250, 300? Join us back here at Blog Central in about half-an-hour to find out!
Aussies tighten the screws
Australia put on 88 runs without losing a wicket in the first session of day two at the MCG.
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And there's a bit of history! That single not only takes Clarke to 56, but past Ricky Ponting as Australia's highest-ever run-scorer in a calendar year with an amazing 1545. That's in 11 Tests, 18 innings, with four big tons and four 50s at an astonishing average of more than 110!
Eventful over from Herath there! First Clarke might have been stumped, tough chance for Sangakkara who got balked by a late deflection, then Watson steers one in and out of Jayawardene's hands at slip. Needed both of them, SL. Aus. 3/235.
Prasad back into the attack now after Mathews' spell, Clarke immediately bunts him for two. Welegedara's injury is a nightmare for Sri Lanka, an attack already looking thin is being stretched to breaking point, as the lead grows to 75. Aus. 3/231
Fifty for Watson! Lovely pull to mid-wicket from Mathews, half-century has taken 121 balls with six boundaries and a six. Not one of the great knocks, but he's still there good confidence booster for a man who needs it!
Fifty for Clarke! Got some glove to that ball from Mathews, and races to fine leg boundary. Half-century came from 101 balls. And that's also the 100 partnership. Starting to tick over nicely now for the Aussies.
Six for Watson, barely seemed to touch it! Great timing. A race to 50 on here, Watson 45, Clarke 46, Aus. 3/213. Much more confident stroke play these last 15 minutes.
Aussie finding their rhythm
Watson goes big against Sri Lankan spinner Herath.
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Watson still not quite there, but starting to find a few more gaps, these two closing in on the 100 partnership and Clarke closing in on 50. Aussie lead is now 51.
Good short delivery from Eranga, scones Clarke on the helmet, and goes for leg byes. Now four byes, as Eranga hurls one back at Clarke to the boundary rope! Costly aggression there! That will be the first drinks break of the day, Australia 3/197, have added 47 this morning. Players will have a sip of a sports drink we're not gracing with a free plug, I'll have a cuppa and two Monte Carlos thanks, Jeeves!
This is it folks, over the top ... so says Clarke, channeling Doc Neeson and The Angels, and lofting Herath for four. Neither batsman right on top with their timing yet, but starting to feel more confident about opening the shoulders. Aus. 3/187.
That was the nearest thing so far! Nice ball from Eranga, Watson jams down and gets the classic French cut. Bit of luck there. Aus. 3/180.
Stephen Samuelson: "A lot of people talking about it, past bowlers in particular, have got no idea of the workload of some of the guys."
So says former captain Ricky Ponting on critics of Australia's controversial rotation policy. Read more.
And that's the 50 partnership. Has taken a fair while, from 147 deliveries, but Watson and Clarke needed to steady the ship, and they have. Aus. 3/169.
That's the best shot of the day! Watson just leans into a full-pitched ball from Eranga and steers it along the ground back past the bowler for four. That should help his confidence. Aus. 3/166.
Herath coming into the attack now to replace Prasad. Big problems for skipper Jayawardene now, no regular keeper, and losing an opening bowler, spinner needs to strike early or this could get ugly pretty quickly. You need danger money to be a paceman these days given the attrition rate!
Woops .. trouble for Welegedara here, pulls up quickly after delivery, looks like he's pinged a hamstring! Well, at least the bowling injuries are being shared around! Big blow for Sri Lanka, he'd bowled a nice line this morning. It's going to be Eranga to finish the over.
Blow for Sri Lanka ... fast bowler Chanaka Welgedara is off to hospital for scans on an injured hamstring. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo
Only eight runs added in the first five overs this morning, close shave for Watson there, too, padded up outside off to Welegedara and survived a half-shout for LBW. Aussies trying to play themselves in for the long haul today. Aus. 3/158.
Second maiden from Welegedera, has found a nice line thus far, couple of nice leaves from Clarke, one of which didn't miss his castle by all that much! Watson pushes another single off Prasad, Clarke returns the favour, just knocking them around for ones and twos so far, rotating the strike.
A single to get Clarke off the mark, a two to Watson, the all-rounder very solid in defence. Nothing too threatening in the track, or the bowling for that matter, big chance for some big scores here!
First over passes without incident, bowler finding a line outside off, Watson playing him comfortably, watchful to start. It's a maiden, Aus. still 3/150, Clarke to face his first ball of the day from Prasad, who's coming in from the members end.
And here we go on day two! It's the left-armer Welegedera to open things up with Shane Watson on strike, unbeaten on 13. Watson started to look more comfortable late yesterday, let's see if he can keep it up this morning!
The debate about the bowling rotation policy (sorry, Pup!) continues apace, those in favour temporarily boldened by Jackson Bird's more-than-handy debut yesterday. Seem to recall that happening early in the third Test against South Africa in Perth, too, with the popular view having changed plenty once the visitors had racked up 569 in the second dig!
The weather here in Melbourne is fine again, with a hotter top of 32 degrees forecast. There is a change tipped for late afternoon, but at this stage we're in for a full day's play again, and another good crowd expected to roll in after that bumper Boxing Day turnout of more than 67,000.
Good morning, everyone. RC in the chair here at Blog Central to take you through the second day's play of the second Test at the MCG, Australia looking to cash in on its dominance of day one. Having rolled Sri Lanka for a paltry 156, the home side is just six runs behind that tally already with seven first innings wickets still in hand. There were a few flutters late in proceedings with the three wickets lost quickly, and skipper Clarke and Watson both surviving dropped chances, but having had those breaks, the Aussies will be looking for a long day at the crease and an insurmountable first innings lead.
Aussie hold the whip hand after first day of Melbourne Test
Australia in control having bowled Sri Lanka out for 156 on day one of the MCG Test.
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Boxing Day Test: Day one highlights
Mitchell Johnson sends down a thunderbolt. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo
Rohan Connolly's summary of the first day's play
WHAT HAPPENED: Australia stamped its authority on proceedings very early after Sri Lanka had won the toss and batted, debutant Bird grabbing the first wicket in only his second over, Johnson following suit. Sangakkara revived the visitors' hopes with a commanding half-century, but once he went hope evaporated, and the batsmen continued to get themselves out to overly-ambitious shots. Sri Lanka lost its last seven wickets for just 77 to be dismissed for 156. Warner and Cowan then got off to a flier, knocking off the first 95 in cracking time. Warner got himself out, Hughes ran himself out, and Cowan went soon after, but Clarke and Watson steadied the ship in the final hour, Australia at stumps trailing by only six runs with seven wickets in hand.
WHAT IT MEANS: Pretty hard to see anything other than a big Australian win coming up here, with all the time in the world to build a big first innings lead before dismissing Sri Lanka a second time. Watson looked in better touch the longer he hung around, Clarke is capable of adding anything to his amazing 1500-plus runs this calendar year, with Hussey, Wade and Johnson still to come in the quest for runs. Sri Lanka would need to strike early and often tomorrow morning to work itself into this contest, but it has only itself to blame, and some irresponsible top-order batting.
