REPLAY: Day two of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Sri Lanka at the MCG
VIDEO: RE-LIVE the live coverage of day two of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Sri Lanka at the MCG.
RE-LIVE the live coverage of day two of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Sri Lanka at the MCG.
5.40pm AEDT - AUS 8/440 AT STUMPS
Another huge day for the Australians, who went into day two at 3/150, just six shy of Sri Lanka's first innings total of 156.
Michael Clarke was the hero again, bringing up his first Boxing Day century before being dismissed for 106.
The Australian skipper also surpassed Ricky Ponting's record for most Test runs in a calendar year.
Shane Watson missed another chance at a century, out to loose shot for 83.
Mitchell Johnson then came in and played a real batsman's innings, and will resume tomorrow on 73 not out, with Nathan Lyon yet to get off the mark, but having already survived some brutal short stuff.
Australia's lead is 284 runs.
Join us again for day three.
5.28pm AEDT - AUS 8/434
WICKET!
Siddle's gone - and it's another sharp catch by the Sri Lankans.
Eranga's got him edging off the back foot and Mahela Jayawardene flies to his left from second slip to take the catch with two hands around head height.
5.25pm AEDT - AUS 7/432
Closing in on stumps and Johnson and Siddle are thinking about sticking around for tomorrow.
Johnson's on 65 and will definitely be thinking this is a great opportunity to score a second Test ton.
5.10pm AEDT - AUS 7/418
Mitchell Johnson on 61 not out. It's his seventh fifty and he may well be thinking he can add a second Test century to the list, following his 123 not out against South Africa in 2009.
He also got an unbeaten 96 against the Proteas.
Can bat, this bloke.
4.58pm AEDT - AUS 7/407
FIFTY!
Mitchell Johnson again proves how handy he is to have down the order, bringing up the half ton off 93 balls.
Australia's lead has gone past 250 and the chances are they won't have to bat again now.
4.45pm AEDT - AUS 7/401
Mitchell Johnson approaching 50 and Peter Siddle up seven as Australia's tail wags.
Johnson's 46 has included four fours - including a slash over the slips - and has come off 88 balls.
4.22pm AEDT - AUS 7/376
WHAT A CATCH!
Herath takes an absolute screamer to remove Mike Hussey.
Hussey goes for the big slog to long on and Herath rounds the boundary and sticks out the left hand - and somehow it sticks as he falls to the ground.
Huss is gone for 34 and Herath finally gets the luck he's been searching for all day.
"Herath Hanga" at the G. Cyril Rioli would have been proud of his ground coverage + Ball skills.Great catchMr Cricket gone#ausvsl
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) December 27, 2012
4.06pm AEDT - AUS 6/364
Very tidy period from the Sri Lankans, with spinners Herath and Dilshan working in tandem.
Both Hussey and Johnson on 25.
3.45pm AEDT - AUS 6/350
Both Hussey and Johnson playing a few shots.
A nice square drive for four for Hussey and a number of threes for both players.
Lead approaching 200.
3.30pm AEDT
Back after tea for the last session of day two. Johnson likes to throw the bat so could be some fireworks.
Herath has been bowling well without any luck at all.
Perhaps he'll clean up the tail.
3.10pm AEDT - AUS 6/332 AT TEA
Strong fightback from Sri Lanka in the session, removing Michael Clarke (106), Shane Watson (83) and Matthew Wade (1).
Unfortunately for them, the damage may have already been done, with Australia going into the tea break leading by 175 runs.
The not out batsmen are Mike Hussey on seven and Mitchell Johnson on 11.
3.05pm AEDT - AUS 6/324
So much bad luck for Herath.
Another dropped chance of sorts. This time off Hussey through to Sangakkara, who gets his body in the way and the ball flies high and just out of reach of the first slip coming forward.
Then, next ball, a close lbw shout. It's given not out but there's a review. Replay shows it was just clipping leg, but that's not enough to get decision overturned.
Herath could have had four-fer. He has none-fer.
2.58pm AEDT - AUS 6/323
Australia's lead out to 167 - already more than Sri Lanka's first innings of 156.
Hussey and Johnson can bat.
The pain is far from over for the visitors - but it could have been much worse.
Three quick wickets have saved their blushes.
2.43pm AEDT - AUS 6/315
WICKET!
The Sri Lankans have taken three for four.
Matty Wade is out hooking, finding Eranga at fine leg - caught with his elbows, almost - off the bowling of Prasad.
Wade got one.
Hussey is on two. Johnson the new man at the crease.
2.34pm AEDT - AUS 5/313
WICKET!
Shortly after his skipper departed, Shane Watson follows for 83.
Watson's gone for the big pull shot off Prasad, but only manages to top edge it to Samaraweera at deep square.
His Test ton drought continues.
Hussey and Wade in the middle.
Shane Watson hates scoring 100s. There's no other explanation. #anotherTonThrownAway
— Joe Barton (@joebarto) December 27, 2012
2.26pm AEDT - AUS 4/311
WICKET!
Finally, some joy for Sri Lanka as the prolific Michael Clarke is dismissed after making his maiden Boxing Day ton.
He's out for 106, slashing at a widish one from Eranga. The ball finds the edge and then the hands of Jayawardene at second slip.
Here's the wicket. And you can see the others in the interactive scoreboard.
2.23pm AEDT - AUS 3/310
Watson to 81 with a cracking drive through mid-off.
Can he follow the leader to triple figures?
You know he gets in the 90s...
2.10pm AEDT - AUS 3/298
CENTURY!
He's done it again.
Michael Clarke scores his fifth century of a golden year that has included three double tons and a triple.
The shot to bring it up was a perfectly controlled pull shot off Prasad that flew to the fine leg boundary.
Pup throws both arms in the air after earlier in the over punching his bat in frustration at failing to put away a juicy half volley.
It's his first ever Boxing Day Test ton. Surely not his last.
Huge 181-run partnership with his vice-captain so far.
Watson is on 75.
Pup has 200 runs to go to break Mohammad Yousuf's all-time record for most runs in a calendar year - 1788 in 2006.
Can he possibly get there?
Wow @mclarke23 , you legend!! Admire the hunger for runs. #Cricket9 #AUSvSL
— slats (@mjslats) December 27, 2012
2.07pm AEDT - AUS 3/292
Clarke has not scored a "regular" century this year. Of his four tons, three have been doubles and the other a triple.
1.57pm AEDT - AUS 3/285
Sri Lanka have taken the new ball.
Clarke's 10 away from the ton - which would be his first in an MCG Test.
1.49pm AEDT - AUS 3/278
More bad luck for Herath.
This time he gets a genuine edge from Clarke that pierces the gap between keeper and first slip.
And it goes for four.
Clarke to 87. Watson on 68.
1.35pm AEDT - AUS 3/261
Aussies cruising. Clarke on 75 and Watson 63.
Pup's never made a Test hundred at the MCG, believe it or not.
His highest score here is 88 not out against South Africa in 2008.
He's also gone past Sachin Tendulkar on the list for most runs in a calendar year.
Mohammad Yousuf is No. 1 on 1788, followed by Viv Richards (1710) and Graeme Smith (1656).
Clarke is next best, on 1564 and counting.
1.19pm AEDT - AUS 3/245
Getting up towards a 100-run lead for Australia less than halfway through day two.
Clarke will be thinking the Aussies only have to bat once.
Do we think Watson will break through and get a ton today? October, 2010 was his last of just two in his 38-Test career.
1.03pm AEDT
Back from lunch in a bit.
To read more about Clarke's latest record, click here.
For the best pics of day two, check out the gallery.
Send a tweet about the day's play to @cam_tomarchio and we'll give it a run on this page.
12.30pm AEDT - AUS 3/238 AT LUNCH
Action-packed end to the second morning, with two missed chances off the bowling of Herath, and Clarke breaking another record in his amazing 2012.
Aussies in complete control at the break, with Watson on 60 and Clarke 56.
And the Sri Lankans are a bowler down, after Welegedara left the ground with an apparent hamstring injury.
12.26pm AEDT - AUS 3/236
PUP BREAKS PUNTER'S RECORD
With a clip through mid-wicket, Clarke has broken Ricky Ponting's record for most Test runs by an Australian in a calendar year.
Ponting amassed 1544 runs in 2005.
Clarke raised the bat as he broke the record and received a handshake from Watson.
He's averaging well over 100 this year. Yep, that's Bradmanesque. You know it.
12.24pm AEDT - AUS 3/235
MISSED STUMPING AND DROPPED CATCH IN SAME OVER
Herath will be fuming.
First he should have had Michael Clarke out stumped for 54 after beating him in flight, and nutmegging him - but Sangakkara couldn't hold onto the tough chance behind the stumps.
Then, in the same over, captain Mahela Jayawardene dropped Watson at first slip. Watson was attempting a late cut but it flew to Jayawardene at waist height.
12.16pm AEDT - AUS 3/231
Tidy couple of overs from the Sri Lankans, including a maiden from Herath.
114-run partnership between this pair now.
12.03pm - AUS 3/224
FIFTY!
Watson gets his half century, and with a beautiful pull shot in front of square for four.
Can he go on with it and get his first Test ton since 2010?
His 50 has come off 121 balls, with six fours and a six.
11.57am AEDT - AUS 3/219
FIFTY!
Clarke brings up the half ton is less than convincing fashion, going for the hook and catching the glove on its way to the fine leg fence.
The knock has taken 101 balls, and featured seven fours.
Watson (46) is nearing the half century too, after hitting Herath down the ground for a six with nothing more than a push.
11.48am AEDT - AUS 3/207
Watson looking far more composed now, especially when he gets that big stride in and looks to hit down the ground.
He's moved to 39 and Clarke 46.
Pup only needs 10 more runs to surpass Ricky Ponting's record for most runs in a calendar year by an Australian.
11.32am AEDT - AUS 3/197
PUP STRUCK ON THE HELMET
No hint of a smile this time.
Eranga digs in a nasty short one and it hits Clarke flush on the helmet, dislodging it slightly.
Two balls later, and Clarke punches one back toward the bowler, who decides to pelt it back at the stumps/batsman but misses his target considerably and it flies down the leg side for four overthrows.
All happening.
11.26am AEDT - AUS 3/187
Now Clarke is laughing after a runout chance. He had to stretch the hammy to get home this time - and it was a direct hit - but he saw the funny side.
So relaxed. Remarkable.
He's started taking on Herath as well, lifting the spinner for a four through mid-on.
11.15am AEDT - AUS 3/174
Ooh, almost another injury for Sri Lanka. Eranga tried to stick his boot out to stop a Watson straight drive that was hammered back at him, and it struck him in the ankle.
Eranga immediately starting hopping. Fortunately for him, it was the last ball of the over so he has time to let it settle down.
Clarke's hammy looking OK so far, by the way.
11am AEDT - AUS 3/161
WELEGEDARA LEAVES THE FIELD
Another bowler has gone down.
This time it is Sri Lanka's Chanaka Welegedara, who pulled up with an apparent hamstring complaint.
He's left the field and the task just got a whole lot harder for the tourists.
Sri Lanka are already without keeper Prasanna Jayawardene, who fractured his thumb while batting yesterday.
10.55am AEDT - AUS 3/161
I take back what I said about both batsmen looking relaxed out there.
Pup is, no doubt about it. He's just started laughing again after hitting one on the toe of the bat for three.
But Watson is nervous. He knows he needs a big dig and that it's been too long between tons for a player of his calibre.
Loving the contrast in body language. Speaks volumes.
10.46am AEDT - AUS 3/156
Impressive start with the ball for Sri Lanka, keeping the pressure on both batsmen and crucially not bowling anything loose.
An interesting battle out there.
10.32am AEDT - AUS 3/150
A maiden to start the day from Welegedara to Watson. Every ball he had to play. We did not see one over that good from the Sri Lankans yesterday, so that's a good sign for them.
Both Watson and Clarke look very relaxed out there, having a bit of a laugh between deliveries.
10.20am AEDT
Ten minutes away from play now. Don't forget to send your tweets throughout the day to @cam_tomarchio or leave your comments below.
9.45am AEDT
It was a hectic day yesterday, with 13 wickets falling and more than 300 runs scored, but Michael Clarke and Shane Watson will be out to settle this match down when the Australians resume this morning at 3/150.
The focus will be on whether Pup (20 not out) will be able to continue his golden run with the bat, and whether Watson (13 not out) can end his lean trot.
Watson has not scored a Test half century since April, and his last Test ton came way back in October, 2010.
The Sri Lankans were rolled for 156 on a good batting deck yesterday, and the Australians were cruising in reply before losing three quick wickets.
Mitchell Johnson was the chief destroyer for Australia, taking 4/63, while Jackson Bird also made his mark, with figures of 2/32 on debut.
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