Live cricket commentary: Australia v Sri Lanka - 1st ODI, Melbourne - Sydney Morning Herald

4:00pm: Much-maligned skipper Bailey has rocketed along to 25 off 27. He's got a bat sponsorship with the illustrious maker Gray-Nicolls, so he can't be all that bad, can he?

3:52pm: Hughes brings up the hundred for Australia, who are well placed to make at least 250.

3:47pm: Take that, Channel 9. George "B-team" Bailey drives classically to the boundary.

3:41pm: Almost another run out, Bailey makes his ground by the skin of his teeth, and only because of a wayward throw. Wry smiles all round on the MCG.

3:33pm: Drinks are on the field. Is it just me, or are those Gatorade drink carriers getting bigger every season? Fair dinkum, you could fit a Sheffield Shield crowd in them.

3:24pm: Oh no, Hughes is involved in another run-out. Khawaja on his way after being sent back by his partner while attempting a quick single. There goes Khawaja's hopes of a dream ODI debut. Cricket's a cruel game sometimes.

3:16pm: No one in this Australian team would love a win more than Uzi Khawaja, whose Sydney Thunder finished stone motherless in the BBL this season, failing to win a match. At least his finished the season with his face in one piece, unlike poor old Marlon Samuels.

3:05pm: Mendis comes into the attack and strikes almost immediately removing Finch, who never looked comfortable at the crease despite debuting at his home ground.

2:59pm: Hughes brings up a half-century opening partnership with a cracking cut shot that most of us can only dream about.

2:48pm: Channel 9 complain about Australia's co-called B team, yet throw James Brayshaw into their commentary team! I'm sure James is a lovely fella and all, but where has he been all summer?

2:44pm: Finch and Hughes are now positively racing along at 0-28 off 6.1 That's more like it!

2:40pm: 0-17 off 5 ... Hughes and Finchy truly are the new Boon and Marsh, minus the facial hair and drinking prowess.

2:35pm: Macksville NSW roars as one as Hughes finds the boundary again. Macksville Qld often does the same during State of Origin rugby league.

2:33pm: Meanwhile, back at the MCG, Australia are crawling along at 0-6 off 3.1 overs. Hang on, Hughes has just broken the shackles with a boundary off Malinga. That'll bring the crowds back.

2:31pm: Speaking of women's cricket, NSW captain Alex Blackwell smashed 135 not out against Western Australia in her team’s innings of 331 today. Has there been a better AB in cricket since Allan Robert Border?

2:27pm: If Aaron Finch needs any inspiration, he need look no further than fellow Victorian Sarah "Supermum" Elliott, who scored an unconquered 57 in the Women’s National Cricket League semi-final against Queensland today just two months after giving birth.

2:24pm: Cautious start from Australia's new-look opening partnership ... 0-1 from 1 over. Reminds me of the Boon-Marsh days!

2:22pm: Now it's the turn of Macksville's favourite son Phillip Hughes. That's Mackville NSW, not Macksville, Qld, where Greg Inglis comes from!

2:21pm: Aaron Finch faces the first ball from Nuwan Kulasekara and gets off the mark straight away with a single. That'll do his nerves the world of good.

2:04pm: Is anyone aware there is an ODI in Melbourne today? I see a lot more empty seats than people at this stage.

Most Melbourne AFL clubs get a bigger crowd to training than this.

1:58pm: Good afternoon cricket fans, welcome to our live blog of the opening match of the Australia v Sri Lanka ODI series.

Australia have won the toss and elected to bat.