
3:50pm: Another boundary and wide from that over. It's the new monotamy monotony.
This one less than convincing by Bailey as the slash at a wide on just clears Jayawardene at second slip and just beats Ajantha Mendis to the fence.
The good news is that Australia have seen on the fast men and now the part-timers are on - Lasith Malinga. Part-time cricketer that is.

3:39pm: We have our first boundary and first extra of the match. What an over!
A nice-on drive from Bailey delivers the four while Mathews little slip down leg side constitutes the other run.
3:35pm: Despite the run rate being less than two an over, there has yet to be a maiden. Yet again, there has not been a scoring shot worth more than two.
I have icons to use for fours and sixes, please let me use them. At this rate I won't even use the 100 icon.
Hussey gets a two from the over and Australia are 2/16 from nine overs (Bailey 5*, Hussey 3*).
3:30pm: Kulasekara has 1-6 from four overs, but he can bat too. Remember the 73 from 40-odd balls in the final agaisnt Australia last summer?
The man who got him on that occasion was David Hussey. Kulasekara has a chance to return the favour here.
Australia 2-14 after eight overs. (Bailey 5*, Hussey 1*).

3:26pm: Well, well, well, trouble for Australia.
Phillip Hughes gone! Nuwan Kulasekara got one thump into the pads and Hughes is given out LBW. The Australians review it, as you do when the ball pitches in line and is going to smash into middle stump.
Australia 2-12 and no reviews left.
3:20pm: And just two runs off that over, too. A lucky lob over cover by Bailey that Jeevan Mendis gets a hand on, but the Australian skipper escapes.
If this monotamy of scoring continues, I am going to hire Homer Simpson's wooden bird to do the commentary.
Australia 0/11 (Bailey 4*, Hughes 3*) after six overs.
3:17pm: Bailey and Hughes, who batted so well together in Melbourne, now have to consolidate.
The first four over of the innings each cost two runs, the fifth is down to one.
Australia 0-9 (Bailey 2*, Hughes 3*)

3:12pm: Both opening batsmen taking their time here. There is a bit of swing about. And as I type this Aaron Finch lobs an outswinger from Mathews to BMAJ Mendis at short cover, and he is on his way for four.
Australia 1/8 (Bailey 1*, Hughes 3*) after four overs.

3:06pm: The first sign of real aggression by Finch. He launches a pull shot over square leg but does not quite get a hold of it. Good fielding on the boundary restricts it to two runs and that's the total damage to Sri Lanka in this over.
Australia 0-6 (Finch 4*, Hughes 2*) after three overs.
3:03pm: A quiet over between the wickets with a couple of easy singles for both batsmen.
Australia 0-4 after two overs (Hughes 2*, Finch 2*).

2:58pm: More running between the wicket woes ... Phil Hughes would have been run out for a diamond duck if the throw from point had either hit the stumps or connected with the keeper.
Kulasekara getting a bit of swing. Australia 0/2 after one over.
2:54pm: Stay tuned ... play about to start. It's still a 50-over affair.
Commentary box news: Chappelli is here and so is James Brayshaw who enjoyed so much fan mail when 'Sonny' Phil Mitchell was in the chair on Friday.
Aaron Finch facing first-up

2:52pm: The great Chloe Saltau reports from Adelaide:
Mitchell Johnson is Australia's latest fast bowling casualty while Usman Khawaja has been dropped from the one-day team after just one game.
Johnson joined fellow left-armer Mitchell Starc on the sidelines with a "niggle" but acting captain George Bailey did not elaborate on his injury at the toss, which Sri Lanka won, opting to bowl first in damp conditions at Adelaide Oval.
In the absence of Starc and Johnson, Queensland paceman Ben Cutting and South Australian quick Kane Richardson will make their debuts.
Australia has unveiled five ODI debutants in two games, follow the first games of Phillip Hughes, Aaron Finch and Khawaja in the series-opener on Friday.
Khawaja was run out for three from 11 balls and was immediately replaced by Steve Smith, a curious decision given he plays a similar role to both David Hussey and Glenn Maxwell.
The selectors have asked Khawaja to improve his running between the wickets and would not have enjoyed his mix-up at the MCG but he is in contention to replace Mike Hussey in the Test team for next month's Test tour of India.
Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 107 runs in the opening match with Hughes becoming the first Australian to make a century on ODI debut.
Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal is out with a hamstring injury and is replaced by Kushal Perera, the tourists' fourth gloveman for the tour.
2:46pm: One other change to the Australian team I neglected to mention was Usman Khawaja has been replaced by Steve Smith II.
Full teams:
Australia: George Bailey (capt), Aaron Finch, Phillip Hughes, David Hussey, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, Ben Cutting, Kane Richardson, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kushal Janith Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis.
2:44pm: Sri Lanka's skipper Mahela Jayawardene has fond memories of the Adelaide Oval. It was at this venue he scored his first ODI ton in 1999 when his 120 helped Sri Lanka chase down England's total of 302. They did it with one wicket and two balls to spare, but the match will forever be remembered for the blow-up between Alec Stewart and Arjuna Ranatunga.
2:37pm: No news just yet on Channel Nine's rotation policy for this match, but it looks like Richie and Bill have been rested again. No sign of Chappelli yet either. Perhaps George Bailey's performance on Frdiay turned him off the 50-over game for good.
Tubby, Slats, Mark Nicholas and Heals, and I think even Adam Gilchrist are in the commentary box for today. Will have that all-important line-up soon.

2:34pm: Good news at last.
Mahela Jayawardene currently called at the toss and has decided to bowl. He his hopeful that Duckworth and Lewis will play their part later in the game.
A blow for Sri Lanka with Dinesh Chandimal out with a hamstring strain and in comes Kushal Perera.
Two new caps also for Australia with Ben Cutting and Kane Richardson making their debuts at the expense of both Mitches, Johnson and Starc, who both miss this game with niggles.
2:23pm: More news. The toss has been delayed again but play is expected to start close to 3pm (AEDT).

2:20pm: Early delay for this afternoon's match. There has been rain. A week ago that occurrence would have been considered as unlikely as Kane Richardson being called up to the national squad.
There is a wet outfield and the toss has been delayed by 15 or so minutes. But play should be underway soon.

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