Australia 97 for 2 at lunch in 1st Sri Lanka Test

HOBART: Australia were 97 for two at lunch after winning the toss on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Hobart on Friday.

David Warner was run out for 57 in the final over before lunch with recalled Phil Hughes on 27 not out.

Australia won the toss and chose to bat on the opening day of the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka at Hobart on Friday.

Skipper Michael Clarke decided to make first use of a greenish Bellerive Oval pitch which is expected to take early life and flatten out over the duration of the five-day match.

It will be the first Test for Australia since Ricky Ponting's retirement after a record-equalling 168 Tests.

Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc was preferred to Mitchell Johnson in the Australian team, while recalled Phil Hughes will bat at number three with Shane Watson in Ponting's place at four.

Rookie Dimuth Karunaratne is due to open the Sri Lankan batting with veteran Tillakaratne Dilshan, while Nuwan Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga and Chanaka Welegedara lead the pace attack.

Australia are coming off a crushing 309-run defeat to lose a three-Test home series against world number one South Africa in Perth.

Sri Lanka have yet to win a Test in Australia at 10 attempts over almost 25 years.

Teams

Australia - David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (capt), Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Lyon. Mitchell Johnson (12th man)

Sri Lanka - Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga, Chanaka Welegedara. (AFP)