Sri Lanka ask Australia to bat in final Test

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan won the toss and sent Australia in to bat in the third and final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Friday.

The start was delayed by 30 minutes due to heavy early morning rain that left wet patches on the outfield.

Australia, who lead the series 1-0, made two changes from the side that drew the second Test in Pallekele earlier this week. Injured fast bowler Ryan Harris and middle-order batsman Usman Khawaja were left out as former captain Ricky Ponting and seamer Peter Siddle returned to the team.

Sri Lanka, hoping for a series-levelling win in Kumar Sangakkara's 100th Test appearance, axed batsman Thilan Samaraweera, off-spinner Suraj Randiv and leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna. They were replaced by batsman Lahiru Thirumanne, debutant seamer Shaminda Eranga and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Trent Copeland, Nathan Lyon.

Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar
Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Prasanna Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Suranga
Lakmal, Chanaka Welegedara, Lahiru Thirumanne, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga.