Australia’s century-making machine Mike Hussey says he expects Sri Lanka to show plenty of fight after being cornered by the home side on day two of the first Test in Hobart.
Sri Lanka will resume on Sunday’s third day of play in a terrible position at 4-87 in reply to Australia’s 5-450 declared, which was powered by Hussey’s unbeaten 115 and skipper Michael Clarke’s 74.
Clarke and Hussey added 106 for the fifth wicket before Hussey and Matthew Wade (68 not out) shared an unbroken partnership of 146.
Clarke’s declaration before tea caught the tourists on the hop, and by stumps they had lost second-gamer Dimuth Karunaratne (14), Kumar Sangakkara (four), skipper Mahela Jayawardene (12) and Thilan Samaraweera – who fell for seven on the last ball of the day.
Tillakaratne Dilshan is unbeaten on 50.
Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson and spinner Nathan Lyon have one wicket each.
“You get Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Samaraweera out, they’re guys that can make big scores and they can play in tough conditions extremely well,” Hussey said.
“So I think we’re in a fantastic position but I think we’ve still got a a lot of hard work to go.”
Play will start 30 minutes early at 10am on Sunday following a series of rain interruptions on Saturday.
Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford says Hussey at 37 is showing he has a few good years left, having scored three centuries in his past four Tests and five hundreds in six Tests against Sri Lanka.
However the tourists are taking heart in Dilshan’s form and fighting spirit.
“Dilshan has shown if you get yourself into good positions you can handle what’s coming your way,” Ford said.
“It’s still going to take a lot of character and a big fight (on Sunday).
“We were probably in the game up until that partnership between Clarke and Hussey. That started to take it away from us a little bit.”