Sri Lanka wins toss, bats 1st in 2nd test against Australia; Michael Clarke fit to play

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MELBOURNE, Australia — Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has won the toss and elected to bat in the second test against Australia starting Wednesday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia captain Michael Clarke was on hand for the toss after declaring himself fit after suffering a hamstring strain during the first test at Hobart last week.

Australia made two changes to the side which won the first test by 137 runs, promoting Mitchell Johnson to the starting lineup and handing Jackson Bird his first test cap at the expense of fellow pacemen Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Starc.

Sri Lanka introduced medium-pacer Dhammika Prasad for the injured Nuwan Kulasekara in the only change to its starting XI.

“I’d call myself 100 per cent (fit),” Clarke said during the coin toss. “If I couldn’t have turned up today and performed at my best, I wouldn’t have been playing.”

Jayawardene said the prospect of an excellent wicket prompted his decision.

“Brilliant conditions, looks a great wicket and brilliant weather,” he said.

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Teams:

Australia: Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird. 12th man: Mitchell Starc.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Dhammika Prasad, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga, Chanaka Welegedara. 12th man: Dinesh Chandimal.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Pakistan, and Nigel Llong, England.

TV umpire: Tony Hill, New Zealand. Match referee: Chris Broad, England.

19:00ET 25-12-12