Australia hope to avoid losing record
Cricinfo's preview of the third ODI between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Gabba
Match Facts
Start time 13.20 local (02.20 GMT)
The Big Picture
In the blue corner is Sri Lanka, the happiest team in the world, the one deservedly still celebrating their first series victory Down Under. Slumped in the really blue corner is Australia, the side trying to avoid setting their worst losing streak in history. It is usually the touring teams that feel this low here, but the faded green and golds have lost their sheen. And the Ashes starts in 19 days.Form guide
(most recent first)Australia LLLWW
Sri Lanka WWWWL
Watch out for...
Shane Watson looked on the verge of something significant in Sydney before missing a sweep off Muttiah Muralitharan. Now that Watson is a senior player, his team needs him to come off regularly at the top of the order. If that happens the chances of another loss decrease significantly. After chipping in with two wickets at the SCG, he should also enjoy the conditions in Brisbane, his former home.Team news
With Ricky Ponting heading to Shield cricket to practice his hook shot, Australia should bring in Callum Ferguson for his first ODI since he hurt his knee in the 2009 Champions Trophy final. Given the conditions in Brisbane, it is unlikely Xavier Doherty will return, but John Hastings could be a chance to replace one of the fast bowlers.Pitch and conditions
In the previous game at the Gabba, Queensland were dismissed for 75 and 96 to end the Sheffield Shield fixture in two days. There has been some more sun around this week but it will still be a wicket for the bowlers. A shower or two is forecast for Brisbane on Sunday, with a top temperature of 26.Stats and trivia
- Some good news for Australia: they have never lost a match to Sri Lanka at the Gabba. That includes two Tests and ODIs in 2003 and 2006
- In six ODIs at the ground, Muralitharan has 12 wickets at an average of 17.66, including 4 for 27 against Australia in 2003. Nathan Hauritz has one victim in two games and has gone for 115 runs
- Michael Clarke has led Australia in 17 ODIs, winning 12 and losing five. Two of his five centuries have come while in charge, and his average of 47.78 is four runs better than when he's not the leader
Quotes
"It's about time we got back to playing the brand of cricket we know we are capable of and if we do that I am sure we will win some games."Ricky Ponting sends out a challenge before leaving the squad
Kumar Sangakkara
Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo