Sri Lanka were 80 for two after Australian pacer Jackson Bird struck twice before lunch on the opening day of the third and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Captain Mahela Jayawardene was not out 30 with Lahiru Thirimanne on four.
Sri Lanka are avoiding ar clean sweep at the hands of the Australians, lost the toss and were sent to bat first.
Although the visitors have already lost the series, they have one last chance to register a win in Tests Down Under. Out of the 12 match played so far, Sri Lanka have lost 10, while they have managed to draw the remaining two.
The match will also be Mahela Jayawardene’s last one as captain. He will hand over the reins of Test captaincy to Angelo Mathews following the Test match.
Players from both the teams will be wearing black armbands when they take the field in memory of the late English cricketer-commentator Tony Greig.
Home team captain Michael Clarke vowed to strive for a 3-0 clean sweep in the final Test to give retiring Mike Hussey a fitting send-off. Although a dead rubber, the enthusiasm to sign off on a high will be at the highest for Hussey as well as the rest of the Australian players.
Clarke, who declared himself fit to play, announced a line up containing four fast bowlers. Mitchell Starcreturns after being rested, joining quicks Peter Siddle, Jackson Bird, and MCG man-of-the-match Mitchell Johnson on a green Sydney wicket.
All-rounder Glenn Maxwell was named 12th man, while Usman Khawaja missed out.
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