Australia’s tired bowlers will be given a chance to put their feet up after securing a 2-0 series victory with another solid performance in Hobart

Cricinfo staff20-Nov-2007

Matthew Hayden congratulates a weary Brett Lee on taking the match-winning wicket © Getty Images
Australia’s tired bowlers will be given a chance to put their feet up after securing a 2-0 series triumph with another solid performance in Hobart. The fast menhad to work hard over three days on a flat pitch andthey eventually dismissed Sri Lanka for 410 to securethe 96-run win and Australia’s 14th consecutive Test victory.Despite Kumar Sangakkara’s excellent 192, RickyPonting never feared a loss on the final day, and hewanted his players to use the break before nextmonth’s Chappell-Hadlee Series to recover from thestrain of back-to-back Tests. “The important thing,especially for the bowlers given the work they’ve doneover the last couple of weeks, is there’s a goodopportunity for a few guys to put their feet up for awhile and start on their recovery work and rehab,” hesaid.Andrew Symonds did not field in the game due to anankle sprain while Stuart MacGill has five weeks toregain fitness after struggling with a nagging kneeproblem. MacGill, who also suffered from hand numbnesson day three, picked up the wicket of Farveez Maharoofwith a short ball and was unable to maintain aconsistent length.”It all rests with Stuey and his fitness,” Pontingsaid of MacGill’s future. “No doubt he has carried afew things through this game with his finger and hisknee giving him a few troubles. He has got a few weeksto get his body in the best shape he possibly can.”MacGill, who had knee surgery last month, will havetwo Pura Cup matches to prove he can last through theIndia series, which includes two sets of back-to-backTests. “It’s up to everyone back in New South Walesand probably the Australian physio Alex Kountouris tokeep a pretty close eye on him and see how his body is progressing for Boxing Day,” Ponting said. “I was pretty impressed with what he did in Brisbane and in the first innings here he bowled reasonably well. If he gets his body right and he’s fit then he will probably be the No. 1-choice spinner.”Australia chose to hold on to the old ball for much ofthe morning session and the decision sparked acollapse of 5 for 25 as Sri Lanka’s faint hopes ofwinning ended. “We held back taking the new one,”Ponting said. “We had a chat to the bowlers and theyfelt we should stick with the old ball for a littlewhile. If we got one wicket with that it would be hardfor the new batters coming in to start against that reverse-swinging ball. We got one early and Mitchell Johnson got a couple in an over, so that probably went exactly to script.”