Shaun Marsh play first test against Sri lanka

Pallekele: Batsman Shaun Marsh is expected to make his Test debut for Australia in the second Test against Sri Lanka, replacing former captain Ricky Ponting who has returned home for the birth of his second child.

The 28-year-old Marsh has played 35 one-day internationals and has a healthy 37-run average in first-class cricket.
Marsh, who is accustomed to playing at the top of the batting order, should fill Ponting's No. 3 slot, meaning the team would not have to alter a batting order that performed strongly in the first Test.
Australia won that first Test by 125 runs in the southern city of Galle, and that has put Sri Lanka in a must-win situation in the three-match series if they are to notch only their second-ever series victory over Australia.
Meanwhile, spinner Ajantha Mendis could be recalled and opening bowler Chanaka Welegedara forced out through injury as Sri Lanka ponder changes to their team ahead of the must-win Test.
Sri Lanka's batsmen struggled in Galle, dismissed for 105 in the first innings on pitch rated poor by the match referee.
"All our batsmen know where they fell short but that was not a good pitch," Dilshan said. "Here we have a good pitch for batting, good for Test cricket."
"I hope our batsmen will be back among the runs and be a strength to the team."
The pitch at Pallekele will be novel to both sides, with the Test starting Thursday being just the second on the ground, while the first saw little play due to rain.