03 November,2010 09:03 AM IST | | Agencies
Australia won the toss and elected to bat against Sri Lanka in their opening one-day international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
The Australians, who have lost their last five international games, will give Tasmanian left-arm orthodox spinner Xavier Doherty his ODI debut.
But Australia will be without skipper Ricky Ponting, who is attending a family funeral in Tasmania. Michael Clarke will lead the team in his absence.
Sri Lanka thrashed Australia by seven wickets in the latest Twenty20 match in Perth on Sunday, which was Australia's first home defeat in 11 T20 matches.
Top-ranked Australia have beaten the fourth-ranked Sri Lanka nine times in their last 11 ODI encounters.
Teams
Australia: Michael Clarke (captain), Brad Haddin, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Shaun Marsh, Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings, Peter Siddle, Xavier Doherty. 12th man: Nathan Hauritz.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Tillekeratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Thissara Perera, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekera, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan. 12th man: Jeevan Mendis.
Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS), Marais Erasmus (RSA)
TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)
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