With a depleted Australian side, and dwindling crowds at ODI matches in the country, the upcoming series may further struggle to bring in the crowds

George Bailey is one of the more amiable men in Australian cricket, and certainly one of the most straight-talking, but don't suggest to him that he will be leading a B-grade side into the first ODI against Sri Lanka on Friday

ESPNcricinfo's preview of the first ODI between Australia and Sri Lanka in Melbourne

David Hussey has described his Melbourne Stars team-mate and soon-to-be ODI opponent Lasith Malinga as "in the form of his life" and believes the ability of Australia's batsmen to handle Malinga's three variations will be critical when the one-day series

Angelo Mathews is confident Sri Lanka can bounce back after their disappointing Test series and challenge Australia in the one-day internationals, which begin at the MCG on Friday.

There's nothing like being picked while in form, and Phillip Hughes is in the one-day form of his life

Australia's marks out of ten for the Test series against Sri Lanka

Shane Warne might have played his last game for this Big Bash League campaign after being suspended for one match following his ugly clash with Marlon Samuels on Sunday

For more than seven years, Michael Hussey was a permanent fixture in Australia's Test team and has played in 48 victories. Here ESPNcricinfo recalls five of his best Test performances

Michael Hussey is one of cricket's finest finishers, so it was only fitting that he ended his international career by steering Australia to victory and a series clean-sweep over Sri Lanka

Ostensibly, Australia finished the second day at the SCG in front. In reality, this was a much more even day's play than most throughout the series, and one that will give Sri Lanka some hope of upsetting Michael Clarke's men - a slim hope, perhaps, but a

Lahiru Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardene helped Sri Lanka to a total of 294 when they were dismissed late on the first day in Sydney

ESPNcricinfo's preview of the third Test between Australia and Sri Lanka in Sydney

Usman Khawaja's increased work ethic and new, more aggressive style will hold him in good stead if he is given an extended run in Test cricket, according to his state coach Darren Lehmann

With the retirement of Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey, Australia could be in need of a seasoned specialist batsman, and David Hussey, at 35, could fit that role

Matthew Wade is confident he can do the No.6 position justice in the Sydney Test after the captain Michael Clarke declared Wade would likely move up in the absence of Shane Watson

Michael Hussey's retirement has come as a surprise and it leaves Australia with a vast hole to fill ahead of a double Ashes year

Richie Benaud on Tony Greig, who died in Sydney at the age of 66

Bill Lawry has remembered his friend and colleague Tony Greig as a great family man and a gentleman

So far this series has taught Australia several lessons - some useful, some less relevant - which they will do well to remember when the challenges of the India tour and the Ashes roll around