Ponting returns to haunt Sri Lanka

Ricky Ponting will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and Mark Taylor by winning his first Test as captain on Australian soil, when the second and final match against Sri Lanka begins at Cairns this morning.

Ponting, who missed the opening Test in Darwin because of the death of his aunt, is expected to be the only change in Australia's victorious XI, replacing his temporary stand-in Matthew Elliott.

He enters the game confident of both his batting form, having undergone a "really good workout" at a pre-series camp in Brisbane, and captaincy pedigree. Already Ponting has led Australia to one World Cup and successive VB Series triumphs, plus victory in all three overseas Tests in which he has called the shots.

His vanquished opponents on all three occasions, needless to say, were Sri Lanka, who have never won a Test in Australia at seven attempts and would seem less well-qualified for optimism.

Two changes to their side appear probable. Upul Chandana, the legspinner, who struck an erratic length and failed to trouble the Australian middle order in Darwin, might make way for the left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who impressed observers in the tour match against a Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI.

Meanwhile Romesh Kaluwitharana, the veteran wicketkeeper, stands a strong chance of playing his first Test in more than a year at Russel Arnold's expense. Arnold, who was himself playing his first Test since November 2002, looked unconvincing in struggling to 6 and 11 at Darwin.

Kaluwitharana's possible elevation would reduce the workload of Kumar Sangakkara, the vivacious left-hander, who too often looks knackered by the double burden of keeping and batting at No. 3. If you discount Tests against Zimbabwe, Sangakkara has not passed 34 in his last 12 innings and last hit a hundred 27 months ago.

The days leading up to this match have felt a bit like the traditional build-up to a WACA Test, even if Cairns and Perth - according to the map - might almost be a couple of continents away. All attention has centred on the rumoured bounce and zippiness, conditions considered ripe for the Australians and anathema to the visitors.

Even Shane Warne, seldom one to talk down his abilities, has publicly all but ruled out his chance of securing the eight wickets he needs to become the supreme wicket-taker in Test history. Warne's logic ignores the fact that precisely half the wickets during Cairns's inaugural Test last year fell to spin, and should be seen for what it probably is: a colossal bluff.

As for Ponting, even if Australia conspire to lose this game the omens look positive. The last Australian skipper to blow his first Test on home dirt was Ian Chappell; before him, Don Bradman and Monty Noble also began their captaincy careers in Australia with a thud rather than a bang. And those three turned out all right in the end.

Australia (probable) 1 Justin Langer, 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Darren Lehmann, 6 Simon Katich, 7 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 8 Shane Warne, 9 Jason Gillespie, 10 Michael Kasprowicz, 11 Glenn McGrath.

Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Marvan Atapattu (capt), 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Romesh Kaluwitharana (wk), 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Nuwan Zoysa, 10 Rangana Herath, 11 Lasith Malinga.