ICC World Cup: Clarke expects spin to play a role against Sri Lanka at SCG today

Sydney: Skipper Michael Clarke expects spin to play a role in Australia's World Cup showdown with Sri Lanka on a dry Sydney Cricket Ground pitch today.

Michael Clarke

Sri Lanka lead Australia by one point in the Pool ‘A' standings and a win would likely leave them second in the group behind current leaders New Zealand. But a defeat for either nation would increase the possibility of finishing third in the group.

The SCG is Clarke's home ground and he believes today's pitch will play differently to the one on which South Africa smashed 408-5 against the West Indies. "It looks like spin is going to play a part. It looks quite dry and certainly hasn't got as much grass on it as I've seen in past ODI matches at the SCG," Clarke told reporters on Saturday.

"In saying that, that's today, so a day of sun, a bit of rolling, I think it might harden up," he added.

Cummins ruled out
Meanwhile, injury-prone Australian paceman Pat Cummins has been ruled out of today's game.