Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and chose to bat first on Friday in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Bellerive Oval.

The pitch has a green tinge amid intense speculation the first Test will follow the pattern of Sheffield Shield matches in Hobart so far this summer which have featured an average score in the first innings of the match of under 100.

Rain is forecast for the first four days of the match.

“If the rain stays away it will be a good batting wicket for the first few days and then it might stay a bit low and spin will certainly play a part there,” Clarke said on Thursday when asked for his assessment of the pitch.

Sri Lanka have never won a Test in Australia and are ranked sixth in the world, three places below the host team.

“We would have batted first as well,” Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said on Friday after losing the toss.

Australia have recalled pacemen Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus after both were rested from the third Test against South Africa in Perth which ended earlier this month.

Allrounder John Hastings and left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson have been dropped, while former opener Phil Hughes returns at No.3 after a year out of the side, replacing Australia’s all-time leading runscorer Ricky Ponting who has retired.

Tasmania’s Ponting, 37, is set to do a lap of honour at the lunch interval on Friday’s opening day of play.

“The wicket looks pretty good,” Clarke said at the toss.

“There might be a little bit in it in the first hour or first session but generally, as per usual, Hobart looks outstanding.

“I’m confident this wicket is a bit different to what the boys have played on in first-class cricket this summer.”

Teams:

Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara, Shaminda Eranga, Rangana Herath.