31.7.2008
Rex Clementine reporting from Galle
Following
their resounding victory at the SSC, the Sri Lankans don't
want to wait till the final Test in Colombo to secure the
series and are keen to finish things off here at the Galle
International Cricket Stadium, where the second Test between
the teams begins today.
The
Sri Lankans maybe so keen to return to Colombo having secured
the series, but it maybe not all that easy as bad weather
could play a decisive part in the Test.
Heavy
rains during the last few days in Galle forced the ground
staff to cover the playing field and when the Sri Lankans
turned up for training last morning they were forced to
indoors due to rain. But bright sunshine greeted the Indians
as they arrived at the venue later in the afternoon and
their training continued uninterrupted.
The
Sri Lankans were in for a huge disappointment when they
played a Test here last time around as after compiling 499
for eight declared, Chaminda Vaas blew away the tourists
for their lowest total in the sub-continent and after being
shot out for 81, England lost six second wickets before
rain intervened.
Sri
Lanka go into the Test full of confidence following their
comprehensive win in the first Test, as the Indian batsmen
had no clue against new spin sensation Ajantha Mendis. While
the mystery spinner cast doubts in the minds of the Indian
batsmen, Muttiah Muralitharan had a field day, picking up
11 wickets in the Test as India suffered their third biggest
defeat in Tests.
"We
asked them some questions and they didn't have the answers
and we need to find out whether they will have those answers
for this Test match," a confident Sri Lankan captain
told journalists ahead of the Test.
"But
having said that, we know how good the Indians are and they
will come back strongly at us," Mahela Jayawardene
said.
The
wicket looks good for batting and will help spin bowling
as it has been the case at this ground.
Contrary
to suggestions that veteran paceman Chaminda Vaas will be
rested for the Test, Jayawardene said they will be at full
strength today. "We are pleased with the way we played
at the SSC and we will go full strength to wrap up the series.
We will play the same side that won at SSC," Jayawardene
said.
Despite
their crushing defeat, India's captain Anil Kumble stated
that he will stick to the same combination that lost at
SSC.
"This
is an experienced side and we have been in similar situations
before. We are good enough to bounce back," Kumble
said.
Sri
Lanka have done exceptionally well at the Galle Stadium,
having won six of the 12 games played here and three of
those six wins have been by an innings while two have been
by margins of ten wickets. Their other win was by 315 runs.
Several
Sri Lankan players also have good records here and captain
Jayawardene's record is exceptional as he has scored over
1300 runs in 12 Tests with his average touching 100 per
innings.
"We
get good support in Galle and that's tremendous. The people
are passionate about their cricket. A lLot of our cricketers
hail from this part of the country and there's a lot of
tradition involved," Jayawardene said.
"These
are the conditions that you grew up in and you just challenge
yourself. I have a special liking for the SSC and Galle,
maybe the fans or the conditions makes me like this ground."
Teams:
Sri
Lanka (Probable XI):
Malinda
Warnapura, Michael Van Dort, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene
(captain), Thilan Samaraweera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Prasanna
Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis
and Muttiah Muralitharan.
India
(Probable XI):
Gautam
Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar,
Sourav Ganguly, V. V. S. Laxman, Dinesh Karthik, Anil Kumble
(captain), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma.
Umpires:
Rudi Koertzen (RSA) and Mark Benson (Eng)
Television
Referral Umpire: Billy Doctrove (WI)
3rd
Umpire: Gamini Silva (SL)
Courtesy
- The Island
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