ID :
135854
Mon, 08/02/2010 - 19:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/135854
The shortlink copeid
India look to level series against Sri Lanka
T V Sriram
Colombo, Aug 2 (PTI) Their top ranking may not be at
stake but injury-hit India are grappling with selection
dilemmas as they go into the third and final cricket Test
against Sri Lanka here on Tuesday, hoping to avoid a series
defeat.
Trailing 0-1, India cannot settle for anything but an
outright victory to square the series.
Although they don't have to worry about their top
position in the ICC rankings, the Indians do have a few
selection dilemmas to deal with on the eve of the match at the
P Sara Oval.
With Suresh Raina scoring a century on debut in the drawn
second Test, the place of an off-colour Yuvraj Singh, who was
down with flu, is uncertain for the series finale.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was non-committal on which
of the two would make the playing XI and it remains to be seen
whether Yuvraj's past reputation can score over Raina's
red-hot current form in the final consideration.
Another Indian concern is opener Gautam Gambhir, who was
nursing inflammation in his knee which forced him to sit out
the second Test.
Although he was seen practicing in the nets yesterday but
whether he is fit enough to make the team is not yet known.
Veteran Sachin Tendulkar, who is set to surpass Steve
Waugh's record of being the most capped player in Test cricket
if he plays on Tuesday, was also down with a groin problem
which did not allow him to take the field on the final day of
the second Test.
But the 37-year-old iconic right-hander, who scored a
fifth career double hundred in the second Test, also practised
in the nets yesterday, an indication that he would be padding
in his record 169th Test.
Apart from these minor injury concerns, batting form is
hardly an issue for the Indians, who piled up a whopping 707
runs in the first innings of the second Test in reply to Sri
Lanka's 642.
Virender Sehwag was his usual explosive self, providing
the start for others to build on in the intimidating line-up
that also has the stylish V V S Laxman.
Bowling, however, is a headache for the Indians with the
pace department desperately missing the services of Zaheer
Khan and S Sreesanth, who were ruled out due to injury.
Ishant Sharma impressed briefly in the second Test but
has been off-colour for most of the series and though the
young Abhimanyu Mithun has given it his all, the placid pitch
here didn't help his confidence much in the second Test.
Spin spearhead Harbhajan Singh, too, also failed to work
his magic.
The lifeless track at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground,
that produced over 1500 runs over five days, was later
lambasted by both Dhoni and his opposite number Kumar
Sangakkara.
Dhoni even went to the extent of saying that he would
preferred wrapping up the proceedings by the fourth day itself
on such no-result wicket.
The curator has promised a sporting pitch for the series
decider and the Lankans would be relishing that prospect given
the variety they have in the bowling department.
Like India, the Lankans don't have batting issues to
worry about as top willow-wielders like Sangakkara, Mahela
Jayawardene, the upcoming Tharanga Parnavitana and the
destructive Tillakaratne Dilshan are in fine form.
But unlike India, the hosts have a decent bowling attack
despite missing the spin wizardary of the now-retired Muttiah
Muralitharan.
They were without the lethal Lasith Malinga in the second
Test due to injury but the in-form pacer is expected to back
in the side.
His comeback is expected to boost the confidence of other
bowlers -- Ajantha Mendies, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando
and Suraj Randiv -- as well who took a beating in the second
Test.
Teams (from):
India: M S Dhoni (C), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir,
Suresh Raina, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman,
Yuvraj Singh, Murali Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma,
Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha and
Abhimanyu Mithun.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (C), Muttiah Muralitharan,
Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela
Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna
Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando,
Dammika Prasad, Suraj Randiv, Thilina Kandamby, Chanaka
Welegedara, Lahiru Thirimanne. PTI TVS
KAB
Colombo, Aug 2 (PTI) Their top ranking may not be at
stake but injury-hit India are grappling with selection
dilemmas as they go into the third and final cricket Test
against Sri Lanka here on Tuesday, hoping to avoid a series
defeat.
Trailing 0-1, India cannot settle for anything but an
outright victory to square the series.
Although they don't have to worry about their top
position in the ICC rankings, the Indians do have a few
selection dilemmas to deal with on the eve of the match at the
P Sara Oval.
With Suresh Raina scoring a century on debut in the drawn
second Test, the place of an off-colour Yuvraj Singh, who was
down with flu, is uncertain for the series finale.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was non-committal on which
of the two would make the playing XI and it remains to be seen
whether Yuvraj's past reputation can score over Raina's
red-hot current form in the final consideration.
Another Indian concern is opener Gautam Gambhir, who was
nursing inflammation in his knee which forced him to sit out
the second Test.
Although he was seen practicing in the nets yesterday but
whether he is fit enough to make the team is not yet known.
Veteran Sachin Tendulkar, who is set to surpass Steve
Waugh's record of being the most capped player in Test cricket
if he plays on Tuesday, was also down with a groin problem
which did not allow him to take the field on the final day of
the second Test.
But the 37-year-old iconic right-hander, who scored a
fifth career double hundred in the second Test, also practised
in the nets yesterday, an indication that he would be padding
in his record 169th Test.
Apart from these minor injury concerns, batting form is
hardly an issue for the Indians, who piled up a whopping 707
runs in the first innings of the second Test in reply to Sri
Lanka's 642.
Virender Sehwag was his usual explosive self, providing
the start for others to build on in the intimidating line-up
that also has the stylish V V S Laxman.
Bowling, however, is a headache for the Indians with the
pace department desperately missing the services of Zaheer
Khan and S Sreesanth, who were ruled out due to injury.
Ishant Sharma impressed briefly in the second Test but
has been off-colour for most of the series and though the
young Abhimanyu Mithun has given it his all, the placid pitch
here didn't help his confidence much in the second Test.
Spin spearhead Harbhajan Singh, too, also failed to work
his magic.
The lifeless track at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground,
that produced over 1500 runs over five days, was later
lambasted by both Dhoni and his opposite number Kumar
Sangakkara.
Dhoni even went to the extent of saying that he would
preferred wrapping up the proceedings by the fourth day itself
on such no-result wicket.
The curator has promised a sporting pitch for the series
decider and the Lankans would be relishing that prospect given
the variety they have in the bowling department.
Like India, the Lankans don't have batting issues to
worry about as top willow-wielders like Sangakkara, Mahela
Jayawardene, the upcoming Tharanga Parnavitana and the
destructive Tillakaratne Dilshan are in fine form.
But unlike India, the hosts have a decent bowling attack
despite missing the spin wizardary of the now-retired Muttiah
Muralitharan.
They were without the lethal Lasith Malinga in the second
Test due to injury but the in-form pacer is expected to back
in the side.
His comeback is expected to boost the confidence of other
bowlers -- Ajantha Mendies, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando
and Suraj Randiv -- as well who took a beating in the second
Test.
Teams (from):
India: M S Dhoni (C), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir,
Suresh Raina, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman,
Yuvraj Singh, Murali Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma,
Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha and
Abhimanyu Mithun.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (C), Muttiah Muralitharan,
Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela
Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna
Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando,
Dammika Prasad, Suraj Randiv, Thilina Kandamby, Chanaka
Welegedara, Lahiru Thirimanne. PTI TVS
KAB
