India’s batting reputation will be at stake when they attempt to solve Sri Lanka’s spin puzzle in the second Test starting in Galle today.
The tourists collapsed twice in the opening match of the three-Test series in Colombo, losing by an innings and 239 runs on Saturday.
Sri Lankan spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis did the damage, sharing 19 wickets.
PHOTO: AP
Muralitharan’s wizardry has always shone especially bright at the Galle International Stadium, where in 12 Tests he has taken 91 of his world-record 746 wickets.
This time out there will be no respite for the visitors as he has found an able partner in Mendis, an unorthodox spinner.
Mendis made an impressive debut in Colombo, grabbing eight wickets, and the pair are expected to make merry again.
“The pitch here is basically spin-friendly,” said curator and former Sri Lankan bowler Jayananda Warnaweera.
“Murali has always bowled well here and I think Mendis will also succeed because he has variations. It has always been a lucky ground for Sri Lanka,” Warnaweera said.
Sri Lanka have lost just one of their last nine Tests at Galle since July 2000, the lone defeat coming against Australia four years ago.
India have talented batsmen in Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman, but failed to match Sri Lanka’s batting prowess in the first match.
Four Sri Lankan batsmen — skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan — scored centuries, while Laxman was India’s top-scorer with 56.
Sri Lankan coach Trevor Bayliss said his team was keen to wrap up the series in Galle as spin was likely to play a crucial role.
“We played very good cricket in the first Test and expect to play a similar match here. We are looking forward to wrapping up the series,” he said.
“Spin is our strength and we hope Muralitharan and Mendis bowl the same way as they did in Colombo. Mendis is a revelation not only for Sri Lankan cricket, but also for world cricket,” Bayliss said.
“He is different from other spinners. The oppositions will start to learn how to play him, but I must say he has a good head and he is a quick learner,” he said.
Bayliss said he expected a stiff challenge from India this time.
“They [India] have world-class spinners in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh and it is not often they end up with two wickets in an entire match. I am sure they will come back strongly,” he said.
Off-spinner Harbhajan bagged two wickets in Colombo, while leg-spinner Kumble went wicketless as Sri Lanka posted a mammoth 600-6 declared in the first innings.
Opener Gautam Gambhir said India were confident of putting in an improved batting performance in the second Test.
“We will look to be more positive against Mendis and Murali as both of them are quality spinners. But we are going to put up a much better show as the guys are really positive,” he said.
Muralitharan troubled the Indian batsmen in the lone Test played between the two countries at Galle, taking eight wickets to fashion his team’s 10-wicket win in 2001.
He has bagged five or more wickets in a Test innings 10 times there and 10 or more in a match on four occasions, his best being 13-171 against South Africa eight years ago.
No Test was held at Galle for nearly three years after it was devastated by the 2004 tsunami. Test cricket resumed last year with a visit from England.
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