da imperador bet： India’s surprise series leveling victory in Kandy has forced a re-think bythe Sri Lankan selectors, who have made two changes for the crucial finalTest in Colombo, as the home side looks to end a 16-month spell without aseries win, whilst India
Charlie Austin28-Aug-2001India’s surprise series leveling victory in Kandy has forced a re-think bythe Sri Lankan selectors, who have made two changes for the crucial finalTest in Colombo, as the home side looks to end a 16-month spell without aseries win, whilst India set their sights on their first overseas Testseries triumph since 1993.Sri Lanka will retain the same formation of six batsmen, one all rounder andfour frontline bowlers, but fast bowling allrounder Suresh Perera and leftarm pace bowler Ruchira Perera have been axed.Off spinning allrounder Thilan Samaraweera, who has captained Sri Lanka A inthree successive series, comes in place of Suresh Perera and will be makinghis Test debut.Suresh Perera looked short of confidence after being reported by umpireSteve Bucknor in Galle for having a suspect action and bowled just twelveovers in the game. With hindsight he should have been rested until thedoubts over his action had been eased.Fast bowler Dulip Liyanage, 29, has been chosen in place of Ruchira Perera -surprisingly left out of the final 14-man squad after two modest, but by nomeans poor, performances in Galle and Kandy.Liyanage – after beingconsistently impressive in the practice nets and throughout the lastdomestic season. He will also strengthen the lower order batting.Liyanage last played for Sri Lanka nearly eight years ago, way back in1993/94 during Sri Lanka’s disastrous and controversial tour of India. Heonly played eight Test matches after a series of debilitating injuries.Sanath Jayasuriya, speaking after the team’s final practice, called for histeam to play positive cricket: "We didn’t play well in Kandy, but that ishistory now. This is a fresh game and the team must think positively and notput themselves under pressure. The players must relax and enjoy themselves."He, though, stressed once again that the batsmen have to show greaterresponsibility: "The batsmen are in good form, but they have been gettingout in the 30’s and 40’s. When we get set we have to go on to make a bigscore."Coach Dav Whatmore pointed out that the failure of the batsmen in Kandyrevolved around the mental approach of the individuals concerned: "There isno technique problem. We have shown that we can score heavily. However, itseems to me that we can win by a large margin, but when it gets close, wefind it difficult. Sometimes we suffer from a rush of blood.""The players have to give 100 per cent and be totally committed," he warned."They must adopt that attitude that `everything depends on me’ not on anyoneelse."India, initially disappointed by their boards refusal to send Ajit Agarkar,which was confirmed by the Indian captain today, may now be somewhatrelieved, as they are considering playing 28-year-old Bombay legspinnerSairaj Bahutule, as the fourth bowler in place of Harvinder Singh.India, it seems, believe that the ball will turn appreciably. Sourav Gangulycommented that: "This does not look to be the normal bouncy SSC wicket and Ithink it will turn by day three."India are therefore expected to bat first if they win the toss. "We willhave a look in the morning and see how damp it is, but right now it lookslike a bat first wicket," said Ganguly.The curator Ranil Abeynaike, though, was singing a different song, promisingplenty of "pace and bounce" throughout the game with the prospect of lateralmovement for the fast bowlers on day one.Jayasuriya also commented that there was more grass on the wicket than therehad been in the last game England, when the ball turned sideways, and heexpects there to be plenty of encouragement for the pace bowlers. Sri Lankaare expected to field first if they win the toss.Ganguly pointed out that: "The mood within the side is good, but there wasno chance of complacency after the Kandy Test. We just want play goodcricket here. If we play well and take it session by session then the resultshould take care of itself."He defended the decision to retain Hemang Badani after three failures so farin the series: "Hemang deserves another opportunity. He is struggling a bitand not playing like he did in Zimbabwe, but it’s not right to drop abatsman after two games. Hemang has potential and maybe he will make a markin this Test."India have not won a Test series overseas since 1993 when MohammadAzharuddin’s side defeated Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club to win theseries 1-0. There have been two matches since between India and Sri Lanka atSSC, both of which have been drawn.