India eyeing first series win abroad in eight years

Colombo, August 28: Having notched up a comprehensive victory in the second Test to come roaring back into the series, India are now eyeing their chances of a rare series win abroad as they go into the third and final cricket Test match against Sri Lanka here tomorrow.

The side that remained the underdog for most of the tour, with some of the top stars back home nursing injuries, and those here - batsmen and bowlers not performing to potential, is suddenly brimming with confidence after the seven wicket win in Kandy, that squared the series 1-1, and ready to go for the kill.

It is just be a coincidence that India had their last series win on foreign soil at the Sinhalese Sports Club, the venue of tomorrow's match, in 1993. It is another coincidence that England, who came here before India, took the same route to carve out a memorable 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka.

For, when the Indians walk on to the field tomorrow, it would not be history but their performance that will count. And they will have to come up with something similar to what they did in Kandy to have any chances of victory here.

On their part, Sri Lanka have been quick to realise their follies in the second Test with captain Sanath Jayasuriya blaming the batsmen for their inability to capitalise on the 42-run first innings lead. He also criticised his bowlers for not maintaining a tight line in the second innings. And as a firefighting measure, Sri Lanka are most likely to trade all- rounder Suresh Perera for young left-hander Michael Vandort to strengthen their batting.

The Indians look least concerned about the changes in Sri Lankan side. Right now they are eager to do to the hosts what they did to Australia earlier this year.

Probably the best thing to happen to India in the Kandy Test, apart from the victory of course, was the return to form of captain Saurav Ganguly. During his prolonged lean patch, Ganguly had been able to come up with a couple of good scores, against Australia at home and on the Zimbabwe tour, but his innings in Kandy was the most convincing which gives the impression that he has finally found his elegant touch.

He missed his century by just two runs in Kandy and that should urge him on in this Test to compensate for that miss.

India would need another good performance by the duo of Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, whose innings in Kandy were crucial for victory. They form the backbone of Indian batting and they must click for the team to put up a healthy score.

The youngsters, the likes of Hemang Badani and Mohammad Kaif, are due for a big score now and this is probably their last opportunity to make a mark. When Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman return to the side ahead of the tour to South Africa in October, these young players might be struggling to find their place in the team if they don't do something big here.

So far in this series, the Indians have relied on a three-pronged pace attack with just Harbhajan Singh as the lone spinner. But there were indications that an extra spinner might be included here if there was some help in the pitch for the slow bowlers. That would mean either Sairaj Bahutule or Rahul Sanghvi will get their first match on this tour.

However, the final composition of the team was likely to be announced only late in the evening today or tomorrow morning after having a good look at the wicket.

Venkatesh Prasad and Zaheer Khan had bowled very tight line in the Kandy Test, pitching the ball up and letting it do the trick, and the same would be expected of them here also. Fast bowlers have done quite well on this ground in recent past and both Prasad and Zaheer can look forward to another good haul.

The Sri Lankan speedsters would also be looking to get their acts together after coming under flak from their captain. Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando and Ruchira Perera have done very well in this series and they would be keen to prove that the second innings in Kandy was just an aberration.

Muthiah Muralitharan too will have a point or two to prove against the Indian batsmen who have been among his favourite bunnies in recent times. Dravid and Ganguly had gone hard against him in the previous Test to blunt his attack that became one of the vital reasons for India's success.

If Vandort gets his debut Test, it would mean either Marvan Atapattu or Kumar Sangakkara would have to bat at number six. Both of them have been in fine form and their going lower down will lend solidity to the middle order which had looked just a bit shaky in Kandy.

The key to Sri Lanka, as usual, would be the performance of Jayasuriya. The captain cracked a brilliant hundred in the first Test in Galle and the team won by ten wickets. He failed in both innings in Kandy and the result was for all to see.

Jayasuriya has an awesome record against India averaging more than double than what he does against other countries. He is one man the Indians need to be wary of.

Teams (from):

India: Saurav Ganguly (capt), Rahul Dravid, Shiv Sunder Das, Sadagopan Ramesh, Mohammad Kaif, Hemang Badani, Sameer Dighe, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan, Harvinder Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Rahul Sanghvi, Sairaj Bahutule, Jacob Martin.