¤¤ Inthiya Mannil Ilangai Sutrupayanam!! ¤¤

Kalyasi · Last edited by Kalyasi on Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:23 am; edited 1 time in total

Sri Lanka in India 2009-10

Kumar Sangakkara targets 'last frontier'

Sri Lanka have made six tours to India over the last 27 years, played 14 Tests, and are yet to win one. It's a record Kumar Sangakkara is keen to rectify as his team arrived in Mumbai for a three-Test series beginning on November 16, followed by two Twenty20 internationals and five one-dayers.

Sangakkara, however, said his side, No. 2 in the Test rankings, was "under no pressure" to scratch India off the list of countries (South Africa and Australia are the others) where Sri Lanka have never won a Test. "We know we haven't won here and for us we need to try and change that," a sleepy-eyed Sangakkara said, in his first interaction with the media in India on Sunday afternoon. "We are here to relax, enjoy and not worry about history, and try and put as much pressure on the Indians as possible."

The pressure, Sangakkara felt, would be on India after the defeat against Australia in the ongoing home one-day series. He said it would be interesting to see how India reacted from the defeat against an under-strength side, saying that "some react positively while some don't".

Sangakkara, who took over the captaincy from Mahela Jayawardene at the ICC World Twenty20 in June, is building a cohesive unit capable of performing in all conditions. Sri Lanka are formidable at home but their overseas record is mediocre. Their lack of success in India is strange, especially since the conditions here are similar to those in Sri Lanka.

Posting large totals is critical to winning Tests in India, and Sri Lanka's batsmen have been unable to do so in the past, with 420 in Kanpur in 1986 being their best effort. Their present batting line-up could be challenged to surpass that score as only three players - Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sangakkara - have Test experience in India.

Things are not bright on the bowling front either. Even Muttiah Muralitharan has taken only 31 wickets in eight Tests and his average of nearly 40 in India is his worst in any country after Australia. And in Lasith Malinga's absence, their fast-bowling attack comprising Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Dammika Prasad and Chanaka Welegedara lacks menace and experience. Sangakkara, though, was of the opinion that his relatively inexperienced attack could be at an advantage.

"Inexperience is sometimes a good thing as the Indian batsmen have not played our fast bowlers regularly in the longer form of the game which can work to our advantage." He said sometimes a "fresh perspective, attitude and enthusiasm could be an added bonus".

Sangakkara is banking on 22-year old allrounder Angelo Mathews to give the team flexibility and balance. "We have a great option in Angelo Mathews who gives us the flexibility of playing three spinners on a spin-friendly wicket because of him being a frontline fast bowler and a batsman," Sangakkara said. "We could even go into the game with three out-and-out fast bowlers, with Mathews in support, and one spinner or even two fast bowlers and two spinners."

It will be interesting, however, to see which two spinners Sri Lanka field in the first Test against India in Ahmedabad beginning on November 16, especially with Sangakkara stressing the importance of "performance and current form". Murali is likely to be a certainty for one spot, and Ajantha Mendis had spectacular success against the Indian batsmen in Sri Lanka. It is the left-arm spinner, Rangana Herath, though, who has been Sri Lanka's most successful slow bowler in recent matches.

In his last four Tests at home, Herath took 23 wickets against Pakistan and New Zealand. Murali did not play against Pakistan while Mendis proved expensive - his five wickets cost 43 each. Against New Zealand, Murali's returns were 13 wickets at 24 apiece while Mendis' three victims came at an average of 45. Sangakkara said that Herath having to play "third fiddle to the other spinners made him hungrier to do well". Sri Lanka could do with more healthy competition in India during the coming weeks.

This series, from November 8 to December 27, begins with a three-day warm-up game against the Board President's XI at Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex before the first Test. The second Test will be in Kanpur before the teams head back to Mumbai for the third game.

Kalyasi

Sri Lanka in India 2009-10

Kumar Sangakkara targets 'last frontier'

Sri Lanka have made six tours to India over the last 27 years, played 14 Tests, and are yet to win one. It's a record Kumar Sangakkara is keen to rectify as his team arrived in Mumbai for a three-Test series beginning on November 16, followed by two Twenty20 internationals and five one-dayers.

Sangakkara, however, said his side, No. 2 in the Test rankings, was "under no pressure" to scratch India off the list of countries (South Africa and Australia are the others) where Sri Lanka have never won a Test. "We know we haven't won here and for us we need to try and change that," a sleepy-eyed Sangakkara said, in his first interaction with the media in India on Sunday afternoon. "We are here to relax, enjoy and not worry about history, and try and put as much pressure on the Indians as possible."

The pressure, Sangakkara felt, would be on India after the defeat against Australia in the ongoing home one-day series. He said it would be interesting to see how India reacted from the defeat against an under-strength side, saying that "some react positively while some don't".

Sangakkara, who took over the captaincy from Mahela Jayawardene at the ICC World Twenty20 in June, is building a cohesive unit capable of performing in all conditions. Sri Lanka are formidable at home but their overseas record is mediocre. Their lack of success in India is strange, especially since the conditions here are similar to those in Sri Lanka.

Posting large totals is critical to winning Tests in India, and Sri Lanka's batsmen have been unable to do so in the past, with 420 in Kanpur in 1986 being their best effort. Their present batting line-up could be challenged to surpass that score as only three players - Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sangakkara - have Test experience in India.

Things are not bright on the bowling front either. Even Muttiah Muralitharan has taken only 31 wickets in eight Tests and his average of nearly 40 in India is his worst in any country after Australia. And in Lasith Malinga's absence, their fast-bowling attack comprising Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Dammika Prasad and Chanaka Welegedara lacks menace and experience. Sangakkara, though, was of the opinion that his relatively inexperienced attack could be at an advantage.

"Inexperience is sometimes a good thing as the Indian batsmen have not played our fast bowlers regularly in the longer form of the game which can work to our advantage." He said sometimes a "fresh perspective, attitude and enthusiasm could be an added bonus".

Sangakkara is banking on 22-year old allrounder Angelo Mathews to give the team flexibility and balance. "We have a great option in Angelo Mathews who gives us the flexibility of playing three spinners on a spin-friendly wicket because of him being a frontline fast bowler and a batsman," Sangakkara said. "We could even go into the game with three out-and-out fast bowlers, with Mathews in support, and one spinner or even two fast bowlers and two spinners."

It will be interesting, however, to see which two spinners Sri Lanka field in the first Test against India in Ahmedabad beginning on November 16, especially with Sangakkara stressing the importance of "performance and current form". Murali is likely to be a certainty for one spot, and Ajantha Mendis had spectacular success against the Indian batsmen in Sri Lanka. It is the left-arm spinner, Rangana Herath, though, who has been Sri Lanka's most successful slow bowler in recent matches.

In his last four Tests at home, Herath took 23 wickets against Pakistan and New Zealand. Murali did not play against Pakistan while Mendis proved expensive - his five wickets cost 43 each. Against New Zealand, Murali's returns were 13 wickets at 24 apiece while Mendis' three victims came at an average of 45. Sangakkara said that Herath having to play "third fiddle to the other spinners made him hungrier to do well". Sri Lanka could do with more healthy competition in India during the coming weeks.

This series, from November 8 to December 27, begins with a three-day warm-up game against the Board President's XI at Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex before the first Test. The second Test will be in Kanpur before the teams head back to Mumbai for the third game.

Kalyasi · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:59 am Post subject:

Fixtures

Wed Nov 11 - Fri Nov 13
09:30 local | 04:00 GMT
09:30 IST Indian Board President's XI v Sri Lankans
Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai 25 - 30° C Forecast Scattered Thunderstorms

Mon Nov 16 - Fri Nov 20
09:30 local | 04:00 GMT
09:30 IST 1st Test - India v Sri Lanka
Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

Tue Nov 24 - Sat Nov 28
09:30 local | 04:00 GMT
09:30 IST 2nd Test - India v Sri Lanka
Green Park, Kanpur

Wed Dec 2 - Sun Dec 6
09:30 local | 04:00 GMT
09:30 IST 3rd Test - India v Sri Lanka
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai

Wed Dec 9
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST 1st T20I - India v Sri Lanka
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur

Sat Dec 12
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
20:00 IST 2nd T20I - India v Sri Lanka
Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

Tue Dec 15
09:00 local | 03:30 GMT
09:00 IST 1st ODI - India v Sri Lanka
Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground, Rajkot

Fri Dec 18
14:30 local | 09:00 GMT
14:30 IST 2nd ODI - India v Sri Lanka
Andhra Cricket Association-Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association Stadium, Visakhapatnam

Mon Dec 21
14:30 local | 09:00 GMT
14:30 IST 3rd ODI - India v Sri Lanka
Barabati Stadium, Cuttack

Thu Dec 24
14:30 local | 09:00 GMT
14:30 IST 4th ODI - India v Sri Lanka
Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Sun Dec 27
14:30 local | 09:00 GMT
14:30 IST 5th ODI - India v Sri Lanka
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

VinodKumar's · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:04 am Post subject:

Sangu oothum kaarakku en vazhthukkal Cheer

_________________
Not Worthy

Sourav · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:06 am Post subject:

Kalyan, Zaheer-i vitteengalae... Twisted Evil

_________________
Idhu varai MusicSmile

When Viru @ play, Opponents pray! Cool

Kalyasi · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:07 am Post subject:

Sourav · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:10 am Post subject:

mm..probably...
He is playing in ranji matches...
_________________
Idhu varai MusicSmile

When Viru @ play, Opponents pray! Cool

Sourav · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:34 am Post subject:

hamid · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:39 am Post subject:

hamid · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:41 am Post subject:

//dig

naan kuuda titlea paarthuttu eetho political threadonnu ninachu vantheen Embarassed

//

littlemaster1982 · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:47 am Post subject:

Sourav · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:50 am Post subject:

athuvum mumbai-la nadakka vendiya match, terrorists attack-la inga maatthitanga.
_________________
Idhu varai MusicSmile

When Viru @ play, Opponents pray! Cool

Kalyasi · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:03 am Post subject:

Plum · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:05 am Post subject:

That's a relief. We can look forward to India winning again Smile

Thank God, there wasnt an away tour to South Africa now - that would have marked the end of many youngsters' careers before they even started. Now, they can feast on Lanka, who have always found the going difficult in India, Murali or no Murali Smile

_________________
Some days you are the dog, some days, the lamp post

hamid · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:08 am Post subject:

oh..thats bad.. why chennai is sidelined? Chennai is one of the very famous venues before.. many cricketers including Kapil, sachin, azhar etc loved this venue...

I see two ODIs in delhi within 2 months? but nothing for chennai for the last one year and that too