India Tour of Sri Lanka 2008India Hope To Bounce Back In 2nd Test Against Sri LankaLast Update : 31-Jul-2008 07:30:00 IST Galle: The India have bee insisting after the Colombo collapse that the "M factor" is not going to haunt them in the remaining two Tests. But the face remains that their ability to find a way through the the spin maze will hold the key to any success in the series. The Murali-Mandis combine left India thoroughly dazed in Colombo and now in the second Test starting here on Thursday, the Sri Lankan spin duo will by looking for an encore.
With the Likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganugly, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman in the lineup, one collective failure can be considered a one-off thing. But the fans back home will not be willinng to forgive a second successive surrender.
| Comparison |
|
India |
Sri Lanka |
| Coach |
Gary Kristan |
Traver Bayliss |
| ICC Ranking |
3 |
5 |
| Key Players |
Sachin, Sehwag, Kumble, Harbhajan |
Murali, Mendis, Jayewardene, Sangaakkara |
| Drawing Board |
With the ghost of the severe defeat at Colombo behind their backs, India's biggest concern right not is to solve the spin mystery of Mendis and Murali. Do they attach them or do they defend? |
At this point, the Sri Lankan don't have to try to much. Their aim would be to build a good score and them watch the fun. On a turner, they have two class spinners to do the job. |
| Likely Teams |
Anil Kumble, Dinesh Karthik, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Zaheer Khan |
Ajantha Mendis, Chaminda Vaas, Dammika Prasad, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Malinda Warnapura, Michael Vandort, Muttiah MuralitharanThilan Samaraweera,Tillakaratne Dilshan |
| Weather |
It is difficult to say whether the Indians will treat that his as good or bad news, but thundershowers are expected at this picturesque venue on all days of the Match. |
| Ground |
After seeing the Indians cut a sorry figure on a slow track, the Lankans have the luxury of a square turner for this game. Murli has 91 wickets in 12 matches here. |
| ODDS |
India 9/2, Sri Lanka 2/1, Draw 4/5 |
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