Tuesday 29th July, 2008 Stern test awaits Indians in by Rex Clementine were by ten and the other by After a humiliating defeat in the 315 runs. first Test against , the Indian When India last played here, they cricketers didn't have much of a breath- crashed to a ten defeat and they ing space and reached the coastal town need to do a lot of soul searching ahead of Galle for the second Test. Sri Lanka's of the second Test where the conditions statistics here certainly won't please will heavily favour the locals. them. Sri Lanka have played 12 matches This will be the second Test held at here, won six and lost only two with the reconstructed Galle Stadium after four games ending in draws. the December 26th tsunami destroyed And whenever Sri Lanka have won the ground and it's a foregone conclu- here, they have won big. Three of those sion that the wicket here will help spin six wins were by an innings while two bowling from day one. When Sri Lanka played here last year, they had them on the ropes before the tourists Sri Lanka squad: escaped with a draw thanks to rain. After declaring on 499 for eight, with Anil Kumble (), captain Mahela Jayawardene making , , an unbeaten double hundred, England Malinda Warnapura, Thilan were bowled out to their lowest total around. With wickets to complete 100 Test wickets at happy hunting ground and his average Samaraweera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, against Sri Lanka as and mesmerizing the this ground and having already taken here is Bradmansque. In 12 Tests, Chamara , Prasanna picked up four wickets and following Indians claiming 19 of the 20 wickets to over 100 wickets in Sri Lanka's other Jayawardene has scored over 1300 runs Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, on, were 251 for six when rain washed fall, the Indians will be wary of the two two regular Test venues, Asgiriya here with two hundreds and two double Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan off play. spinners and how they will overcome International Stadium and SSC, hundreds. He averages 99:21 at Galle. Kulasekara, Thilina Thushara Over the years, the Galle wicket has the threat posed by them will be inter- he'll be keen to reach the milestone this Sri Lanka's selectors have named Mirando, Ajantha Mendis, Chamara favoured spin bowling from day one and esting to see. time. fast bowler in the Kapugedera and Dammika Prasad. it's expected to be no different this time Muralitharan requires nine more For Jayawardene too Galle is a squad for the second Test.

Brazil beats Singapore 3-0 Conspiracy against Army cricketers? The sensation Sri Lanka Army creat- fighting tooth and nail to remain in the clubs to find out who will qualify. Prasanna played a pivotal role in in Olympic ed in the domestic cricket tournament top tier and hence keep Army in the Cricket sources said that this was Army’s emergence in Tier ‘B’. After last season was such that everyone was lower division. against the rules of the domestic tour- Mendis’ scintillating performance dur- looking forward to their promotion to According to the rules of the domes- nament, but if the ministry intervenes, ing the Asia Cup tournament, he was warm-up Tier ‘A’ in the Premier Cricket tourna- tic tournament, the team that finished like in all recent happenings, they will promoted to the rank of second lieu- ment to see how they go about things on top of Tier ‘B’ will progress to Tier be left helpless. tenant. Sensing prominent SINGAPORE (AP) - against stronger opponents. ‘A’ while the team that ended last on What’s more disturbing is that the clubs could lure the talented spinner, Brazil began its prepara- But it may not happen after all. Tier ‘A’ will be relegated to Tier ‘B’. call to play the relegation match comes Army Commander General Sarath tions for the Beijing Badureliya Cricket Club, the team that But now, Badureliya is putting pres- at a time when Army’s star player Fonseka gently cautioned Mendis to Olympics with a 3-0 win will be relegated to Tier ‘B’ after ending sure through the Sports Ministry to Ajantha Mendis is doing National duty. continue playing domestic cricket for over Singapore on up last in the Tier ‘A’ last season, are play a relegation match between the two Mendis and leg-spinner Seekkuge the Army. Monday at the National Stadium. The Brazilians domi- nated possession in the first half and opened the scoring after 20 minutes Collingwood desperate to bounce back for England through Diego. The Werder Bremen attacker shot from the by Simon Briggs realise that hope is just around the cor- Flintoffs and the Pietersens. they were gutted for me, but there’s not a edge of the box after ner. But, like the quiet man in the office lot anyone can say in those circum- receiving a flick from ollingwood was told he was not “I worried about what it meant for me who keeps everything ticking over, stances. From there, it was a question of Ronaldinho. Seven min- playing in the second Test an hour when I was left out at Headingley. It was, Collingwood is most appreciated when he trying to get over the emotion and mov- utes later, Diego's delicate Cbefore the game started. Footage without doubt, the biggest disappoint- is missing. ing on. chip caused confusion in from Sky’s cameras showed him accept- ment of my career. The only thing that At Headingley, ’s No 6 AB “ said that it might the Singapore area and ing ’s commiserations comes close to it was when I was left out de Villiers produced a big and have been my demotion that upset the of the second Test in [in 2005] one extraordinary, game-changing catch. unity of the side, but I think that would Ronaldinho scored from with an attempted smile that turned out and I worried whether I would ever make Who is to say that Collingwood would not have been the case with any member of close range. more like a grimace. But England’s defeat at Leeds has it as a Test player. have matched him? the side who had been around a while.” Singapore attacked in When England pick the final XI for the second half and John reopened the debate over the balance of the side. Collingwood’s gritty presence Edgbaston, the choice will probably come Wilkinson sent his volley was badly missed on the first afternoon Paul Collingwood is looking at the third Test down to either Collingwood or his just wide after Brazil goal- of the match, when England “batted like Durham team-mate, . “I’m keeper Renan had blocked millionaires”, in the words of captain as a chance to hit back after his omission at just on my way to the christening of an attempt by Juma'at Michael Vaughan. Headingley – a blow he described as the worst Steve’s son, Charlie, now,” Collingwood Jantan. Brazil substitute Named on Saturday as part of the 13 said. “We will both have a smile that Jo made it 3-0 in the 84th for Edgbaston, Collingwood now has a disappointment of his career. we’re back in the frame. with a header. strong chance of returning to his old “Every time I’ve been back to Brazil defender Alex position at No?6, especially as Flintoff Durham, people have said to me, ‘You Silva was ejected in has shown that he can send down a “Thankfully, I got back in when “I think you could see from my face wouldn’t believe how fast Harmy is bowl- Straussy went home for the birth of his when I was told I was out what it meant ing’. I think he has benefited from a injury-time for stomping decent number of overs without any child, and now I’ve got the chance to get to me,” Collingwood said yesterday. “I’d break, but I hope my break is restricted on Singapore's Qiu Li. apparent ill-effects. “I just want this to be the spark, the back straight away.” been in the team for 34 Tests on the to one game and I’m back in the team for Brazil plays Vietnam If some players naturally attract the bounce, and it was hard to get my head Wednesday.” in its next friendly on catalyst, to get me going again,” Collingwood said yesterday. “It’s been the limelight, others repel it. Collingwood, around the idea that I wasn’t there any August 1 in Ho Chi Minh worst year of my career, but once you England’s one-day captain, has never more. (C) The Telegraph Group, City. have got over the hurt you look at it and become a celebrity to rank alongside the “All the lads were great, and told me London, 2008

EHelen Alfredsson of Sweden, right, is con- gratulated by Former Arjuna says India played French national soccer player Zinedine by Russell Palipane defeat. per also warned India that their Ranatunga believes India’s newfound fascination with Zidane, left, after batsmen adopted a Twenty20 Twenty20 cricket will cost them winning the final of the Sri Lankan Cricket chairman has slammed approach for much of the Test in the long run. 2008 Golf Evian India after their shocking display match. “If the Indians keep getting Masters tournament as in the opening Test in Colombo, “The way that the Indians their priorities wrong, they will part of the LPGA cricket365.com reported on its have played this Test is an eye- go down ranking-wise. Ultimately, Championship, at web site. opener not just for us but for all it is the rank that is very impor- Evian Royal Resort While Sri Lanka piled on 600 cricket-playing countries. They tant. And it is this performance Golf Club, in Evian, runs for the loss of just six wick- dealt with this like a Twenty20 that will determine the future of France, Sunday, July ets, India could only manage to game. I think they were not pre- the game in your country. Focus 27 2008. 223 and 138 in their two innings, pared for ,” he was on the Twenty20 game is a short- (AP resulting in an innings and 239- reported as having told the Indian term thing. If the game is not pro- Photo/Keystone/Jean- run defeat - their third worst Test Express. tected, we are in for a major dis- Christophe Bott) The former Sri Lankan skip- aster, Ranatunga added.

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