Monday 26th July, 2010 Sri Lanka start life after Murali up taking eight wickets,” Sangakkara said backing Mendis. “Unfortunately for Menda, he took 26 wickets in his first Test series. In his first big final he took six for 13. So people have been expecting him to do that over and over again. That doesn’t work that way. He’s also played a lot of cricket against India. So the more you play, players get used to. He’s done well for Muttiah Muralitharan us in the practice match and taking the field tomorrow, I am sure he’s going to do a great job for us,” Sangakkara said. Galle to name The reasoning at some quarters that Suraj Randiv should play ahead of Pavilion after Murali Rangana Herath may sound a bit strange One of the main after the latter had a good game with both pavilions of the Galle bat and ball. The left-arm spinner, howev- International Stadium er, found strong support from his skipper, will be named after off- “Rangana did well in the last Test, espe- spinner Muttiah cially with the bat. His innings of 80 and Muralitharan, who Lasith’s 60 set up the game for us. It took retired after the first us beyond 500. He bowled steadily. He was always there or thereabout. He didn’t do Test Match against India anything wrong.” at the venue on The fact that a 2-0 series win will make Thursday. Muralitharan, Sri Lanka the number one ranked team in who claimed 800 Test the world will be exciting for players and wickets in a career that despite the likes of Malinga and spanned for 18 years, has Muralitharan missing, they will be keen picked up over 100 wick- to win or at least draw the Test before ets in Galle. going flat out in the third Test when “On a request made Malinga returns. by the Galle District If they do win by a margin of 2-0, Sri Cricket Association, His Lanka will be replacing India as the num- Excellency the President ber one ranked team in the world and Indian captain M.S. Dhoni was prepared already declared this for the challenge. “If we lose it, we will try when he visited the to get it back. It’s not that once you reach ground to wish Murali the top, that place belongs to you. It’s one on Thursday. The ground Chairman of Cricket Selectors Aravinda de Silva (left) in an animated discussion with Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara ahead place that everybody is fighting for.” has two wings, the Left of the first Test Match between Sri Lanka and India on Sunday at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground. Sri Lanka won the first Test Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir, Wing and the Right Wing between the countries by ten wickets. Pic by Eranga Jayawardene. who was dismissed cheaply in both and the Left Wing will be innings in Galle remains a doubtful called as Muttiah BY REX CLEMENTINE he’s effective with both the new and the pointing, there was some consolation for starter and Tamil Nadu opener Murali Muralitharan Pavilion,” old ball. Doesn’t matter whether the wick- the team when Thilan Samaraweera was Vijay has been put on standby. “Gautam is Jayananda Warnaweera, having a niggle with his knee. We will ri Lanka won just two Test Matches et is flat or has bounce or not he’s equally ruled fit to play. The middle order bats- the Secretary of the take a call maybe in the evening or before since gaining Test status until threatening in all kinds of surfaces. So man dislocated his little finger in his left Galle District Cricket when a player like his caliber goes out, it’s hand while fielding in the first Test. the game,” Dhoni said. SMuttiah Muralitharan arrived in the Association told ‘The scene in 1992 and since then, there have a huge blow,” Sri Lanka captain Kumar “Thilan’s fine. He’s batted today and he Island’ yesterday. been several wins home and away. The Sangakkara said at yesterday’s pre-match feels ready to go. He did some hard catch- Sri Lanka (From) road ahead for the Sri Lankan team after media briefing when asked about ing today and he’s fine,” Sangakkara said. Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), T. M. Warnaweera, a for- the retirement of champion spinner will Malinga’s absence. Samaraweera’s record at SSC in partic- Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela mer team-mate of be clear in the second Test against India Malinga is expected to play the third ular is impressive having amassed over Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Muralitharan, said that that begins at the Sinhalese Sports Club Test at P. Sara Stadium starting next 1000 runs in 13 games. At his home venue, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, a ceremony will be held ground today. week. Dhammika Prasad, Dilhara he averages 76:86 and has scored five Test Rangana Herath, Dhammika Prasad, in two weeks time to While the void created by Fernando and the uncapped Nuwan hundreds and six fifties. Chanaka Welegedara, Dilhara Fernando, name the Pavilion after Muralitharan’s departure is huge, the Pradeep are the other seamers in the The Indians’ main concern, however, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep and Murali and a school hosts suffered another blow when fast squad and either Prasad or Fernando is will be Ajantha Mendis. The 25-year-old Suraj Randiv. team from Jaffna will India (From) bowler Lasith Malinga was ruled out of expected to play today. spinner claimed a World Record 26 wick- play a friendly match Sri Lanka have not been beaten at SSC ets in his debut series when the Indians M. S. Dhoni (Captain), Gautam the second Test due to stiffness on his with a Galle team after knees on Friday. Malinga, playing his first since losing to Australia six years ago. were here in 2008. With time it emerged Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul the ceremony. Test in two and half years, was the Man of Since 2004 March, they have maintained that the tourists had got a measure of the Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Warnaweera easily the Match in Galle, where he picked up an unbeaten record at SSC having won six bowler, but he sprung a few surprises Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant seven wickets and scored a maiden half- of the nine games. India’s last two outings when he picked up six wickets in an Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Abhimanyu outscored Sri Lanka century. at SSC were disappointing ones as they innings when the Indians played Sri Mithun and Murali Vijay. Cricket (SLC) in giving “Losing Lasith is a big loss to be hon- suffered innings defeats in both games. Lanka Board President’s XI in a warm up Umpires: Darrel Harper (Aus) and Muralitharan a grand est. The trouble is that with Lasith every- One reason for the hosts’ excellent run at game in Colombo. Rod Tucker (Aus) send off during the Galle one tries to survive rather than score off SSC has been their impressive batting. “Before the last Test everyone seemed Third Umpire: R. Martinez (SL) Test. him. They know how dangerous he is and Although Malinga’s injury was disap- to have worked out Murali, but he ended Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (Zim) (RC) SL under-19 win by 199 runs One year on, skipper looks for more success Sri Lanka Under-19 recorded a Bhanuka Rajapakse who scored 97 BY REX CLEMENTINE convincing 199 run win over runs. Captain Chatura Peiris too England under-19 in the first Youth scored a half-century (66). He shared Kumar Sangakkara has Test to take a 1-0 lead in the two a 102 run stand for the seventh wick- been leading Sri Lanka for match series in Northampton on et with Denuwan Rajakaruna. exactly a year now in Test Saturday. After setting the hosts a cricket and has won two of target of 369, the Sri Lankans Brief Scores: the three series he has led while having a 1-0 lead in bowled them out for 169. Sri Lanka Under - 19 287 all out the current series against St. Sebastian’s fast bowler and 367 all out Sanitha Sangakkara the Indians. Since July last Sanitha de Mel was the star for the (B. Rajapakse 97, C. Peiris 66, K. year, when Sangakkara Sri Lankans picking up four wick- Vithanage 48, D. Rajakaruna 45, J. took over, Sri Lanka won two Test series ets during the run chase as England Under- Root 3/20, J. Ball 2/41) against Pakistan and New Zealand at 19 collapsed to 169. He finished with four for England Under-19 286 all out and 169 all home while going down to India in India 49. out last November. The Sri Lankans were able to set the (J. Manuel 39, J. Root 31, S. de Mel 4/49, Sangakkara could become the first cap- Englishmen the 369 target thanks to Royalist S. Rajaguru 3/51) tain to take Sri Lanka to the number one ICC Test Rankings if they are able to win the current series 2-0 and during yester- day’s pre-match media conference he was Contador wins 3rd Tour de France asked about his tenure as captain. “It’s PARIS (AP)—Alberto Contador won his third by holding off a dramatic challenge been an interesting year. This is my fourth Tour de France in four years on Sunday,heralding from his main rival, Andy Schleck of Test series.