Friday 8th August, 2008 Australians had gone to India labeling the able to get going. Michael should concen- series ‘the last frontier’ and won the first trate only on things that are under his con- Test by an innings in Bombay before losing trol and go on. He’s capable of doing that. in Calcutta and Madras. The only way Michael can answer his critics The Sri Lankan captain, meanwhile, is with his bat and he’s good enough to do said that there was no pressure on his side that. If he comes good that’s fine, if not and they were firmly focused on winning that’s also fine. That’s what cricketers go the series. “We have had a positive approach through,” Jayawardene said further backing right throughout. We made a few errors in his opener. Galle and we need to admit them. It wasn’t a Van Dort is not the only player strug- walkover for the Indian by the way and they gling. The fabulous four of the Indian line were made to fight for everything they did up – Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. right. We have played some really good Laxman and Sourav Ganguly – have got cricket against a quality side that has plenty heaps of talent and many records, but of experience and we have shown that we between them they have managed just a soli- can compete with them, match them and tary 50 in eight innings in this series. The even beat them,” Jayawardene said. four big names of Indian cricket haven’t The Indians will be without their coach made any significant contributions in the Garry Kirsten, who flew back to Cape Town series as they’ve been outfoxed by a certain to be with his ailing mother. Kumble, while spinner by the name of Ajantha Mendis. acknowledging that Kirsten had to be with “It’s a definite advantage to have his mother was confident the absence of the Ajantha. He’s shaped up really well support- by Rex Clementine Stadium for the series decider that gets prospect of a series loss at home at the start coach won’t be major drawback. ing Murali and Vaasy.That’s something that underway today.The refurbished P. of the series after they crushed the Indians “Garry will be missed, but he needs to be we lacked for a few years, but his presence with his mother. That is most important. We has given us another striking option,” Sri Lanka and India will make one Saravanamuttu Oval, upgraded to world in dramatic fashion by an innings and 239 all realize our responsibilities as cricketers. Jayawardene said. change in their final line up as the tourists standards, has gone through massive runs in the first Test. But the tourists There are enough support staff to take care Jayawardene said that even he himself return to the historical P.Saravanamuttu changes over the years with posh new suites bounced back in equally dramatic fashion to and corporate boxes in two redeveloped square the series with their 170 run win in of things off-field.” was surprised by the amazing success stands named after two of the club’s greats. Galle. Sri Lanka have decided to retain strug- Mendis has had against such an experienced The Indians have decided to drop wicket- “We have been in similar situations gling opener Michael Van Dort, who has side, who generally play spin well. keeper Dinesh Karthik, who had poor games before. We lost the first Test against managed scores of 3, 10 and 4 in the series so “When we saw him first, we knew that at the SSC and Galle with both the bat and Australia in 2001 and then went onto win the far. Van Dort is lucky that there’s no third we needed to develop him in the right man- the gloves. He will be replaced by 23-year-old next two. So it’s nothing new for us,” Indian opener in the squad as the selectors came so ner. We thought that he might take more Parthiv Patel, who has represented his coun- captain Anil Kumble told journalists at the close to dropping him, but then realized that time to settle in at international level, as he try in 19 Tests so far. pre-match media conference yesterday.He they didn’t have anyone in form claiming hadn’t played much first class cricket. But The Sri Lankans will drop Nuwan was referring to India’s famous fight back stakes for the position. his success has been amazing. He has sur- Kulasekara, who has managed just one seven years ago The thought of backing uncapped SSC prised a lot of people including some of us. wicket in two Tests, but who will take his where Steve opener Tharanga Paranavithana was enter- He’s a smart guy and thinks a lot of what he place was a question that captain Mahela Waugh’s tained for a while, but captain Jayawardene should be doing and gets a lot of input from Jayawardene was pondering last evening. has maintained that three knocks is not us as well. He’ll definitely improve as a Thilan Tushara Mirando is next in line good enough to judge a player. In fairness bowler I am sure.” ahead of Dhammika Prasad, but the to Van Dort, he has done well in condi- Of the four star Indian batsmen, only prospect of the hosts going in with two left- tions in Australia and England when Sachin Tendulkar has been named in the arm seamers (Chaminda Vaas being the Sri Lanka’s batting had collapsed on a squad that will play Sri Lanka in the five spearhead), could entice the Sri few occasions, but he was all at sea in match ODI series. While their omissions Lankans to award Prasad his Test the second innings in Galle. should motivate Indian batsmen, Tendulkar cap. “We had a chat with Michael and too has reasons to be pumped up as Brian No one imagined that Sri there shouldn’t be any undue pressure Lara’s world record for most runs in Tests Lanka will be faced on him as he was batting well before has kept eluding him in this series. But a with the this Test. He had three innings in this century at the P.Sara will help him to equal series and not four. And he hadn’t been Lara and one more run will not only take him past the great man, but also put India in Sri Lanka’s captain Mahela a strong position. Jayawardene (right) has backed opener Sri Lanka (from): Malinda Warnapura, Michael Van Dort ahead Michael Van Dort, Kumar Sangakkara, of the deciding third Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Thilan Samaraweera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Test Match against Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, India that begins at Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan, the P. Thilan Tushara Mirando and Dhammika Saravanamuttu Prasad. India: (Probable XI): Gautam Gambhir, Stadium in Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Colombo. Van Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly,V.V.S. Laxman, Dort has man- Parthiv Patel, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan aged scores of Singh, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma. Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (RSA) and 3,4 and 10 in Mark Benson (Eng) three innings in Television Referral umpire: Billy the series so far. Doctrove (WI) Pic by Gemunu 3rd Umpire: T.H. Wijewardene Amarasinghe. Match Referee: Alan Hurst (AUS) P. Sara Stadium gets new look by Rex Clementine The country’s first Test ground, the P. Saravanamuttu Oval, has received streamlined renovation with yet another phase of ground development completed ahead of the Third and final Test Match between Sri Lanka and India. The latest modifications are on the Dr. Ranjan Shanmugam Stand, named after a former General Secretary of the Club, which is located above the old Mahadevan Sathasivam Stand. The new stand has several hospitality boxes for the VIPs and is up to modern stan- Indian cricketers at training yesterday at the P. Sara Stadium with the renovated Sathi Coomaraswamy dards. Stand at the background. Pic by Eranga Jayawardene. The Mahadevan Sathasivam Stand also has The bar also houses a photo- Coomaraswamy. Tamil Union ties, viewing blocks, a dormi- seen several renovations. The graph of Muttiah officials said that for both the tory and an electronic score- legendary Sathasivam was the Muralitharan, the world’s Sathi Coomaraswamy Stand board at an estimated cost of epitome of the happy-go-lucky leading wicket taker. and Dr. Ranjan Shanmugam Rs. 75 million and will start sort of bloke. It seems apt that Muralitharan plays domestic Stand, families of both those soon. siting the bar in the cricket for Tamil Union. There too had contributed. Since the development Sathasivam Stand reminds are also unique pictures of Sri The new renovations work began eight years ago, one of the batting stylist’s fast Lanka’s first Test Match and made at a massive cost have Tamil Union has put up a track lifestyle. the one that catches the eye is upgraded the ground to world Sports Complex, which also The stand named after one that of the former President class standards, and the comprises the club’s gym. of the greatest cricketers the J.R. Jayawardene greeting Tamil Union C & AC hopes to Then there’s also the swim- land has produced has also a England icon Sir Ian Botham, complete the development ming pool next to the Media collection or rare pictures and termed ‘Bionic Botham’ in his programme that was begun Center. The two dressing memorabilia. It has a photo- heyday.