Wednesday 2nd December, 2009 Test cricket returns to Brabourne after 36 years Last chance for Sri Lanka to break Indian jinx Rex Clementine reporting from Mumbai hen Sri Lanka arrived in India, many thought the islanders had Wtheir best opportunity to win their first Test match in this country. They had Muttiah Muralitharan touring India for the first time since becoming the highest wicket taker in the world and Sri Lanka’s formidable middle order comprising Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera, had enjoyed a purple patch during the last 24 months. But three weeks into the tour, they have already conceded a 1-0 advantage to the hosts, after losing the second Test in Kanpur by a massive innings and 144 runs and in Bombay in the third and final Test that starts today, they will have their last opportunity and probably the best in a long time to beat India, in India. Their quest to set the record straight in India also comes against the back- drop of an historical moment, as the Brabourne Stadium, the home of the Cricket Club of India, here in Bombay, make it to the final 11 ahead of Dilhara hosts its first Test match after 36 long Fernando, who was a last minute years. replacement to the squad for the injured Sri Lanka Southern Bombay has as many as Thilan Thushara. “In the last two to losing the second three Test grounds. The Bombay three series, Kulasekara has been an Test in Edgbaston Gymkhana, merely a kilometre away asset to us in Test and ODI cricket. Kule after a high scor- from the Brabourne Stadium, hosted has the edge. Dilhara, however, is com- ing draw at Lord’s India’s first ever Test match in 1933, ing into the side after a while and he’s and going one nil while Brabourne hosted its first Test in been bowling well with a lot of control down to the final 1948. After the 1973 series against and pace. It’s a tough choice, but we’ll Test in Trent England, Test cricket was shifted to the make that tough decision today,” Bridge, they beat Wankhede Stadium, situated just half a Sangakkara said. England comprehen- kilometre from Brabourne. India too will make just one change sively, to square the The venue has now got an opportuni- as opener Gautam Gambhir, who has series 1-1. ty to stage a Test match as Wankhede, scored four back to back hundreds, Later, Mahela which will host the final of the 2011 decided to skip the Test to attend the Jayawardene’s side Cricket World Cup, is under reconstruc- wedding of his sister. He’s been replaced whitewashed England tion. by Tamil Nadu opener Murali Vijay, who 5-0 in the ODIs that Leading up to the Test match, the has played one Test - last year when followed. focus was on Muralitharan, who said in Gambhir was banned for elbowing Then again a few India captain M. S. Dhoni Sri Lanka captain K. Sangakkara Kanpur that he may retire from interna- months later, they Australian Shane Watson. They will bounce back and that’s what Tharanga tional cricket before the 2011 World Cup. were beaten in “Gautam is the batsman in form and they are expected to do. It doesn’t matter Paranavithana, T. M. Dilshan, Kumar Sri Lankan captain Sangakkara, how- Christchurch in a two we need to exploit that opportunity. He’s whether you have lost the last game or Sangakkara (Captain), Mahela ever, backed his senior most players and match series against New Zealand, but scored two hundreds in two Test match- won the last game. In every game, you Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, said that Muralitharan gave his team when the teams traveled to North Island, es against us. When a quality player like have to start from scratch,” he said. Angelo Mathews, Prasanna the best opportunity to beat India in they beat the Kiwis in Wellington. The that is out, there is huge a void, but then A win here will help Dhoni’s team to Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, India. Muralitharan was nursing a side exploits of Muralitharan was a key fac- it also means that the new guy who grab the number one rank in Test crick- Rangana Herath, Muttiah Muralitharan strain, but he’s expected to play in tor in both Tests. comes in will be really hungry to make a et from South Africa, but Dhoni said his and Chanaka Welagedara. today’s game in what could be his last “A Test win is great when it’s at home mark,” Sangakkara added. team shouldn’t put unwanted pressure Test match overseas. and it’s greater when it’s away from The wicket here at Brabourne is on themselves by worrying about too India (Probable XI): Sri Lanka, who played three spinners home. That’s the motivation we have in expected to behave much to the liking of many things. Murali Vijay, Virender Sehwag, Rahul in Kanpur, will make just one change for this series. We have accepted the fact the bowlers, compared to Ahmedabad “Winning the series is more impor- Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V. V. S. the final Test by brining in an additional that we didn’t play well in Kanpur and and Kanpur as it has got additional tant. It will of course reflect in the rank- Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, M. S. Dhoni seam bowler at the expense of a spinner. we have another opportunity to put pres- bounce and the sea breeze is expected to ings. But you don’t want to be under (Captain and wicketkeeper), Harbhajan Ajantha Mendis has been ruled out of sure on the Indians and win here,” assist the seam bowlers. pressure. If we keep winning and do Singh, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha and the side while Dammika Prasad, who Sangakkara said. The Sri Lankans have a knack of well, rankings will take care of them- S. Sreeshanth. played the first Test, also has been ruled Indian skipper M. S. Dhoni, mean- bouncing back in Test series away from selves,” Dhoni added. Umpires: Nigel Llong (Eng) and out with a hamstring injury. while, warned that Sri Lanka could home after conceding the early lead. The Sri Lanka (Probable XI): Darrel Harper (Aus) Nuwan Kulasekara is expected to historical tour of England in 2006 saw bounce back. “They are a good side. Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ) Sanga, Dhoni back Murali Rex Clementine reporting from up and win a match for us,” don’t think there’s anything to be Bombay Sangakkara, who kept wickets for concerned about when we talk about Sri Lankan captain Kumar Muralitharan during his formative Murali in our side. We know and feel Sangakkara and his Indian counter- years of international cricket said of that he’s a valued member for us and part M.S. Dhoni backed off-spinner his vice-captain. as long as he wants to be with us we Muttiah Muralitharan, who has Muralitharan was so upset about really respect that fact and enjoy that struggled in the two Tests he has his form that he even hinted that he he’s with us on the playing field,” the played here in India so far. could retire from international crick- Sri Lankan captain further said. Muralitharan - the world’s highest et completely before next year’s Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni shared wicket taker has picked up just five World Cup, the original deadline he similar sentiments when he was wickets in the two Tests Matches so had given for his international asked about his Chennai Super far. retirement. Kings team-mate. “He’s not got much However, Sangakkara said that “Murali has been talking of assistance from the wicket. The bats- Muralitharan’s poor returns here retirement for two years. He’s been men also have played him well. They were due to a combination of factors. very realistic about himself and his are playing him for a long time now. “I think Murali is a bowler who career and that’s something we If you see our schedule, every year has done much for Sri Lanka. One respect about him. There’s a lot more we go out there or they come over day he can have an off day. That’s left in him to help us win Test here. So our top order and middle how cricket goes. That doesn’t mean Matches and I think he realizes order have seen quite a bit of that he’s any worse a bowler. He’s that,” Sangakkara said. Murali. We sort of have an idea as to still in my opinion the best spinner “The frequency that we play each what are his strengths and how to in the world. When you have that other and the fact that four Indian plan an innings. That’s one of the quality in the side you have to back batsmen have played Murali for reasons. He’s been made to work that quality and ability. Muri is still about four to five years continuously harder to get those wickets. Not that An Indian police officer takes photos of Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan during a practice session ahead of the third way ahead in our attack and we back does help. He’s still got that motiva- he’s lost anything. He’s still a very test cricket match between India and Sri Lanka, in Mumbai, India, Monday, Nov. 30, 2009. (AP) him hundred percent. He can turn tion to do it for us.