***Official*** India in Sri Lanka

[Arjun]

India's packed schedule does it again. The Asia Cup is over, but they're off to Sri Lanka in ten days. The good thing is that they've got Tests first and then the one-dayers, so there's a break for the tired ODI team.

Tour Match v tbc - Jul 18-20, 2008

1st Test v Sri Lanka at Colombo (SSC) - Jul 23-27, 2008 (10:30 local, 05:00 GMT)

2nd Test v Sri Lanka at Galle - Jul 31-Aug 4, 2008 (10:30 local, 05:00 GMT)

3rd Test v Sri Lanka at Colombo (PSS) - Aug 8-12, 2008 (10:30 local, 05:00 GMT)

Tour Match v tbc at Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo - Aug 15, 2008 (10:00 local, 04:30 GMT)

You can stick this up as official if needed. I wonder when that plane lands, so it will be a lot sooner than expected.

 

[ret]

Murali and Mendis could pose quite a challenge for the Indian batsmen in SL

Dhoni deserves some rest after his marathon like effort, both keeping and batting in tests and ODIs in Australia, IPL, BD tri-series and Asia Cup. May be Karthik should come in, even though I m not so confident abt his keeping in tests

and who should open with Sehwag? Gambhir or Kartik or someone new or may be Rohit? .... other Q is that who should partner Kumble as the 2nd spinner?

 

[silentstriker]

Couldn't give a toss for the ODI team. Looking forward to some real cricket again. Let's hope Tendulkar has recovered, and they've spend a lot of time looking at Mendis.

Mendis may find Rahul Dravid in a Test match a much different prospect than Suresh Raina, but then again, considering the total cluelessness that the entire lineup exhibited, you can never be sure.

 

[ret]

the oldies didn't do that well in the last test series in bowler friendly conditions, except for Ganguly, who surprised on a green top at A'bad and the turner at Kanpur .... so will be interesting to see how they go

 

[Uppercut]

What's the team news for Sri Lanka, is Mendis likely to make his debut? Are Malinga and Prassana Jawardene fit to play?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Seems like this Indian team is on two years of continuous cricket. Madness.

 

[Manee]

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Gautam Gambhir
3. VVS Laxman
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Sourav Ganguly
6. Rahul Dravid
7. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk)
8. Irfan Pathan
9. Harbhajan Singh
10. Anil Kumble (capt)
11. Ishant Sharma

Assuming that Zaheer is unfit. I feel that Irfan Pathan can play an important role as a Vaas-esque 75mph seamer who steadily hits the lines and lengths as the pitches become slower and lower. If Dhoni needs a rest, then Dinesh Karthik should be adequate as he is a fine keeper and not too bad a lower order batsman.

 

[Uppercut]

Isn't Rahul Dravid liable to get stranded on about 50 batting at 6?

 

[unccricket]

its not that big of a deal as rahul dravid hasn't been playing well. would much rather see laxman at #3 as he's been in good form. If dravid regains his form, then by all means promote him to #3.

Can't wait to see BHAJJI back in action!

 

[itduzz]

Pak have a good 6 weeks rest before CT

 

[Uppercut]

I guess. Sticking your most defensive-minded batsman at 6 just goes a bit against cricket logic in my book. Also Dravid has never seemed to react well to being shunted about the order.

 

[itduzz]

Good lcuk to India to face 60 overs of Mendis & Murali every day in tests

 

[Uppercut]

They are quite ridiculously good players of spin, mind.

 

[itduzz]

They are quite ridiculously good players of spin, mind.

ya we saw that today...

 

[Uppercut]

Emphasis on the word ridiculous.


Nah but seriously, it's a completely different team and if Laxman, Ganguly and co. can't play them then noone can. Which may well be the case.

 

[silentstriker]

Emphasis on the word ridiculous.


Nah but seriously, it's a completely different team and if Laxman, Ganguly and co. can't play them then noone can. Which may well be the case.

The question might be the time they've had to see and analyze him. Do they have enough video? If they go in blind and unsure, they may be in for a surprise.

My team for the tracks in Lanka:

1. Sehwag
2. Jaffer
3. Dravid
4. Tendulkar
5. Ganguly
6. Laxman
7. Dhoni
8. Kumble
9. Harbhajan
10. Zaheer
11. Sharma

 

[honestbharani]

I am not too sure about how good Mendis is going to be. His line of attack and his plan A seems to be to bowl straight and get the ball to spin just a slight bit, either way... In test matches, when batsmen are prepared to defend you all day, it might not be that difficult to play him.



That said, it was a flat track at Karachi and maybe his spin will be a much more potent weapon on a turner in home conditions. With his natural variations, even a little bit of help from the pitch, esp. uneven bounce could end up making him almost unplayable... What an exciting talent...

 

[Jonty Lathwal]

Well.......a new team should go to Sri Lanka.........especially new bowlers.......
bowlers coz thry were a total failure in Asia Cup.........

Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar are must in the team,,,,

 

[Arjun]

Well.......a new team should go to Sri Lanka.........especially new bowlers.......
bowlers coz thry were a total failure in Asia Cup.........

Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar are must in the team,,,,

Agree partly

• New bowlers are needed, at least for this tour. The bowlers who last played were new anyway. Zaheer should come back and blast through the Lankan team, nothing less.
• No more Ajit Agarkar, please! We've had enough.

 

[Arjun]

I am not too sure about how good Mendis is going to be. His line of attack and his plan A seems to be to bowl straight and get the ball to spin just a slight bit, either way... In test matches, when batsmen are prepared to defend you all day, it might not be that difficult to play him.



That said, it was a flat track at Karachi and maybe his spin will be a much more potent weapon on a turner in home conditions. With his natural variations, even a little bit of help from the pitch, esp. uneven bounce could end up making him almost unplayable... What an exciting talent...

Srt Lanka had unearthed a pace sensation way back in the 2000's. That was Dilhara Fernando, and look at where he is now. We then saw another pace sensation in the late 2000's known as Malinga, but he's sitting out. We wonder, how long will Mendis keep up his great form. He's got two more tournaments in line now. Great find for Lanka. Let's just hope he doesn't fall away like every new 'find' for India, who are compelled to go back to their 'lost generation' time and again.