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Team effort holds the key for India’s fightback

S. Ram Mahesh

Kumble and Harbhajan can’t afford to be out-bowled again by the Lankan spin duo

— PHOTO: AFP

TIME TO MAKE AMENDS: Anil Kumble has a poor track record in Sri Lanka and will be determined to set the record straight in the next two Tests.

Galle: In recent times, whenever India has appeared bedraggled abroad, the bowlers have led the charge. They did it in England, fashioning a glorious series win; they did it in Australia, but were stymied by elements they had little control over.

Perhaps emboldened by the success of their less glamorous mates, the batsmen have then expressed themselves with a luminosity that is entirely their own.

It is to this double act that India must turn in the second Test, starting at the Galle International Stadium on Thursday, if it is to nurse ambitions of winning the three-match series.

Trying their best

Overwhelmed at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) by an innings and 239 runs last week, the Indians have had little time to turn things around, but they have tried their darnedest. They travelled to Galle on what might have been the fifth day, sandpapered their fielding the next day after finding the practice wickets wet, and registered two full days of cricket training.

They will know that they can scarcely play worse than they did in the first Test. That, while mildly reassuring, doesn’t gladden the heart, for the co-ordinates of conflict remain unaltered.

It rained here on Wednesday morning, misting the grand fort that backdrops the stadium, and turning the sea rough, but the playing strip — covered overnight — was mottled brown and bone-dry. Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, likened the strip’s nature to its cousin’s at the SSC — with perhaps a touch more bounce.

“We definitely asked them some questions in the first Test and they didn’t have the answers,” said Jayawardene, referring to the trial by ruthless batting and two-pronged spin. “We will have to find out if they have the answers for that yet. If they have answers, we will start asking different questions.”

Greater role

India needs to start asking questions of its own. Its new-ball bowlers will find greater assistance here than they did in the first Test. The breeze from the sea courses across the ground, funnelled by the ramparts of the fort and the stadium’s modestly built structure. Swing can be had — as Chaminda Vaas will confirm — as can bite in morning’s soft light.

Both Indian spinners, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, had moments of genuine quality in Colombo. But against batsmen who play Muttiah Muralitharan (and now Ajantha Mendis) every other day in the nets, their profligacy was punished. Kumble was particularly unlucky to have Jayawardene dropped twice, and finished wicketless. Harbhajan, who had Thilan Samaraweera let off, managed two.

Poor show

Neither’s record in Sri Lanka connotes the sort of potency a top-line spinner fancies. Kumble’s 22 wickets have cost him slightly over 48 runs (per wicket), with each wicket requiring an investment of more than 16 overs. Harbhajan’s nine wickets have come at a rate of one every 20 overs and 63 runs. This is as good a time as any to correct these numbers; India certainly can’t afford the pair to be out-bowled again by Muralitharan and Mendis.

The Indian batsmen have watched footage of the spinners over the last few days to better understand their unorthodoxies. “The batsmen are experienced enough to work out the best option for them in the middle,” said Kumble, adding that he foresaw no changes in the line-up.

Karthik to keep

The Indian captain confirmed that Dinesh Karthik would keep wicket. “It’s very wrong to point fingers at one player in the team,” he said referring to Karthik’s nightmare at the SSC.

“He’s a quality player and I’m sure he’ll show his class here.”

Sri Lanka has lost just two of the 12 Tests played here, although the constant threat of rain has meant the side has won no more than six.

The result of the toss doesn’t appear to matter: four matches have been won by the side batting first, four by the side bowling first.

This is the second Test at the ground after its rehabilitation. Reduced to a salt-encrusted marsh after the tsunami, the ground has since transformed to a world-class facility.

Records beckon

It remains to be seen if it retains its fondness for records. Shane Warne took his 500th Test wicket here.

There are others lined up: Muralitharan needs nine for 100 wickets at this venue; Rahul Dravid is poised to become India’s second-highest run-getter; Sachin Tendulkar needs 133 to pass Brian Lara’s record run aggregate.

A splendid Test match will round things off nicely.

The sides (from):

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt.), Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara, Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva and Dammika Prasad.

India: Anil Kumble (capt.), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, R.P. Singh, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha and Parthiv Patel.

Umpires: Billy Doctrove and Rudi Koertzen.

Third umpire: Mark Benson.

Match referee: Alan Hurst.

Hours of play (IST): 10.15 a.m. to 12.15 p.m., 12.55 p.m. to 2.55 p.m. and 3.15 p.m. till close.

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