By Gaurang
August 7 2008

After the brain-numbing, bowler-destroying, flat pitches in 1997, resulted in 5 straight draws, India and Sri Lanka did not face each other in a Test series for nearly half a decade. But since the series in Sri Lanka in late 2001, India and Sri Lanka have played each other eight times with only one weather induced draw, in Chennai in 2005, where just over 100 overs were possible.

In the other seven Tests, the record stands at 4-3 in favor of India.  This is as close as a rivarly can  get.  Admittedly, the India-Sri Lanka rivalry lacks the visceral antipathy on both sides that the India-Pakistan rivalry has been famous for, though the recent encounters between these traditional foes has been more Bollywood Than Blood Feud.  What the India-Sri Lanka rivalry lacks in that gut level appeal, is more than made up for, in the appeal to the cricketing connoisseur that the rivalry presents.  It has batsmen of high quality on both sides, taking on superb bowlers of all types: pace, seam, swing, spin, in contests that are fierce on the field but friendly off it.  Nothing epitomizes the best traditions of the game better than this. 

Appropriately, in less than twenty-four hours, the two rivals will renew battle for the ninth time, and the series is on a razor’s edge.  The setting is the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo, which must hold the record for the city with most Test match grounds.  The last Test match at the PSS, between Sri Lanka and a top tier opponent was versus South Africa in 2006.  That match resulted in a 1 wicket win for Sri Lanka who just about managed to chase down 351 runs, losing 9 wickets in the process.  It was edge of the seat stuff, where fortunes fluctuated constantly and though only one century was scored, by Jayawardane in the fourth innings, to lead his side to a famous victory, no side scored less than 300 runs in any innings, and bowlers as diverse as Ntini, Pollock, Styen, Muralitharan, and Malinga were all among the wickets.  If the upcoming match comes anywhere close to this one in terms of tautness and tension, it will be a Humdinger, worthy of the newest rivalry on the subcontinent, and will prove that Test cricket, can be the most riveting form of the game. 

Sri Lanka v. India: Definitely Thums Up!

Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 07/08/2008 18:17

Indian Cricket Fever
07/08/2008 18:17

Sri Lanka v. India: Definitely Thums Up!

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Meet_New_Mr_India
07/08/2008 18:28

India should bag this easily...

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Birbal
07/08/2008 18:31

I too think India will win...but I think it will be far from easy...

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ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....

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ananthd
07/08/2008 18:32

I'm not so sure...

The Indian batters barring Sehwag, Sachin & Gambo haven't picked Mendis at all and these three are likely to bat 1-3...

With Yuvraj, Rohit & Raina coming in, I'm not that confident India can do it if the top order falters...

Also SL should get Maharoof & Malinga back; much better than the scrubs they are throwing in now...

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Birbal
07/08/2008 18:39

I think you are talking about the ODIs ananthd..

This article is about the final Test...

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ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....

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ananthd
07/08/2008 18:41

My bad, I posted in the wrong thread, gulp

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Meet_New_Mr_India
07/08/2008 18:42

We have advantage of Zaheer and Ishant... Indians have read Mendis quite well in 2nd test I would say including top 2 dravid and tendu. I cannot say same thing about ganguly/Karthik.. laxman was a mixed bag.. In any case it will have to be a team effort..

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ananthd
07/08/2008 18:43

As for this Test, the toss will decide if this is a draw or a win for India...

Also this Dhammika Prasad character may surprise a few(he sure did in the tour match)...

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Birbal
07/08/2008 18:43

No problemo, we got the gist of it...

And part of it still applies here...

India's Test middle order is just as weak...against the Mendis and Murali Menace...

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ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....

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ananthd
07/08/2008 18:44

Karthik looked pretty comfortable with the bat in the last Test

He wasn't out in the first innings(didn't use the review) and in the second innings he looked pretty good...

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Birbal
07/08/2008 18:51

But if CI is to be believed Parthiv may be playing...

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ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....

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ananthd
07/08/2008 18:53

Yes I think PP will play...

My point was being aggressive(the MO of Karthik) was finally working and should be a cue to some others; Ganguly absolutely struggled. Karthik in the second innings was stepping down and taking it on the full...

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bantu
07/08/2008 19:42

Now all the websites say parthiv is in for DK..........
Match will be a draw with series tied at 1-1

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Birbal
08/08/2008 14:21

Once again as predicted Indian middle order collapses in a heap...

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Meet_New_Mr_India
08/08/2008 18:14

lets hope, fast bowlers come to our rescue yet once again..

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Birbal
08/08/2008 18:22

Yeah it will have to be Ishant and Zakky with the ball too...

Kumble has been FACKING PATHETIC since becoming cappo...

In 2008 his bowling averge is 45 runs per wicket...slightly worse than Ajit Agarkar's...

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ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:08:18:24:16 by Birbal.

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ananthd
08/08/2008 18:41

If this Prasad guy pans out SL seem to have a decent attack for the future...

Fernando, Malinga, Maharoof, Prasad don't seem that bad

Of course,

M&M are more than good right now...

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Max
08/08/2008 19:27

Quote:

ananthd
Fernando, Malinga, Maharoof, Prasad don't seem that bad

Maharoof is an ODI specialist...his Test record is very poor. Fernando is too inconsistent to be effective in Test matches...similar to Agarkar. And it's too early to say anything about Prasad. Indian batsmen have the habit of making debutant bowlers look like world beaters...who then fade away quickly against other teams. Malinga is the one guy SL will pin their hopes on.

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

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Birbal
08/08/2008 19:55

Agree...Malinga is the real deal...we are also forgetting Vaas...though he must be getting really long in the tooth...but still a very canny bowler in the right circumstances...and the guy can hold a bat...

_____

ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...

BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....

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Max
09/08/2008 07:01

Regarding the Ind-SL rivalry. It should be noted that Sri Lanka are yet to win a Test match in India. While India have won a Test each in 3 out of their last 4 tours to SL (including this one).

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

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Birbal
09/08/2008 08:49

That is a very valid point Max...Lanka are still clearly TIGERS AT HOME @#$%& CATS ABROAD...

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