Muralitharan to miss T20 opener

Sri Lanka's star off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is likely to miss Wednesday's first Twenty20 International against India.
Visiting captain Kumar Sangakkara said Murali has not yet to recover from a bruised ligament injury on his fingers.

"We don't have any injury worries apart from Murali who is probably out of Wednesday's Twenty20 tie because of bruised ligaments on his fingers," Sangakkara said.

In the just concluded Test rubber, Muralitharan was punished severely by the Indians particularly by Virender Sehwag in the third and final match in Mumbai.

Sangakkara said his team would focus on doing well in the remaining part of the tour having been vanquished 0-2 by India in the three-Test series.

"Test series is over and behind us. This is a new series and a new format and new players have come in. We would focus on it now. We will try and do a few things differently. The important thing is to enjoy the first T20 match," he said.

Sangakkara also made it clear that veteran Sanath Jayasuriya would definitely open the innings in the Twenty20 ties against India, the second match being scheduled at Mohali on December 12, while his position at the top of the order would be decided later in ODIs.

The Lankans have brought in 40-year-old Jayasuriya and sling-arm bowler Lasith Malinga, among others, into their limited-over squad.

"Sanath will open in T20s. It's only in ODIs his opening the innings is not certain. He's excellent on the field and will put to shade even 20-year-olds. His bowling is also one of our most potent weapons," said Sangakkara who also said he would be keeping wickets on Wednesday.

"I hope so," he said when asked if he would be doing the stumper's job in the five ODIs that starts from December 15.

The visiting captain described his predecessor Mahela Jayawardene as his team's best Twenty20 player and among the top five in this format in the world though the latter is known better for his qualities as a long-innings customer.

"Mahela is our best Twenty20 batsman and is among the top five batsmen in the world in this format. He's got the power, strokes and placements to excel inTests, ODIs and T20s. See how well he did in the Twenty20 World Cup," he pointed out.

Sangakkara refused to predict a winning score at the VCA stadium in Jamtha.

"I have not played here before and can't say for sure, but anything over 160 should be a good score," he said.

Asked about a change in guard at the top in the IPL franchise team Punjab King's XI, who have decided to replace
Yuvraj Singh with him, as reported by a TV channel, Sangakkara said he did not know about the development.

"I am hearing it for the first time. I have not heard anything about this. I will be going to Mohali in a few days' time and if anything like this is there I will hear it. I feel an IPL franchise will benefit with an Indian as captain. It's a great franchise to play for," he declared.

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No reason why we can't score 400 tomorrow - Trevor Bayliss

Trevor Bayliss, the Sri Lanka coach, has said that setting India a target of "150 on a wearing wicket" was probably the best his team could hope for at this stage, after the hosts took a 333-run first innings lead on the third day in Mumbai.

"From a win point of view, it just doesn't look right at the moment but, on day one when there was a bit in the track, we made 366 for 8 having lost a few wickets in the middle," Bayliss said. "If our top-order batters can get us off to a good start and bat for a long time there is no reason why we can't score 400 in a day tomorrow. It needs some very hard work and the players I am sure are capable of doing it. Who knows what the wicket will be like on day five?"

Sri Lanka had to bat out three overs after India's declaration on 726 for 9 and they reached 11 for no loss at stumps. Bayliss said the team was looking to their "three big players" and hoped for solid contributions from Nos. 3, 4, and 5 - the out-of-form Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera.

Bayliss, however, said that he was happy the way Sri Lanka fought back today to capture eight Indian wickets, in a manner similar to the second Test in Kanpur. "I was very happy with the boys - the same as the second Test when we faced 417 for 2 and we came back the next day, taking 225 for 8. It would have been quite easy to have gone for a lot more runs than we did, but we stuck to it and showed a bit of fight and character. We were just up against unbelievable batting from [Virender] Sehwag."

"The guys tried most things, different fields, bowling different sides of the wicket but [no matter] where they put the ball he [Sehwag] was skillful enough to put it away into the gaps. It was one of those days you needed 20 fielders out there."

Muttiah Muralitharan, who had gone wicketless and taking a hiding on the second day, made a comeback of sorts on day three. He dismissed Sehwag early and went on to take three more wickets, finishing with 195 for 4. "Murali is very philosophical about things. During his career this is not the first time it's happened to him," Bayliss said. "For a guy who has taken so many wickets it has not happened to him very often. He realises that's what happens in Test cricket on good wickets against very good players. Today Murali got four wickets and showed that he is still able to take wickets at this level."

After a day on which an edge from Rahul Dravid and a close lbw shout against Sachin Tendulkar were both given not out, Bayliss said he did not know why the umpire review system was not being used in this series. Tillakaratne Dilshan, too, was erroneously given out bat-pad in the first innings soon after reaching his century.

"The question that's got to be asked is, why the referral system is being used in every other series barring this one, when the ICC said that it should be used after October 1," Bayliss said. "No one's explained to us yet why it's not being used when it's being used everywhere else in the world. If Dilshan was able to go and make a big score in the first innings, things might have been a bit different."

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Murali set to weave magic in final overseas test

MUMBAI, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The stage is set for master spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to weave his magic against India in his farewell overseas test, Tillakaratne Dilshan said after guiding Sri Lanka to a fighting score on Wednesday.

"In the dressing room he's very excited as the track offers some bounce and turn," Dilshan told reporters after striking 109 as the tourists made 366 for eight at stumps in the final test. "He'll be able to do big damage in the next couple of days."

Sri Lanka opted to bat first but Dilshan said Muralitharan was wringing his hands in glee at the chance to bowl on a sporting pitch for the first time on this tour.

The world record holder for test and one-day international wickets will retire from the longer format of the game next year and the visitors are hoping he can help them record a first test win on Indian soil to square the series at 1-1.

The 37-year-old Muralitharan had a rough time in the first two matches, picking up five wickets at a cost of 396 runs on unhelpful pitches.

However, a more favourable track on Wednesday helped off-spinner Harbhajan Singh derive turn and jump to claim four wickets that saw India rally.

"This is a very good test wicket. The bowlers, if they bowl in the right areas, can exploit the conditions," said Dilshan, who shared in three crucial partnerships including 74 for the fifth wicket with Angelo Mathews who remained unbeaten on 86.

Dilshan, who scored his second century of the series, was unlucky to be given out to Harbhajan as television replays showed the ball had not hit the bat before popping to short-leg.

"If the referrals system was there, I'd still be batting out there," he said of the contentious Umpires Decision Review System which is not being used in this series.

"It's not easy to bat and I thought the two spinners had an excellent day out there," he added.

"We should try and get more than 400 runs. Angelo is looking good out there and Murali, if he can get us 20-30 runs, and if we pass 400 -- it's going to be good for us."

Sri Lanka, yet to win a test in India since their first visit in 1982, trail 1-0 in the three-match series after losing the second test by an innings and 144 runs.

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Murali isn't struggling - Kumar Sangakkara

Muttiah Muralitharan may have played one of his most forgettable Tests in Ahmedabad last week but he isn't "struggling", his captain has said. Kumar Sangakkara did, however, concede that it was "unusual" for Murali to have gone wicketless in India's second innings, the first time in his career when he's bowled at least 20 overs.

"Murali is not struggling. He is just finding himself again in a new way. I'm a very strong believer he is our match-winner still," Sangakkara said after a long practice session ahead of the second Test in Kanpur. He said it was natural for the team to depend on Murali for an impact but he was not getting unduly flustered at this stage about the form of his most experienced and successful bowler.

Spinners are likely to play an important role on the Green Park pitch, which both captains agreed was dry beneath the light grass covering. The question remains about the pace and bounce of the track but it is expected to take turn later in the game as the surface gets drier. In the first Test Sri Lanka preferred the left-armer Rangana Herath as Murali's slow-ball partner, a choice that drew mixed reactions. He was picked largely because of his good form in the preceding home series against Pakistan and New Zealand but, as he toiled at Motera, picking up three wickets in 62 overs, the feeling grew that Ajantha Mendis, with his unorthodox action and bowling style, would've been a better bet.

However, circumstances - in the form of an injury to new-ball bowler Dammika Prasad - may present Sangakkara with the opportunity to do something unusual to secure Sri Lanka's first-ever Test win in India. "Prasad's injury means we can play three spinners if we want to," he said. "Ajantha is always in the reckoning and [fast bowler Dilhara] Fernando has also been bowling quite fast and accurately."

Unlike India, Sri Lanka have an allrounder in Angelo Mathews, who could play as either a specialist bowler or a batsman. His dual role creates space for an extra bowler who could either be another spinner or a fast bowler at this stage, Sangakkara said.

Fernando, who joined the squad after Thilan Thushara returned home with a shoulder injury, has been in good rhythm back home playing club cricket and hence is not short of match practice. "It is very easy for him to fit into the side, he's a great guy to have in the dressing room. He has been bowling quite fast and accurate and if he does play tomorrow's Test match, it will be very good for us," Sangakkara said.

He hoped the Green Park pitch would not be like the "placid" Motera track last week. "There is bit more grass on it but it is quite dry underneath, but again unless we play we don't know how it will behave. But we have to back ourselves on any wicket. Our attitude would to keep trying and if you do that something might happen."

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Muralitharan stars in Sri Lanka win

Masterful spinner Muttiah Muralitharan claimed three wickets as Sri Lanka completed an easy 202-run victory over New Zealand.
New Zealand, resuming on 30 for one and needing 383 more to overhaul a target of 413 for an unlikely victory, were instead bowled out for 210 just before tea as Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series on the final day of the first Test in Galle.

It's all about numbers

Left-arm fast bowler Thilan Thushara set the tone with an outstanding spell in the morning, giving the home side crucial early breakthroughs with the wickets of Martin Guptill (18) and Tim McIntosh (nought).

Part-time bowler Mahela Jayawardene then dismissed Ross Taylor (16) before Muralitharan and fellow spinner Ajantha Mendis picked off the remaining wickets to complete victory in a Test which had been hit by rain from the first day.

The final day, however, began in bright weather and the Black Caps' overnight pair of Taylor and Guptill started cautiously against Sri Lanka' fast bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara and Thushara.

Click here to follow all the action as it unfolded
Kulasekara, who started off proceedings with the ball for the home side, began with successive maidens, while Thushara conceded just two from his first two overs.

At the start of his third over, Thushara decided to come around the wicket to Guptill and immediately struck with a beauty of a delivery which swung into the right-hander and moved away a touch off the seam, hitting the top of off-stump.
Thushara then dismissed McIntosh, who had top-scored with a gritty 69 in the first innings, for an eight-ball duck although credit ought to go to Thilan Samaraweera.

Fielding at third slip, Samaraweera grasped the edge just inches from the ground and while McIntosh stood his ground, the dismissal was confirmed by the television umpire.

Top Performer: Tillakaratne Dilshan
Surprisingly, Jayawardene was the first bowling change in the morning session and he was immediately rewarded with the wicket of Taylor.
Jayawardene, bowling a mixture of off-spin and medium pace, drifted down leg and Taylor obliged with the edge which was neatly snaffled by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori (67), who had promoted himself up the order, had stemmed the tide somewhat with a 41-run stand for fifth wicket.

Oram had begun positively, but lived dangerously when the spinners came on. He eventually fell while attempting to sweep Mendis, only to be rapped right in front by the spinner.

It left the visitors tottering at 125 for five at the lunch interval and the Sri Lankans made short work of the lower half of the order once play resumed after the break.

Jesse Ryder was Muralitharan's first victim, caught by Prasanna for 24, while Vettori's battling innings was ended in similar fashion by Mendis.

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The spinner got one to turn sharply from the rough and Vettori, who had earlier brought up his 20th Test half-century with a single off Thushara, feathered an edge which was neatly snaffled by the wicketkeeper.

His dismissal left Brendon McCullum battling with the tail, but they were no match for Mendis and Muralitharan.

Jeetan Patel was Muralitharan's second victim, stumped for 22, while Iain O'Brien made only five when he was caught by Tharanga Paranavitana at short leg off Muralitharan.

The spinner brought the curtains down on New Zealand's innings by running out McCullum for 29.

Muralitharan finished with three for 88 from 27 overs.

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