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Indians have done their home work
By Ranil Abeynaike
Sri Lanka called all the shots in the tri-nation tournament games played in Dambulla and Galle in August. When they were on top they brushed aside the Indians, when they were down and out they came back fighting, when their opponents were cruising along the Sri Lankans were able to claw their way back. So the results were three wins to the home team and none for the visitors.

Come to Nagpur, India, two months later and the Sri Lankans got swept off their feet. Greg Chapell, Rahul Dravid and the team had done a lot of home work. They have planned their strategy and approach. To add to that Sachin Tendulkar has returned. He has returned hungrier and determined more than ever. At 33 years of age he must know that this is the final lap of his most illustrious career. Another three or four years and then it will be a matter of time. Even that will depend on his fitness.

The toss was important in this game and it would be much the same in most of the remaining games. There will be an advantage in batting first. The ball did turn during the second session, but it was certainly not unplayable. Chaminda Vaas showed the way towards the end, making thirty seven, not out.

Very noticeable was that the Indian batsmen attacked the bowlers as they came on, before they settled in. This can be done when the pitch is good and the batsmen can hit through the line and play strokes without hesitation. Mahroof was hit for seventeen runs in the first over. Upul Chandana was hit for four and six in the first two deliveries and then for another five more in his opening over. Dilhara Fernando, Dilshan and Vaas (in his second spell) were not spared a caning. Only Muttiah Muralitharan went for less than five an over. It was a case of not giving the champion off spinner any wickets, and the plan was successful. Bowl in the right areas from ball one. That will have to be the strategy for the Sri Lankan bowlers.

There was also a marked difference in the running between wickets. A genuine effort was made by all the batsmen to steal as many singles. The calling was early, clear and loud, avoiding any misunderstandings and run outs. This caught the Sri Lankan fielders on the wrong foot.

Having laid the foundation early, the middle order was prepared to keep their wickets in hand and wait for the final assault. There was a lull between the thirty first and fortieth overs but then the last ten overs saw in excess of hundred runs being scored.

Rahul Dravid’s tactical move of not opting for a power play after the initial ten overs paid rich dividends. It must have been planned to bowl the off spinners Harbajan Singh and Shewag to Jayasuriya and Sangakkara. They both fell to the off spinners and with it disappeared Sri Lanka’s chances of reaching that mammoth target of 350 runs.

However good the pitch is and however fast the outfield is, it is never easy to chase a target of over three hundred. The use of the Super Sub, in Murali Kartik, also paid off for the home team. He walked onto the field and straight away got into action. The pitch gave him assistance but full marks to the bowler. That nine over spell sealed the issue for India.

It is only the beginning of this seven match series. Sri Lanka must pick themselves up, learn from the mistakes and soldier on. Some months ago, in the last seven match series played in India, Pakistan lost the two opening games and won the next five! The battle has only begun.

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