Dambulla ready for showdown

According to chief curator of SLC Anurudha Polonowita the Dambulla wicket is ready for international cricket once again. He said “It was hard work to bring back the ground to this condition within such a short period of a little over two months, but it is ready”.

By S.R. Pathiravithana

Panesar just 1 for 50 in eight overs – a cause of concern for the visitors. ( Pic by Saman Kariyawasam)

International cricket is back at Dambulla after a lapse of nearly two years with the hosting of the three initial ODI’s against England in three day/night matches. The first of the matches will be on show tomorrow.

According to chief curator of SLC Anurudha Polonowita the Dambulla wicket is ready for international cricket once again. He said “It was hard work to bring back the ground to this condition within such a short period of a little over two months, but it is ready.

“We have three tracks ready for the three games at hand, but, we might stick to one if the wicket holds itself after the game on Monday.

“The wicket may have a little bounce in the early stages, but will subsequently turn out to be batting friendly one which is generally associated with one-day international encounters”.

Meanwhile skipper Mahela Jayawardena commenting on the series ahead said that it was good to be back in the more conventional arena after their twenty-20 world cup bid in South Africa. He said “I think it was a good experience for us and we learned a lot especially where the twenty-20 version of the game is concerned.

There we improved in our bowling and fielding aspects of the game. So we can take the plus points there and improve on the others and go into the 50-0ver version of the game”.

It would have been a sigh of relief for the tourists who started the proceedings with a stomach bug to see them beating a Sri Lanka Cricket Xl by 80 runs in a side game at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium. Once again it was their in-form batsman Ian Bell who tolled for them with a typical English century. However a cause for concern in their camp would be that their strike bowler Monty Panesar going for fifty runs in his eight overs.

This is the first time England is taking on Sri Lanka after their 5-0 bashing on their home turf. Skipper Paul Collingwood commenting on that and the tour ahead said “It was very disappointing to lose 5-0 at home.

We’ve got an opportunity now – this is a different side, a different set up altogether, hopefully now we have got the opportunity to reverse that”.