India take on Board XI as Lankan selectors ponder final XI
Rex Clementine - 7 August 2001
India will play their only three day match ahead of the three-match
Test series against Sri Lanka from tomorrow at the P. Sara Stadium in
Colombo. Their opponents will be Sri Lanka Board XI, who've got six
Test cricketers in their ranks, four of whom may play in the first
Test in Galle.
India's one-day specialists have now returned to Chennai, whilst their
Test match replacements are slowly arriving in Colombo. Shiv Sunder
Das, Mohammed Kaif, Dinesh Mongia, Sairaj Bahutule and Harvinder
Singh arrived in Colombo yesterday while fast bowlers Venkatesh Prasad
, Javagal Srinath and opening batsman Sadagoppan Ramesh arrived today.
Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar will join the tour party if his foot
injury is given the all-clear after a bone scan on Friday. Zaheer Khan
is suffering from shin splints, but is expected rejoin the team in
time for the first Test.
The Indian cricketers practiced at the Sinhalese Sports Club this
morning and will decide on the final eleven for tomorrow's game this
evening after a team meeting. However, all the Test specialists are
expected to play.
Sri Lanka meanwhile have named a strong Board side, captained by
Thilan Samaraweera.
The national selectors have delayed naming the squad for the Test
series and they will be watching the performances of the Board XI
closely. The Sri Lanka Test squad will be selected on Thursday.
Hashan Tillakaratne has an opportunity to make the Test squad after
two years in the wilderness, while Kumar Sangakkara needs to prove his
form. Avishka Gunawardene will open the batting and is expected to do
so in the first Test.
With Nuwan Zoysa injured, fast bowlers Ruchira Perera, Dinusha
Fernando and Suresh Perera have a chance to grab the remaining fast
bowler's slot.
Sri Lanka Board XI: Thilan Samaraweera (Capt), Avishka Gunawardene
(Vice-Capt), Michael Vandort, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Hashan
Tillakaratne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Suresh Perera, Sajeewa Weerakoon,
Ruchira Perera, Dinusha Fernando.
India (from): Sourav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid (vice captain),
Shiv Sunder Das, Sameer Dighe, Sadagoppan Ramesh, Md Kaif, Hemang
Badani, Sairaj Bahutule, Dinesh Mongia, Harvinder Singh, Javagal
Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Rahul
Sanghvi.
© CricInfo
Teams
|
India.
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Players/Umpires
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Shiv Sunder Das,
Mohammad Kaif,
Dinesh Mongia,
Sairaj Bahutule,
Harvinder Singh,
Venkatesh Prasad,
Javagal Srinath,
Sadagoppan Ramesh,
Sachin Tendulkar,
Zaheer Khan,
Hashan Tillakaratne,
Avishka Gunawardene,
Nuwan Zoysa,
Dinusha Fernando,
Suresh Perera.
|
Tours
|
India in Sri Lanka
|
Grounds
|
P.Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo
|