Trouble on the streets...

Preparations for the second game of the Coca Cola Cup in Sri Lanka between India and New Zealand have been disrupted by violent demonstrations on the streets of Colombo against the Sri Lankan government.

Opposition supporters converged on the capital throughout the morning, eventually sparking clashes with the police. The situation in the city remains tense and all the teams have been forced to return the safety of their hotel.

India were due to practice tonight under lights at the Premadasa International Stadium, but hastily organised a morning practice at the Sinhalese Sports Club last night, when it became clear that disruptions were possible.

Even so they were forced to curtail the practice early on the advice of the omnipresent security guards. They have a fielding practice under lights scheduled for 6pm, but that will probably be cancelled.

Sourav Ganguly, the Indian captain, spoke with the experience of a man who has seen similar in the rollicking stands of Eden Gardens: "We have come here five times and it has always been the same. I don't think it is going to affect the game or the cricketers and I am not worried about it."

The Kiwis too were forced to cut short practice. In fact, New Zealand tours to Sri Lanka have a history of trouble. In 1992 five players, including the coach, returned home after a shooting incident outside the team hotel. In 1987 a bomb exploded in the crowded Pettah bus station during the first Test.

The level of the violence seen today was a concern, but a return to normalcy can be expected tomorrow. In fact the existence of tension during the game will be conspicuous only by it's absence. Yesterday's game attracted a very poor crowd for a day-night game and without the participation of the home side the tourists will be playing in front of empty concrete terraces.

The lack of intensity could well bring the best out of this young Indian side, who are developing a reputation for losing the high profile encounters and being a little soft skinned.

Ganguly acknowledged that there was a problem: "We have just not played well in the finals. We are trying to find a solution. I think it is a matter of holding our nerve under pressure situations.

"A lack of experience plays a part," he believes. "We have a got a very young side with only Rahul and I having played over 100 games. The others have played under 30.

"We do though have some very good and talented players and, apart from the finals, we are playing really well, winning about 75 per cent of our games in the last ten months," he said.

The high level of expectations back home clearly represents a burden upon the shoulders of some Indian players. According to John Wright, the national coach, the expectations doesn't permit the luxury of a long-term view.

"To be quite honest everyone in our camp and everyone in India wants to win every game, so we take it one game at the time," he said. "We are not looking to far ahead - tomorrow will do!

"We will win some and lose some, but if the nation see that their cricketers are playing the game with a lot of pride and fight, that hopefully will repay the support we get," he said.

He wants to the players to focus on the basics: "You can analyse the game and have all kinds of technology, but you always come back to trying to consistently performing the basics under pressure. We have a lot of flair and ability, so if we can do those basic things that makes us more formidable."

India have narrowed selection for tomorrow down to 13 players. Ajit Agarkar suffered from sunstroke after yesterday's practice game and Debashis Mohanty is the other player to be left out.

Ganguly revealed that the management remain undecided as to whether the 29-year-old Amay Khurasiya or Yuvraj Singh, ten years his younger, would be his opening partner. Either way, the first 15 overs promise rich entertainment.

The pitch will be the same one that was used in the first game. That being the case the spinners clearly have a very important role to play and New Zealand's batsmen will quickly have to develop new scoring strategies.

The Sri Lankans bowled 33 overs of spin against the Kiwis and they struggled to lift the run rate above a trickle. Stephen Fleming acknowledged afterwards that this was a problem for the side.

"We don't get the opportunity to practice much against the spinners at home as we tend to play on green tracks," he said, before adding: "We have a lot of work to do on this turning pitches."

New Zealand have the option of recalling Dion Nash in this game, possibly in place of Darryl Tuffey, which would strengthen the batting.

© CricInfo