Ranatunga Lashes Out At India
Cricket365.COM Reports .............
Ranatunga - friendly warning to India.
Sri Lankan Cricket chairman Arjuna Ranatunga has slammed India after their shocking display in the opening Test in Colombo.
While Sri Lanka piled on 600 runs for the loss of just six wickets, India could only manage to 223 and 138 in their two innings, resulting in an innings and 239-run defeat - their third worst Test defeat.
Ranatunga believes India's batsmen adopted a Twenty20 approach for much of the Test match.
"The way that the Indians have played this Test is an eye-opener not just for us but for all cricket-playing countries. They dealt with this like a Twenty20 game. I think they were not prepared for Test cricket," he told the Indian Express.
The former Sri Lankan skipper also warned India that their newfound fascination with Twenty20 cricket will cost them in the long run.
"If the Indians keep getting their priorities wrong, they will go down ranking-wise. Ultimately, it is the rank that is very important. And it is this performance that will determine the future of the game in your country. Focus on the Twenty20 game is a short-term thing. If the game is not protected, we are in for a major disaster," he added.
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Heroic Murali Hails Sidekick Mendis
July 28 2008- Cricket 360.COM
Mendis - the future of Sri Lankan cricket.
Sri Lanka star Muttiah Muralitharan believes the emergence of young spinner Ajantha Mendis will help prolong his own career.
Muralitharan, 36, and 23-year-old Mendis formed a formidable partnership in the first Test thrashing of India, taking 19 of the 20 wickets between them.
"He's one of the most talented guys I've seen," said Muralitharan, the world's leading Test wicket taker. "He's our future.
"When I started, way back in 1992, I could bowl only off-spin. Although I was a bigger turner, he has more variation.
"I want to play until the World Cup (in 2011). Now that Ajantha has come, I can play for a few more years. It's not a joke, I'm serious. Because of his presence my bowling will be reduced. Bowling 50 overs every innings is a huge task.
"If I bowl 30 to 35 overs I will be happy as I am ageing. The job will be easier for me."
Muralitharan feels Sri Lanka's potent three-pronged attack of him, Mendis and fast bowler Chaminda Vaas strike fear into their opponents.
"Vaasy is a class act, a wonderful bowler," he added. "He keeps the pressure from one end and takes wickets as well. Both of us have taken more than 1,000 Test wickets and quite a few in ODIs.
"Now that Ajantha is there too, we will be a handful."
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Sri Lanka Call For Rookie
July 28 2008 - Cricket365.COM Reports ....
Prasad - named in a 15-man squad.
Sri Lanka have included uncapped paceman Dammika Prasad in a 15-man squad for the second Test against India.
Prasad played three one-day internationals in 2006 but his career stalled due to a succession of injuries.
He reignited the interest of the selectors with four wickets against India for the SLC Board XI in a warm-up match.
But the 25-year-old's chances of making the starting XI in Galle on Thursday appear slim as the selectors are likely to retain the same line-up that won the series-opener by an innings and 239 runs.
Spin duo Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis shared 19 wickets in that victory and are again likely to carry most of the bowling workload.
Sri Lanka squad: M Jayawardene (captain), M Vandort, M Warnapura, K Sangakkara, T Samaraweera, T Dilshan, P Jayawardene, C Vaas, M Muralitharan, A Mendis, N Kulasekera, C Silva, T Thushara, C Kapugedera, D Prasad.
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