After the heat of seaside Galle, the cool of hill-country Kandy

Charlie Austin15-Mar-2004

Hashan Tillakaratne wants his batsmen to be more positive against Shane Warne© Getty Images
After the heat of seaside Galle, the cool of hill-country Kandy. Sri Lankacome to the island’s most sacred city looking for a change in fortunes. Australia, though, have momentum on their side, and a pace attack that is pawing the ground in anticipation of a pitch that promises them greater life than the turgid surface at Galle.Sri Lanka are under pressure. They have not lost a home series since March2001, but to lose the first Test at a venue where they had traditionally beenso strong – just one defeat in nine matches prior to Australia’s 197-runwin – was a terrible start. In Kandy, their record is mixed: four wins, fourlosses and seven draws.Hashan Tillakaratne, though, says that Sri Lanka start afresh. “We were alldisappointed by what happened in the first Test, but that is all history now.We have analysed where we went wrong and we have to tighten up our game alittle. We can’t relax this time because Australia have shown that they cando extraordinary things when you do.”Shane Warne provided the greatest threat with the ball during a fairytalereturn to international cricket, claiming 10 for 159, and Tillakaratnebelieves that his top order must be bolder in their approach. “We all know what a great bowler that he is,” said Tillakaratne, “but we were a little negative against him I thought, especially on the third morning. We defended him too much and there were too many dot-balls.”Sri Lanka’s bowling – Muttiah Muralitharan apart – was also a concern inthe second innings. This time Tillakaratne, who says Sri Lanka are likely toplay two quick bowlers, wants better support for Murali. “We didn’t give the support he needed and there were not enough dot balls bowled.” Nuwan Zoysa is expected to return for the first time since Sri Lanka’s tour of England in 2002.Sri Lanka are hopeful that both Thilan Samaraweera (groin injury) and SanathJayasuriya (hand injury) will pass late fitness tests on Tuesday morning. Bothwere rated as being 80% fit on Sunday, and Tillakaratne was confident that they would be available for selection.There has also been some concern over Muralitharan himself. He is poised to join the elite 500-wicket club, but has struggling with a stomach upset. Again, Tillakaratne expects him to play. Nothing less than severe salmonella, it seems, will keep him out of a match in front of his home crowd.Australia have fewer concerns. Michael Kasprowicz is fast approaching fullfitness, and there are no other injury worries. Their biggest conundrum isthe balance of their side. Although they won so convincingly at Galle, twochanges are possible as they consider beefing up their fast-bowling attack.Kandy’s pitch traditionally offers fast bowlers greater assistance thanGalle, especially with the new ball. This surface is perhaps a little drierthan the norm, despite wet weather during recent days, but there issufficient grass on the surface for Australia to consider calling up BradWilliams in place of Stuart MacGill.That would be a very tough decision, with MacGill having taken four wicketsin the second innings at Galle, but Ricky Ponting insists that whenconditions warrant changes, you “just have to bite the bullet”. But Australiaare still not 100% sure about their strategy, because spin will play a moresignificant role in the second innings.”Its hard to say what we are going to do at the moment because we are unsureabout the conditions,” Ponting told reporters at the team hotel. “We did notreally know what to make of the wicket yesterday. There might be some moregrass than expected. If that is the case, we will have to have a look at themake-up of the side.”If Williams is drafted into the XI then that might also prompt changes tothe batting line-up. Andrew Symonds was primarily selected ahead of SimonKatich in the first Test because he offered the back-up option of somemedium-pace. “If you look back at why we made the tough call on Simon [Katich] in the last game, it was because we thought we might need another medium-paceoption,” revealed Ponting. “If we decide to go with three quicks here, thenKatich might get a chance back in the side.”Whatever way Australia go, Ponting is confident that his team can wrap upthe series. “We adjusted really well to conditions in Galle and it would benice to be able to win here. We certainly all feel in pretty good touch andare feeling confident.”Australia, though, have unhappy memories of this venue. In 1999 they lost bysix wickets. Worse, there was a horrific fielding collision between SteveWaugh and Jason Gillespie, who broke his leg and had to be airlifted toColombo in an army helicopter.But Kandy’s reputation for producing the bizarre is not reserved for touringsides. Sri Lanka lost three nailbiting and controversial Tests between 2000and 2001, and last year, Marvan Atapattu suffered severe concussion after acollision with Daniel Vettori.The preparation of both teams has been hampered by poor weather. Both sideswere unable to practise on Monday, and Sri Lanka’s afternoon net session wascut short by rain. The weather forecast for tomorrow also suggests the possibility of showers.Sri Lanka (from): 1 Marvan Atapattu, 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Hashan Tillakaratne (capt), 6 Tillakartne Dilshan, 7 Thilan Samaraweera, 8 Upul Chandana, 9 Chaminda Vaas, 10 Nuwan Zoysa, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan, 12 Avishka Gunawardene, 13 Nuwan Kulasekara, 14 Rangana Herath, 15 Kaushal Lokuarachchi.Australia (from): 1 Justin Langer, 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Darren Lehmann, 6 Simon Katich, 7 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 8 Shane Warne, 9 Michael Kasprowizc, 10 Jason Gillespie, 11 Brad Williams, 12 Stuart MacGill, 13 Shaun Tait, 14 Wade Seccombe (wk), 15 Andrew Symonds.