Heavy rains in Rajkot too

Chris Dhambarage reporting from India

CRICKET: Unseasonal rains seem to be following the Sri Lankans as a heavy shower here on Saturday evening put a cast of doubt of the second one day international against India getting underway on schedule at the Madharao Scindia Stadium in Rajkot on Sunday.

A slight drizzle turned into a heavy downpour as the ground staff were adding the finishing touches to the boundaries and the wicket. The main playing area was covered immediately but more rain has been predicted later in the night. Sri Lanka's first one day international too was disrupted by bad weather at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata where only 18 overs were possible in the match on Thursday.

The two teams however had their final preparations here in the morning session under bright sun shine but delayed naming the final eleven until the start of the match on Sunday. Sri Lanka are likely to field the same team that was selected for the first one dayer as this will be the last chance for the players to catch the eye of the selectors before the announcement of the World Cup squad on February 12.

The Lankans of course do not have any happy memories at this venue as they were comprehensively beaten by India during their previous visit in November 2005. But since then Sri Lanka have made vast strides in both batting and bowling departments and seem to be in a better frame of mind this time.

Sri Lanka will also have a psycholigical edge over their opponents after Sanath Jayasuriya plundered the Indian bowling to all corners of the ground during his unbeaten half century in the first one day international at Kolkata. The dashing opener will be hoping to carry on with the same form and the short boundaries in Rajkot will certainly encourage the aggressive left hander. Sri Lanka are really anxious to give some of their players the opportunity of making an impact in this contest in the absence of veteran off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and seamer Chaminda Vaas, who have been rested. But more importantly cricket fans - amounting to 10,000 at this ground rather than the 100,000 at the Eden Gardens - are waiting for a contest with the series already reduce to a best of three matches.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, said that the final decision on the composition of the team would only be made after looking at the conditions on the morning of the match, but it is almost certain that that will play more or less the same combionation. The biggest advantage for them seem to be the powerful batting of Sanath Jayasuriya, who seems to have an unusual fondness for the Indian bowling attack, no matter who it comprises.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody said that there was only one place to be decided in the make-up of his World Cup squad. "We're certainly not looking at any last minute changes to the way we've prepared for the World Cup," he said. "This series against India is just another chapter in that preparation." Moody said that he is very much pleased with the way the team has shaping up in the absence of Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas. "Even in the past few years, Muralitharan and Vaas haven't played every game," he said. "Other bowlers have stepped in for them and done a good job."

In contrast India are very much concern with some of the key players in the injured list. There are still concerns, especially with Irfan Pathan and Yuvraj Singh. In addition Ajit Agarkar still has to recover from the flu and they will assess it in the morning and make a call before the start of the game.