Test match in Galle after 2004 tsunami

by Ranjan Anandappa

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena leads his team to the Galle Esplanade almost three years after the tsunami disaster that struck down a mountain of lives with emotional memories of those who were affected from it when the 3rd and final Test begins on Tuesday.

A new look Galle Esplanade with a newly laid pitch of unknown quality would be the scenario of testing ground for both Sri Lanka and England. Going into the third and final cricket Test, for Sri Lanka, a draw would do to wrap up the series having won the first Test by 88 runs at Asgiriya.

For Michael Vaughan's Englishmen Galle would be a decisive factor whether England could turn a win to square the series and salvage their pride.

The last Test match was played in Galle in 2004 August, between South Africa and Sri Lanka.

The Englishmen seem to be growing in confidence, Skipper Vaughan is more than satisfied with the performance of his batsmen, particularly the manner in which they have handled the off spin of world record breaker Muttiah Muralitharan and the medium pace attack. Thirty-year-old Mathew Hoggard who bowled exceptionally well in the first Test in Kandy taking six wickets prior to breaking down with a back injury is recovering fast and most probably will be available for the decisive third Test.

His inclusion should add more vigour to the English pace attack, which is already steaming with James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Harmison leaving the visitors with a wide range of placemen for selection.

For the home team Tillekeratne Dilshan has been reinstated to the side in place of Jehan Mubarak who had a lean series scoring 18 runs in the two Tests. Dilshan has played in 42 Test matches and has an average of 37. His fielding has always been agile and his slow right arm off spin has been useful at times.

Along with Chamara Silva's right arm leg spin, the duo could assist Muralitharan. Left arm seamer Chanaka Welegedera has been included in the squad in place of injured Dilhara Fernando who will be leaving for Australia for immediate surgery on his ankle.

Welegedera will be pressing hard for his International debut. He toured Australia, but did not get an opportunity to play due to injury. The Galle Esplanade has experienced heavy rains on Saturday and the ground has been under water. The pitches have been laid newly, which no doubt leave the two captains in a dilemma after tossing.

However, Anurudha Polonowita the national curator along with the ground staff are confident that things could be brought to normalcy with a couple of days of sunshine.

Teams:

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardena (Captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vandort, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardena (Wicket keeper), Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Malinga Bandara, Sujeeva de Silva, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chanaka Welegedera.

England: Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ravi Bopara, Mathew Prior (Wicket keeper), Steve Harmison, Mathew Hoggard, Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad, Monty Panesar, Owais Shah.

Umpires: Darell Harper (Australia), Azad Rauff (Pakistan).

TV Umpire: Asoka de Silva.

Fourth Umpire: Gamini Silva.