Sri Lanka and India in decider

2008-08-07 15:31

Colombo, Sri Lanka - Having rebounded from a crushing defeat in the first Test to win the second, India is confident of carrying on their momentum to a series victory over Sri Lanka when the third and final Test begins on Friday.

"In terms of confidence, in terms of strategy, we have done whatever we can to ensure we win the Test and the series," India captain Anil Kumble said at practice on Thursday.

"We've done that once, against Australia in 2001, if I remember right, having been down 1-0."

Kumble was unconcerned by the relatively poor form of India's star-studded middle-order batting - comprising Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly - in the first two Tests.

The four have scored just 329 runs between themselves in the series.

"I'm not worried, if they score runs which is due, things will be fine," Kumble said.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene called on his side to show character and display their best form in Colombo.

"We have played some really good cricket against a quality side that has plenty of experience and we have shown that we can compete with them well and match them and even beat them," Jayawardene said.

Sri Lanka will make one change to the team that lost in Galle, dropping seamer Nuwan Kulasekara for either of the quicker Thilan Thushara Mirando or uncapped Dammika Prasad.

"We lacked a bit of pace, not hurrying the batsmen enough," Jayawardene said. "They are bowling tidy spells, but they need to attack the batsmen."

Sri Lanka will retain out-of-form opening batsman Michael Vandort, who has scored just 17 runs in the three outings.

"We had a chat to Michael and there shouldn't be any undue pressure on him because he was batting well before this test (series)," Jayawardene said. "There are couple of senior Indian batsmen too who are going through a similar trot."

India may change wicketkeepers, bringing in Parthiv Patel for Dinesh Karthik who had failed to impress with the bat and gloves in the first two tests.

Lineups (from):

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dammika Prasad, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara Mirando.

India: Anil Kumble (captain), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Parthiv Patel, Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan.

- AP