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The stage is set for an absorbing series

S. Dinakar

Muralitharan, Mendis could play a decisive role

— Photo: AFP

SUPER KINGS: Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Muttiah Muralitharan, who play for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, share a lighter moment on the eve of the first one-dayer.

Dambulla: The setting for cricket in this Buddhist heartland is serene. The charming Rangiri Stadium is surrounded by lakes, hills and a cluster of trees that sway in the wind.

In this peaceful ambience, India and Sri Lanka will be locked in what could prove a high-voltage series opener here on Wednesday. Sparks could fly.

And pace, rather than spin, might prove the ace. “It appears a seamer friendly wicket,” said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni after a practice session here on Tuesday.

The Indian skipper could have a point. Although the surface here traditionally assists the spinners, there have been instances in the past when the pacemen have achieved — the wind in a largely open stadium is also a factor — considerable movement here.

Dew factor

Under the circumstances, fielding first makes sense; particularly in a day game. The 10 a.m. start suggests there could be dew on the surface when the match gets underway; the pacemen could inflict early damage. There are also chances of the pitch easing out in the second half of the game.

Although Nuwan Kulasekara and Thilan Thushara have bowled with success in recent times for Sri Lanka, India has an edge in this department.

Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma form a compelling pace attack of contrasts. Zaheer could be buzzing with the new ball given his ability to hit the seam or swing it around. The senior paceman is a versatile bowler these days with his precision, subtle changes of pace and length and the variation in angles.

Ishant will probe the right-handers with the one that darts back in. And the southpaws could be probed by the delivery leaving them.

Under the circumstances, the face-off between the formidable Kumar Sangakkara and Ishant bristles with possibilities. Ishant will strive to angle the ball across Sangakkara but the slightest of width would be punished by the southpaw.

Roaring form

Tillekeratne Dilshan was in roaring form in the ODI series in Pakistan. Zaheer could be given the job of prising out this punishing batsman with either the one that straightens from over-the-wicket or the one that leaves the right-hander.

Zaheer’s control and two-way movement enable him sow the seeds of doubts in the minds of the batsmen. When this happens, even in-form batsmen struggle to find rhythm. Dilshan will have other ideas though.

India is likely to play three pacemen with Munaf Patel finding a place in the eleven. Swing bowlers Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan and left-arm spinner spinner Pragyan Ojha should be battling for one place.

Maestro Sachin Tendulkar should be opening with the marauding Virender Sehwag; Gautam Gambhir could walk in one drop. Suresh Raina is likely to keep his place in the team. “Raina is ahead of Rohit (Sharma) at the moment,” said Dhoni.

Yusuf Pathan provides the side with a big-hitting option in the Power Play overs that is picked by the batting team. He can also send down more than a few over of off-spin with Sehwag.

Despite the talk of pace and movement, spin could still play a decisive role. Muttiah Muralitharan, poised to surpass Wasim Akram as the highest wicket-taker in the ODIs, can operate in any conditions.

Constant threat

And the element of mystery in Ajantha Mendis’ bowling makes him a constant threat.

Moving forward a touch — without the batsman committing himself — and playing the ball late could prove the answer against Mendis.

Dhoni, successfully, employed these tactics against Mendis in India’s winning ODI series in Sri Lanka last year. He also read Mendis from the hand.

In how the wily Mahela Jayawardene handles Mendis could have a large say in the result. Despite his discomfort against quality spin in the past, the Lankans will be wary of Yuvraj Singh.

The teams (from): India: M.S. Dhoni (captain), V. Sehwag, S. Tendulkar, G. Gambhir, Y. Singh, S. Raina, Y. Pathan, Z. Khan, I. Sharma, M. Patel, P. Ojha, P. Kumar, I. Pathan, R. Sharma, R. Jadeja.

Sri Lanka (from): M. Jayawardene (captain), S. Jayasuriya, T. Dilshan, K. Sangakkara, C. Kapugedera, T. Kandamby, F. Maharoof, M. Muralitharan, A. Mendis, T. Thushara, N. Kulasekara, D. Fernando, A. Matthews, U. Tharanga, J. Mubarak.

Umpires: B. Jerling and K. Dharmasena; Match Referee: Chris Broad. Match starts at 10 a.m..

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