http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758
The Test series between Sri Lanka and India is now over. With the series levelled, it is difficult to differentiate between two sides, but it is the visitors who will be more pleased with their performance in this Test series. Despite losing the first Test, India managed to come back in the series and won the final Test to level the series. They were handicapped by exhausted bowling resources and dead pitches but they still managed to notch a victory. All credit goes to the team management and its leadership which made efficient use of available resources.
India showed incredible character in the final Test. Equipped with the most inexperienced bowling unit since 2000-01, they still managed to grind victory on the ground, where Sri Lanka has not lost since 1994. India, who lost the toss in all three matches, also put an end to Sri Lanka’s nine-year record of not losing a home Test after winning the toss. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 Test we played in Kolkata or any other.”
Under Dhoni, India has developed a habit of resilience and oppositions now are wary of this fact. India bounced back in the last two Test series they have played. They came back after suffering humiliation from the hands of South Africa in Ahmedabad in 2007-08. Similarly in the same year, they fought back to equalize the series against Sri Lanka after they lost the Galle Test. After the infamous SCG defeat, they stunned http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gary-Kirsten-c58527, the Indian coach, said, “It shows what this team is all about and what we can do in pressure situations.”
India has not played a single international game with their first choice 11 since Sri Lanka’s last tour of India in last November. Now with a less than a year left in the World Cup, they have exhausted their resources. In this Test series, it took three Tests and a helpful pitch for their bowlers to finally make an impact. Overall, batsmen were impressive for India with exception of Galle Test, where they failed miserably, courtesy Lasith Malinga’s fury. Luck also helped them when Sachin Tendulkar was dropped for the SSC Test, which allowed him to complete his double century. Later on, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772 played an impressive innings at crucial times.
For India, this drawn series is as good as a win because to level the series against Sri Lanka at their home is big achievement. Sri Lanka plays at their home with complete perfection. It was evident from the first 11 days as the Lankan tigers executed their plans perfectly. Like Indians, they batted beautifully. Their skipper Sangakkara played important knocks in every match. Similarly, newcomer Tharanga Paranavitana also showed some promising talent. The same was the case with Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera as both of them played some important knocks.
In the bowling department, Murali was in his typical form in Galle, his last Test. Malinga was utterly missed in the second Test and third Test but it was his fitness which was the main priority for Sri Lankan skipper. Suraj Randiv was also impressive with the ball as he tried to fill the boots of legendary spin maestro Muralitaharn.
The final Test was perfect in every sense as it exhibited thrilling cricket in which both sides had equal chance to grab victory. Nonetheless it was India, who made better use of their opportunities as they levelled the series.
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