INDIA TOUR OF SRI LANKA, 2017
Sri Lanka seek inspiration from Australia drubbing ahead of India series
Upul Tharanga is confident that Sri Lanka will punch above their weight © AFP
Sri Lankan cricket has gone through trying times this year and they just about managed to overcome Zimbabwe a few days ago in the one-off Test, following a ODI series loss to the same side. The bilateral series against the Indian team gets underway next week and despite their recent struggles, the hosts are confident of doing well against the world's number one ranked Test team.
Sri Lankan vice-captain Upul Tharanga reminded journalists that his team beat a strong Australian outfit last year under similar circumstances and added that they will seek inspiration from that 3-0 whitewash. Australia arrived in Sri Lanka in July last year as world's number one ranked Test team but struggled against a young Sri Lankan outfit, with number three batsman Kusal Mendis and left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan doing most of the damage.
"Last year when we beat Australia 3-0 we were in similar position like now. India is world's number one ranked team now and we will take lot of inspiration from that series win. We have nothing to lose," said Tharanga, who attended the series launch in the absence of captain Dinesh Chandimal who was down with flu.
"Australia is a strong side and they came to India and gave us a strong fight as well. You can't compare different stages of cricket being played at different times. You can only look forward to the games that you have to play and prepare the best way you can," India skipper Virat Kohli said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka coach Nic Pothas, who has taken over from Graham Ford until the end of the India series, outlined the areas he needs to see the team improving. "We are in that rebuilding phase. In my first series, it was more about getting to know the players and most importantly the word that we have mentioned already, the culture - try and change the culture. Unleash your potential, attention to detail, the intensity of the practice, and overall improvement. We will certainly see some improvements in a very short period of time.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will be Sri Lanka's key. He goes into the series requiring 16 wickets to become the second Sri Lankan to claim 400 Test wickets. Last time India toured Sri Lanka in 2015, Herath took seven wickets in the first Test that Sri Lanka won, but India negated his treat in the next two games to win the series 2-1.
"If you don't find solutions to a bowler like Herath, he will do what he did at Galle. That's what counts, as professional cricketers, you have to be a step ahead of what you are going to expect, and find ways to counter it. That's what international sport is all about - how you can stay one step ahead of the opposition and find out solutions if something bad happens," noted Kohli.
India will play three Tests, five ODIs and a lone T20 International during their six-week tour of Sri Lanka. This is first time India will play all three formats in Sri Lanka on the same tour. On Friday (July 20), they will play a warm-up game at CCC grounds in Colombo. The game was earlier scheduled to be played in Moratuwa but was shifted to Colombo at the last minute. India will head to Galle on Sunday, the location for the first Test match, which starts on Wednesday.
Upul Tharanga is confident that Sri Lanka will punch above their weight © AFP
Sri Lankan cricket has gone through trying times this year and they just about managed to overcome Zimbabwe a few days ago in the one-off Test, following a ODI series loss to the same side. The bilateral series against the Indian team gets underway next week and despite their recent struggles, the hosts are confident of doing well against the world's number one ranked Test team.
Sri Lankan vice-captain Upul Tharanga reminded journalists that his team beat a strong Australian outfit last year under similar circumstances and added that they will seek inspiration from that 3-0 whitewash. Australia arrived in Sri Lanka in July last year as world's number one ranked Test team but struggled against a young Sri Lankan outfit, with number three batsman Kusal Mendis and left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan doing most of the damage.
"Last year when we beat Australia 3-0 we were in similar position like now. India is world's number one ranked team now and we will take lot of inspiration from that series win. We have nothing to lose," said Tharanga, who attended the series launch in the absence of captain Dinesh Chandimal who was down with flu.
"Australia is a strong side and they came to India and gave us a strong fight as well. You can't compare different stages of cricket being played at different times. You can only look forward to the games that you have to play and prepare the best way you can," India skipper Virat Kohli said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka coach Nic Pothas, who has taken over from Graham Ford until the end of the India series, outlined the areas he needs to see the team improving. "We are in that rebuilding phase. In my first series, it was more about getting to know the players and most importantly the word that we have mentioned already, the culture - try and change the culture. Unleash your potential, attention to detail, the intensity of the practice, and overall improvement. We will certainly see some improvements in a very short period of time.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will be Sri Lanka's key. He goes into the series requiring 16 wickets to become the second Sri Lankan to claim 400 Test wickets. Last time India toured Sri Lanka in 2015, Herath took seven wickets in the first Test that Sri Lanka won, but India negated his treat in the next two games to win the series 2-1.
"If you don't find solutions to a bowler like Herath, he will do what he did at Galle. That's what counts, as professional cricketers, you have to be a step ahead of what you are going to expect, and find ways to counter it. That's what international sport is all about - how you can stay one step ahead of the opposition and find out solutions if something bad happens," noted Kohli.
India will play three Tests, five ODIs and a lone T20 International during their six-week tour of Sri Lanka. This is first time India will play all three formats in Sri Lanka on the same tour. On Friday (July 20), they will play a warm-up game at CCC grounds in Colombo. The game was earlier scheduled to be played in Moratuwa but was shifted to Colombo at the last minute. India will head to Galle on Sunday, the location for the first Test match, which starts on Wednesday.
Comments
Post a Comment