India Vs Sri Lanka first Test today

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Neetu Banga

18 July, 2010

The Sri Lankans have won eight of their last nine series at home, they have faced only setback coming in 2006, when Pakistan won a two-match series 1-0.

AT INTERNATIONAL Stadium, Galle, India is going to play first test against Sri Lanka today. Sri Lanka, currently fourth in the Test rankings behind India, Australia and South Africa, are eager to display their ability in home conditions, where they have proved almost unbeatable. India has last won their Test series against host country in 1993 under the captaincy of Mohammad Azharuddin. Now team India desperately wants to win series in Island nation after gap of 17 years and defend their position.

The Sri Lankans have won eight of their last nine series at home, they have faced only setback coming in 2006, when Pakistan won a two-match series 1-0. Their success has mainly been down to the prolific work and positive strategies in whole series by world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan, backed by a strong batting line-up led by Sangakkara and former captain Mahela Jayawardene.

This time Team India fears are not only Muttiah Muralitharan, other bowler Malinga can also turn the match at any time. Sri Lankan magician off-spinner Muralitharan, who will quit the five-day game after the first Test, needs just eight wickets to reach the unprecedented tally of 800 Test wickets, adding to a record 515 in one-day matches. If he succeeds, this match will be in history books. .

On other side Team India who have played so much in Sri Lanka in the last few years know the strength and weaknesses of their opponents. If Sri Lankans are a tough team at their home ground, Team India has also strategies and ability to fight and win in difficult situation.

India is strengthened by the return of batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar, who missed last month's Asia Cup limited-over’s tournament. Also back are the experienced Rahul Dravid, Venkat Sai Laxman and Yuvraj Singh to complete a terrifying middle-order to follow openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. In bowling attack, only Harbhajan Singh is a good option in the absence of pace spearheads Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth.

Rival squads for the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka

India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Abhimanyu Mithun, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma.

Sri Lanka (from): Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando, Dhammika Prasad, Suraj Randiv, Thilina Kandamby, Chanaka Welegedara, Lahiru Thirimanna.