The expected happened. Sri Lanka piled on the runs and the Indian bowling attack did not have the answers at the end of the first days’ play at the Galle International Stadium in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan captain, Kumar Sangakkara, and Tharanga Paranavitana scored triumphant centuries on a deck that had little to offer the bowlers and against a bowling attack that did not have the teeth.
All the hype surrounding the retirement of Muttiah Muraliatharan gave way to action on the field and it exposed the worries for India, which was not Muralitharan, not yet anyway. Batting first, Sri Lanka had their opener and captain to capitalize on the day when India did not have their best fast bowlers on show.
On a day that promised rain but did not show enough cloud cover to worry, the Sri Lankan batsmen made a rather easy day of it, scoring 256 runs, not the most for a single day, but showed the initiative laid firmly with the hosts who could not be bothered with what India had to offer in the seam department in the absence of Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth.
That Virender Sehwag took one of the two wickets to fall on the day should tell the story. Bad light and rain were the other mainstays as the day drew to a close.
Srikkanth States No Zonal Bias to Selection to Indian Team; Captaincy Grooming Relevant
Ind SL T1 Preview: Dhoni Promises No Concessions for Murali for Farewell Test
Why did SLC Fail to Prevail Upon BCCI, Indian Cricket Team for UDRS?
Ajantha Mendis’s Six-For Leaves India in a Spin at Stumps; Proves a Point to Selectors
Three Tons and Partnerships put SL BP XI On Top As Indians Totter without Zaheer, Sreesanth
Munaf Patel Named as Sreesanth’s Replacement for India’s tour of Sri Lanka
Bacher Says Azhar and Co. Wary of Using TV Umpire Technology; Sangakkara Wants UDRS
Highest Paid Cricketer, Dhoni, Inks Rs200 Crores Deal, Tendulkar Surpassed
Sangakkara Talks of Balanced FTPs; Reveals SL’s Lack of Tests, Wants IPL Window
Dhoni Inks Rs200 Crores Deal with Rhiti Sports, Surpasses Tendulkar’s Rs180 crore deal
Sreesanth Joins Zaheer’s Injury List, Flies Back Home from Sri Lanka Before Series
Bhajji Stuck at Airport; Dhoni Presented with MCC Membership..all in Chennai
Sri Lanka Name Squad Against India, Including Team for Board President’s XI Tour Match
Murali Says Only Bhajji can Match Him; Bhajji Says, Flattered But not Possible
UDRS Controversy: India Reject UDRS for Test series
India’s Tour of Sri Lanka Schedule, Results
Murali Prepones Retirement, Says His Time has Passed, Moves Over for Youngsters
Zaheer’s Injury Rules him Out of Series against Sri Lanka; Abhimanyu Mithun Drafted In
