The New Nation - Internet Edition

The Sri Lankan Cricketers took a 1-0 lead in the on going India-Sri Lanka Test Series defeating India by an Innings and 239 runs on the 4th day of the game. Its a huge defeat for Team-India in the recent time. The Sri Lanka Boys by their own right deserve congratulations for such a high quality game. Sri Lankans batting first piled up a huge total of 600 losing only 6 wickets. 4 inform Sri Lankan batsmen scored big tons (Malela 136, Dilshan 127 not out, Sumaraweera 125 and Warnapura 115) in their 1st Innings. In reply the Indians were all out for 223 in their 1st Innings and followed on. In the second Innings Team-India could score only 128. All was calm at the beginning of the 3rd session of the 4th Day. Thus, the Indians earned an extra holiday on Sunday - the Fifth Day of the match. On the bowling side the Indian bowlers proved to be too vulnerable to the Sri-Lankan batsmen. Though the Indian used (and also relied upon) their much known spinners duo - Kumble and Harbhajan-the Mahela & Co played them with greater ease except the teething trouble faced in the opening overs as the field was rain chocked. Sri-Lankans also used their Spinners - Murali and new found Mondes -and they penetrated deeply and eventually destroyed the Indians in both the Innings. This duo took 19 Indian wickets in just 2 Innings. Murali took 11 (5+6) and Mondes 8 (4+4) in the match.

On the Indian batting side their much talked about tall batting lines just tried to face the Sri-Lankan attack. The welknown Indian 'Big Gun'-Tendulker, Dravid, Saurav, Laxman, Sewbag -proved teethless. Only Laxman got a fifty (56) - the lone one for the Indians - in the 1st Innings and thats all. Critics say the Indian Test side, has, on record, performed poorly while playing abroad. The Colombo Test just confirmed it again. But in our opinion it is the result of the changed mind-set of the Indian Guys which they gained playing big-money T20 matchs a couple of months back on their home grounds. Indian Cricketers - young or old alike - now aims at money and concentrate less on the art of the game. And Cricket always favours boys who love Cricket in its best artistic format - the Test.

However, in line with the cricket rule 'do not say anything finally till the last ball is bowled'. Let us wait for the next two games.

Abu Musa Miah

Lalbagh, Dhaka