The New Nation - Internet Edition

BBC Online

Sri Lanka are set to make one bowling change for the third Test decider with India, which starts on Friday.

India levelled the series 1-1 in Galle and Sri Lanka hope some added pace will help them at the more seamer-friendly P Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo.

Nuwan Kulasekera is likely to make way for either left-armer Thilan Thushara or the uncapped Dammika Prasad.

Sri Lanka are still without fast bowlers Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga and Farveez Maharoof.

Out-of-form opener Michael Vandort, who has scored 17 runs in three innings, is expected to play after receiving the backing of his captain Mahela Jayawardene.

"Michael has been one of the consistent bats in the last six months," said Jayawardene. India's preparations have been hampered by the departure of coach Gary Kirsten, who left the tour to be with his critically ill mother.

Paddy Upton, the mental conditioning coach, has taken over as head coach and will work alongside bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh.

Upton was confident that Kirsten's sudden departure would not have a negative impact on preparations.

"Each person knows their role," he stated. "It's a case of just doing what we've always been doing and doing that well."

India's only selection dilemma is whether or not to make a wicketkeeper change, with Dinesh Karthik being replaced by Parthiv Patel.

Karthik grassed several important chances during the first two Tests and has scored only 36 runs in four innings.

Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaweera, Michael Vandort, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Thilan Thushara, Chaminda Vaas, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dammika Prasad.

India (from): Anil Kumble (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha.