Tendulkar returns to the scene of action

NAGPUR, India, Monday (AFP) India and Sri Lanka clash in a seven-match limited-overs series from Tuesday inspired by the return from injury of seasoned cricketers in both camps.

While India welcomes back Sachin Tendulkar, the world's most successful one-day batsman, the Sri Lanka team is buoyant that Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan are available to play.

Left-handed Jayasuriya, one of only four players to score more than 10,000 one-day runs, has recovered from a painful right shoulder injury that forced him to retire hurt in Saturday's practice match in Mumbai.

Jayasuriya, 36, who dislocated the shoulder in August, aggravated the injury last week when he collided with a team-mate during a pre-tour camp at home.

Off-spinner Muralitharan, 33, who is just 14 short of taking 400 one-day wickets on top of his 568 Test wickets, rested a sore right shoulder during nets here on Monday.

"Sanath and Murali are definite starters," Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu told reporters on Monday. "We will be at full-strength for the first match."

The Indians were delighted that Tendulkar, with world records of 13,642 runs and 38 centuries under his belt, will play his first one-day international since April 17.

"We are very excited to have Sachin back," said India's new captain Rahul Dravid, who replaced Sourav Ganguly after last month's tour of Zimbabwe.

"Sachin is batting as well as ever and his presence in the dressing-room has lifted the morale of the whole team. He inspires us all."

Tendulkar, who underwent elbow surgery in May, missed one-day tournaments in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe this season in which India lost both finals.

Tendulkar, along with hard-hitting Virender Sehwag and Dravid, will lead a batting line-up missing the experienced trio of Ganguly, Venkatsai Laxman and Mohammad Kaif.

While Ganguly and Laxman were not picked by the selectors, Kaif is nursing a hamstring injury that could force him to miss at least the first four one-dayers.

India's bowling attack is also short of experience with the absence, due to injury or poor form, of four regular front-line bowlers, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Anil Kumble and Laxmipathy Balaji.

Seamer Ajit Agarkar, with 217 one-day wickets, spearheads the attack with Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan.

Both India and Sri Lanka will name their playing squads on Tuesday morning.

Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody said his team was determined to improve its one-day record in India where it has won only eight of 26 matches.

"We have played well at home, now it is our turn to do it in India," said Moody. Sri Lanka has won nine of 10 one-day matches since July when Moody started as coach.

India (from): Rahul Dravid (capt), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Venugopal Rao, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Jai Prakash Yadav, Sri Sreesanth.

Sri Lanka (from): Marvan Atapattu (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana, Farveez Maharoof, Russel Arnold, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Nuwan Zoysa.

Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL) and Krishna Hariharan (IND)

Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)