Sri Lanka hoping to extend dominance

Chris Dhambarage reporting from Bangladesh

CRICKET: Sri Lanka will be hoping to extend their dominance over the minnows of test cricket Bangladesh when the two teams clash in the first of the two test matches starting at the Bir Sreshta Shahid Rahul Amin Stadium in Chittagong here Tuesday.

The Lankans have made a clean sweep against their opponents in the previous five outings which were all played in Sri Lanka. But this time they have a tough task in their hands because Bangladesh have looked completely a different side while performing on their home grounds.

They have already proved that, where they pulled off a sensational victory in the second one day international at Bogra before eventually going down 2-1. This could probably be a good opportunity for them to put their dismal test record behind and to bounce back into recognition.

Bangladesh no doubt will be in a confident mood after recording a four wicket victory in the second match of the concluded one day series in Bogra on Wednesday, which ended a 15 game losing streak against Sri Lanka.

Even though they lost the series 2-1, Bangladesh could take some encouragement from putting up 231 for nine in their 50 overs while chasing a massive score of 309 for 7 in the third and final one dayer on Saturday.

The Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar is quite aware that his teams track record against Sri Lanka is not all that good and will need a tremendous improvement to make an impact in this series. But this time he is confident that his team could turn things around with a good all round display.

Bangladesh have recalled teenage batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim in a 15-man squad for the two-test series. Mushfiqur led Bangladesh in the Under-19 World Cup, which ended in Sri Lanka last week. The squad also includes batsmen Nafees Iqbal and Shahadat Hossain as well as spinner Enamul Haque.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene feels that his side will need to work hard to translate their one day success into a test series win against the hosts. He believes that a test match is completely a different game altogether and the players need to have great amount of patience and temperament.

The Sri Lankan batsmen will need to put up a determined performance especially in this sort of slow wicket. This was quite clear during the third and final one day international where the early conditions were ideal for seam bowling and with a fare amount of encouragement for the spinners.

But the presence of ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who has picked up over 580 test wickets could make a huge difference between the two teams. Muralitharan, who was rested for the one-dayers, will be playing his 100th Test. The ace off-spinner, who has taken 584 wickets, is second on the list of wicket-takers in Tests behind Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne (659 in 135 Tests).

The teams (from):

Bangladesh: Habibul Bashar (captain), Khaled Mashud, Shahriar Nafees, Rajin Saleh, Javed Omar, Nafees Iqbal, Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Alok Kapali, Mohammad Rafique, Enamul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Syed Rasel, Tapash Baisya, Shahadat Hossain.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Upul Tharanga, Michael Vandort, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Prasanna Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara, Farveez Maharoof, Dammika Prasad, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Sajeewa Weerakoon.

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, Monday.