Two changes expected for 3rd Test

Chris Dhambarage

Sri Lanka are exploring the possibilities of making a couple of changes for the deciding third and final test match against the touring Indian team which gets underway at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium on Friday.

The series is level one all after India cruised to a 170 run victory in the second test at the Galle International Stadium following their innings defeat in the opening match at the SSC ground in Maitland Place.

The two areas that the national selectors will be looking in when they pick the team are the openers berth and the fast bowling department. It remains to be seen whether the selectors drop opening batsman Michael van Dort after his poor showing in the first two matches of the series.

Michael van Dort although strong off the front foot on both sides of the wicket was found vulnerable to edging the fast bowlers in both innings during the Galle test match.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardena of course feels that the 28 year old left hander has played consistently well in the last six months and getting runs, which means that there could be a major problem if one keeps changing the important opening batting department.

Van Dort who made his test debut against Bangladesh at the SSC grounds in 2001 has so far scored 1072 runs from 18 test matches to average 39.70. However he is yet to make any significant contribution since scoring a half century in the third test match against the West Indies at Providence in March this year.

In the opening test match of the current series he was out for just three runs in the first innings and followed up with scores of four and ten respectively in the second test concluded at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday.

The other major concern for the national selectors will be the fast bowling department with the old war horses Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Kulasekara in the scanner for their average performances in the two test matches.

Sri Lanka will also be looking for a young fast bowling option after seen India's Ishant Sharma explode with three quick wickets in the second innings of the second test that let to their downfall.

The 25 year old uncapped fast bowler Dammika Prasad who troubled the Indian batsmen in the warm up match for the Sri Lanka Board XI could be one of the options, according to sources.

Prasad who has played in three one day internationals in 2006 has since suffered a number of injuries before touring England and Zimbabwe with the Sri Lanka 'A' teams last year.

The axe may fall on Nuwan Kulasekara who failed to extract pace in the first two Tests although he did manage to force the Indian openers to be watchful against him in the initial overs of the previous matches. Kulasekara was averaging between 114 and 125 kms in the two matches.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene also really felt the absence of an effective fast bowler in his side during the second test after seeing Sharma extract pace of around 135-140 kms.

Meanwhile the Indian team will go into the third Test against Sri Lanka without their coach Gary Kirsten. The former South Africa batsman has been granted leave by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to attend to his mother, who is critically ill.

Gary Kirsten has been granted leave to go to South Africa to be with his mother but there will not be any replacement in his absence.