India will come back hard in the First Test, says Thilan

Chris Dhambarage

Sri Lanka’s premier batsman Thilan Samaraweera believes India will come back hard with an improved performance in the opening Test match after the visitors were outplayed by the Board President’s XI in a three day match which ended in a draw at the Colts grounds in Havelock Park on Thursday.

Samaraweera who captained the Board XI was one of the four centurions along with opening batsman Upul Tharanga, Thilina Kandamby and Lahiru Thrimanna who reached the three figure mark in the second innings.

However Samaraweera stated that India as the World’s number one Test team will be determined to make amends with an improved performance in the first of three Test matches which begins at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday.

Samaraweera said that despite conceding over 500 runs in the three day match India has the ability to bounce back with spinner Harbhajan Singh as the key player. The 30 year old veteran off spinner was rested for the three day practice match and is expected to play a major role in the three test series.

Samaraweera said that the Indian bowling attack was somewhat weakened with the absence of pacemen Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan although Mithun and Sharma troubled the batsmen to a certain extent. He was pleased with the efforts of the Board XI bowlers who were able to dismiss the strong Indian batting line up for 291 runs well inside two sessions.

Samaraweera said that he was delighted to score a century while coming into international cricket after a short break.

The 33 year old right hander believes that his knock of 102 will give him the confidence to play a long innings in the first cricket test match.

Samaraweera has a decent run of success at the Galle Stadium averaging well over fifty from eight test matches and has a tally of 607 runs inclusive of one century and three half centuries.