Sri Lanka set to change strategy against Indians

The Sri Lankan celebrations were short-lived last night with the cricketers aware that they only had 36 hours of recovery time before the final of the ICC Champions Trophy, a match that will require a new strategy against their Asian neighbours India.

Australia's relative weakness against spin was brutally exposed by Sri Lanka's five slow bowlers on Friday night, but India's batsmen cannot be expected to capitulate so lamely. Their top seven is not only outrageously talented but also very experienced when it comes to playing on the slow, low, turning pitch that can be expected on Sunday night.

Thus Sri Lanka are considering further changes, primarily the re-introduction of pace bowler Dilhara Fernando, who has a good record against the Indians having taken 12 wickets in seven matches at 21.91. His extra pace and well-disguised slower ball will provide Sanath Jayasuriya with extra attacking options.

Fellow fast bowler Pulasthi Gunaratne appeared nervous in the semi-final but the management will hope that he learns from the experience of playing two matches in front of sell-out crowds. Although under-used on Friday, he can take the new ball and offers options later in the innings. He is thus likely to be retained.

The choice then comes down to whom to drop: leg-spinner Upul Chandana or off-spinner Kumar Dharmasena. Chandana offers extra variety considering that Aravinda de Silva and Russel Arnold can both bowl off-breaks, whilst Dharmasena can bowl with a newish ball - potentially important when you are looking to control the likes of Virender Sehwag and company.

Indeed, coach Dav Whatmore is concerned about the early overs: "India don't have the firepower in the bowling department that Australia possess but they certainly have a similarly aggressive opening combination when they bat ­- we are going to have to pay a lot of attention to that."

"They have Sehwag, Ganguly, Laxman, Tendulkar, Dravid... the list just goes on and on. We are going to have to be at the top of our game if we're going to be successful. It's going to be 100 overs of really hard work."

But Whatmore is confident that his side will rise to the occasion, like they have done during both the Pakistan and Australian games. He's quick to point to India's poor record in one-day finals.

"They have a powerful batting line-up but as we saw the other night against Zimbabwe they can also lose early wickets," he said.

"In my experience the semi-finals are the hardest games," he added. "In the finals anything can happen and it is all about holding your nerve. And, remember, India don't have a particularly good record in finals in recent times."

Sri Lanka have won all three of their matches in the tournament easily, the disadvantage of which is that their lower middle order has yet to be tested. Indeed, number six Russel Arnold has only batted once and that was a gentle unbeaten 22 against the Netherlands.

But Whatmore claimed to be unconcerned: "We are not worried about that. The wicket will be good and we know these conditions. The guys are in good form... it's just that they have not had a chance to prove it."

Sri Lanka (From):

Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva, Russel Arnold, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Chandana, Kumar Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Hasantha Fernando, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Pulasthi Gunaratne.