Fast bowlers set to dominate Galle Test

The first Test of the three match series between Sri Lanka and India at the Galle International Stadium will be played on a pitch conducive to fast bowling according to ground manager Jayananda Warnaweera.

Galle has had a reputation of being a spinner friendly venue in the past with Sri Lanka tending to bank on their spinners. In fact, the last Tests played in Galle, against South Africa last year and England in February, were dominated by the slower bowlers and both were won by Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka though believe that they would be best served by pitches with extra pace and bounce against India. After all, Muttiah Muralitharan, the only specialist spinner likely to play, can turn the ball on any surface and would also benefit from some extra bounce.

Nevertheless, it's a brave strategy. Sri Lanka came unstuck against Pakistan in Galle last year on a seamer friendly surface when Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Abdur Razzaq ripped through the batting.

Sri Lankan Cricket Board sources have confirmed that the curators of the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy and the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, where the second and the third Tests will be played, have also been asked to prepare pitches with more life than normal.

The Sri Lankan selectors have included five fast bowlers in their squad and are expected to play three, probably Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando and Ruchira Perera. India have four fast bowlers in the squad and are also expected to play three fast bowlers and just one specialist spinner.

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, speaking after the three-day game yesterday, claimed to be delighted by the news that the Galle wicket would be fast bowler friendly.

"We've got some good fast bowlers in Zaheer (Khan) and Srinath. In fact, I was delighted to see Srinath bowling fast in this practice game after a long time. Then we have Venkatesh Prasad, who is ideal for seaming conditions," said Ganguly.