Jayawardena bats for umpire referral system
The Test series between Sri Lanka and India could be pivotal for three reasons: the umpire challenge system going on trial, Sachin Tendulkar targeting a batting world record and spin bowling sensation Ajantha Mendis making his debut.
The three-Test series beginning Wednesday at Sinhalese Sport Club will for the first time allow players to challenge umpiring decisions and have them referred to TV replays.
The system takes the lead of tennis, which has used a similar challenge system to challenge decisions in Grand Slams since 2006.
Captains of both teams spoke to reporters about the experiment while at practice on Tuesday.
"I am all for it," Sri Lanka's captain Mahela Jayawardena said. "I think it's a very good system, what we are trying to eradicate is the obvious mistakes that happen on the field. I think the umpires are in favour of this as well.
India captain Anil Kumble said that the game must change with the times while preserving its traditions.
"In tennis, line decisions are accepted now it has become part and parcel of a tennis game," he said. "It's the same with cricket. We have already accepted third umpire decisions on run outs and stumpings, it's just moving forward."
Like tennis, each side will be allowed three challenges in each innings.
Mendis who became an instant star with his stunning bowling return of 6-13 in the Asia Cup final against India earlier this month is very likely to make his Test debut Wednesday.
With its bowling attack weakened through injury to Lasith Malinga, Randi Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof, Sri Lanka has named Mendis as a second specialist spinner alongside veteran Muttiah Muralidaran in a 14-member squad.
"It's good for him if he makes the debut. It's a great opportunity for the young guy who has come from a humble beginning," Jayawardena said.
Mendis' six wickets in a 100-run win over India helped Sri Lanka defend the Asia Cup limited-overs title in Pakistan earlier this month. He has so far played in eight limited-overs internationals and taken 20 wickets.
The Indians are confident of giving him a tougher initiation in the Test arena.
Kumble said India's Test batting order, featuring Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S.Laxman, has enough quality and experience to tackle all the Sri Lankan bowlers — particularly Mendis.
"This is his first Test match and let's not forget that — pressure is on him," Kumble said. "As a youngster when you play your first Test match you are obviously nervous.
"If you look at our batting strength most of them have played more than 100 Test matches."
Kumble was expecting, as usual, the main threat from Sri Lanka to come from Muralidaran, the world's leading Test wicket-taker, and veteran paceman Chaminda Vaas.
Tendulkar, returning to the Test side after a groin injury, is set to overtake former West Indies captain Brian Lara as Test cricket's leading run scorer during the series. The 35-year-old has 11,782 Test runs and needs 172 more to surpass Lara.
Kumble indicated Tendulkar would be among six specialist batsmen, backed up by Dinesh Karthik, an accomplished wicketkeeper batsman, and four bowlers. He said there was unlikely to be changes from the side that played a three-day warm-up match last week.
Teams
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardena (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralidaran, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Ajantha Mendis and Chamara Kapugedera
India: Anil Kumble (captain), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel and Pragyan Ojha.