India will be under pressure: Sanga
Nov. 8: India have an enviable Test record at home against Sri Lanka - without a single defeat in 14 matches over 27 years so far. Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara, however, believes Mahendra Singh Dhoni's boys will have to work hard to maintain that record.
The islanders are here for a 49-day tour, and Sangakkara said his team would do everything to break the jinx. "We have to wait and see how India come out of this loss (against Australia), especially at home. We are under no pressure. We have not won a Test here before and we are here to change things," Sangakkara told the media on Sunday."We are here to enjoy our cricket and not think much about the past. The pressure is on India to keep their home series record intact," he added.The Lankan skipper said his new ball attack may be an inexperienced one, but that could turn out to be an advantage."Sometimes inexperience is good. Maybe the Indian batsmen have not really played our fast bowlers regularly in the longer format of the game. Sometimes a fresh perspective, enthusiasm and right attitude can be an added bonus," he said.On all-rounder Angelo Mathews' role, the skipper said, "Playing three spinners and two fast bowlers or vice versa opens up having a player like Angelo in the team."His batting helps the team include an extra paceman or spinner according to the surface."Sangakkara praised left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for the progress he has made recently, especially in the series at home against New Zealand and Pakistan where he outshone not only Ajantha Mendis but also world record-setting wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan."Herath is a great player. He's a positive guy who tries his heart out. Such a good spinner had to play third fiddle to Murali and Mendis, which has made him hungrier. Against New Zealand and Pakistan, he out-bowled Murali and Mendis by a long way. He's a very important player and we hope he can replicate that performance," the 32-year-old said
AGE CORRESPONDENTMumbai
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