Sri Lanka can go with three spinners in Kanpur Test

New Delhi News.Net
Monday 23rd November, 2009 (IANS)

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said injury to their right-arm pacer Dammika Prasad could force them to go with three spinners in the second cricket Test against India here Tuesday.

Prasad had strained his hamstring during the first Test in Ahmedabad last weeek.

'Prasad's injury means we can play three spinners if we want to. Ajantha (Mendis) is always in the reckoning and (Dilhara) Fernando has also been bowling quite fast and accurately,' Sangakkara said Monday.

The Sri Lanka camp, meanwhile, is relieved with the recovery of their opener Tillakaratne Dilshan. Dilshan, who scored 112 in the Ahmedabad Test, had hurt his nose in a football game.

'Dilshan had a broken nose but it has been fixed up. He is fine now,' said Sangakkara.

The Sri Lankan captain also came in support of Muttiah Muralitharan, who got only three wickets on a placid Ahmedabad track. The off-spinner went wicketless in the second innings and on the last day when Sri Lanka were hoping to bowl out the Indians. Normally, the off-spinner revels under such circumstances on a sub-continental track, but the Motera pitch frustrated him.

The 37-year-old spin wizard is 14 short of a world record of 800 Test wickets.

'He (Muralitharan) is a legend. When you have a legend on your side, you will depend on him always. I don't think he is struggling. I am a very strong believer in Murali.'

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