Dear Mahela,

[The Outsider]

Firstly, commiserations on losing the 2nd test match and having to go into the decider 1-1. It must have been a slight let down when the batting line up you backed to chase 500 runs could not even manage 150, but that's cricket and it's best not to run the mouth before having runs on board. I can truly empathize with the situation you find yourself in now. There just does not see to be any strategy on which you can bank on to win the final test with any degree of certainty. After Ishant and Zaheer unraveled your side's bullies who thrive on the slow, low pitches on that very turf, even the slight prospect of a quick surface in the next test would understandably be giving you headaches. I am sure the spell by Ishant on the last day would have brought back memories of the recent CB series in Australia as well - and not very pleasant ones. The grapevine has it that you are planning to debut Prasad for the next match. I think it's a damage control strategy at best and a risky one at worst. He'll be up against a batting line up which piled on the runs in Australia a few months back a complete green top like the one at Kanpur is something that you won't dream of dishing out. Murali's fortress at Galle was breached in the last match on a turning track and to compound your misery Harbhajan built his own over the ruins. A turning track is too big a risk for you to take with your best bowler proving ineffective on it in the last match and the surprise weapon losing just that bit of potency, though he remains your best chance. With Kumble starting to find some sort of form, the spin to win route is probably to risk fraught as well. Will you risk throwing up a flat pitch to this Indian batting line up? There might be no escape routes left in that scenario if you happen to lose the toss. Remember, Indians will be more than happy to come back with a drawn series specially after their first test mauling and a drawn series will do nothing to enhance the reputation of the Sri Lankan test side who have been losing abroad everywhere anyways. And what about your own team's batting? Will it be equipped to handle the pressure of a big score on a flat wicket after their recent surrender? A series which was looking like a walk in the park has turned on it's head and at the moment it looks like your team has more questions to answer and doubts to clear than the Indians. Let's see how you cope with it but it looks like India is going to put this one across you at the moment.

[Willow_on_fire]

If Mahela happens to read this overwhelming piece...chances are...he might get inspired to win the final test match...and it is all going to be your fault Shwetabh..:D

[Bumper]

As much as I'd love to celebrate and get back at Mahela, I'd wait till the end of the series. I am still not sure our batsmen are in good enough form to outbat Lanka. We will be tested only when Sehwag falls early.

[Indian cricket fan in CA]

I am not sure if I am willing to place all my chips on our Indian team. Yes we did win the second test comprehensively but we had the history of falling flat when it matters most :((. I will keep my fingers crossed. Iwill be happy with a draw but will definetly take a series win. Go India :two_thumbs_up:

[King]

Sri Lanka still are a terrific side at home. I'd be pretty guarded before writing them off already.

[sandtest]

Very good OP. This hype surrounding Sri lankan test side, which they do not deserve, is mainly becuase we failed in first match (both with bat and bowl). There is simply no comparison between Indian test batting line up and Sri Lankan one, recent failure of seniors notwithstanding, this same middle order served us well in Aus tour, it would be harsh to write them off after 2 matches.

[fineleg]

The {RD, SRT, SG, VVS} combo has still not clicked. It is essential they find form for Test-3, and I dont think we can say we will romp home without them clicking.

[cowboysfan]

I am really confused-is this like an open letter?

[Willow_on_fire]

I am really confused-is this like an open letter?

no...it is Shwetabh being Shwetabh....:D

[umpire]

Lets look at the Lankan batting line up. Only 2 proven performers and Jayawardane is more home track bully. so only one real class class act. If you get Jaya and Sanga cheaply, Lanka will struggle to score 200-250, thats how weak their batting is. their only hope is to make flat track and feast on it. They do not have ability to survive on greenish track nor they can survive long in Galle like track. So for Mahela only option is flat track and rely on M&M's genious

[CC1981]

There is simply no comparison between Indian test batting line up and Sri Lankan one,

And there simply is no comparison between SL bowling and Indian bowling. Murali is the equivalent of a Kumble and half even when Kumble is on all cylinders firing, Mendis, until his carrom ball is figured out remains a far more dangerous opposition than Harby and both Malinga and Vaas are MILES ahead of Ishant and Zaheer. Hell, if anything, their batting is closer to ours than our bowling is to their's and IMO if anything, India is more overhyped than SL is.

[bunny]

I think Sangakkara is gonna shine. ZK got him out a couple of times, but it won't happen everytime. And then we might struggle. The second problem is that although Bhajji might have found some form, it was essentially due to the bounce he was getting (especially on his top spinner, which actually was spinning as well). If he doesn't get the bounce in Colombo, he will struggle again. Already Kumble is struggling, and ZK has been leaking runs. So we will again be in a situation where 1-2 bowlers will have to carry the entire load. If it happens, it happens. I won't bet on it.

[bunny]

And there simply is no comparison between SL bowling and Indian bowling. Murali is the equivalent of a Kumble and half even when Kumble is on all cylinders firing, Mendis, until his carrom ball is figured out remains a far more dangerous opposition than Harby and both Malinga and Vaas are MILES ahead of Ishant and Zaheer. Hell, if anything, their batting is closer to ours than our bowling is to their's and IMO if anything, India is more overhyped than SL is.

And this has been India's problem for way too long. However much we criticize the Indian batting lineup, we have never ever produced a great bowler (By great i mean someone who can consistenly take wickets at home and aborad and average something less than 25). And our batting lineup is against Mendis (who averages less than 20 in FC cricket), Murali (avg of 21) and Vaas (a very good bowler). Obviously, our batting lineup is going to struggle. If Sri Lankan batting lineup was batting against SL bowling, they would never cross 200 in any of the innings.

[Dhondy]

And there simply is no comparison between SL bowling and Indian bowling. Murali is the equivalent of a Kumble and half even when Kumble is on all cylinders firing, Mendis, until his carrom ball is figured out remains a far more dangerous opposition than Harby and both Malinga and Vaas are MILES ahead of Ishant and Zaheer. Hell, if anything, their batting is closer to ours than our bowling is to their's and IMO if anything, India is more overhyped than SL is.

You are carrying this fellow-Buddhist thingy too far.

[The Outsider]

I just feel India is in a much better position going into the final test than Sri Lanka as far as strategy is concerned. Sri Lanka don't know who to play in their pace bowling department - they are not even convinced with Vaas and wanted to rest him last test. There is a question mark whether Sangakkara's utility as a pure batsman is so much that they play another specialist wicketkeeper. If Sangakkara keeps they can play another batsman to shore up their batting. They have a dead weight opener. They only are ahead of India in the spin bowling stakes and Murali's negation in the last test opens up lots of questions for them. Sure, they are a tremendous side at home and can easily bounce back to take the series - but they have been put into unchartered zone by India's win in the last test.

[Ram]

We lost to them more than an innings and 200 runs, less than 10 days ago. I wouldnt want to get too cocky, too early. There is very little to choose between the teams, especially in Lankan conditions.

[triam]

You are carrying this fellow-Buddhist thingy too far.

That is hilarious, thanks dhondy for making me smile early morning

[jf1gp_1]

am i the only one who wished it was a 5 test series ?

[Brainfade]

If Mahela happens to read this overwhelming piece...chances are...he might get inspired to win the final test match...and it is all going to be your fault Shwetabh..:D

And then we can annoy the prof by accusing him of "jinxing." :D Seriously, though, good OP!

[CC1981]

You are carrying this fellow-Buddhist thingy too far.

Ouch. Low blow, doc. I am not that Buddhist anyways. But you know what i mean. I agree with those who think Swetabh's address is a bit too gung-ho. I don't think India is going to close the deal, i think SL will react like a wounded lion. Don't forget, last time we went there, we got murdered. Kumble hasn't been effective against Lanka in a while except only on Indian test pitches and that too, he's been clobbered sometimes by the Lankans in India. I think Kumble has been ineffective against Lanka but at the same time, calls for his retirement is unfairly harsh : think about it, when has Kumble last been effective against Lanka outside of India ? Harby might do well in suitable conditions but lets face it, odds are, if Harby does well, Murali or Mendis will do better. And our fab-four are out of form mostly compared to the SL guns. I think this was a fabulous victory from the Indians but its more due to two exemplary performances than a team demolition job ala 1st Test. Lets face it, Veeru's innings was one of those exceptional knocks and Ishant-Zaheer's spell killed Lanka. I tend to put my odds on teams that show clinical demolitions than ride on exceptional performances to win. Perhaps India's team is fired up for the 2nd life and would rise. But i think, sadly, odds are SL will crush us next test.