Sri Lanka vs India 2nd Test, 2008: You should know about 20 things

After the humiliating defeat in an innings margin in the first test at Colombo, India has made their amazing fight back in the series with an impressive win by 170 runs in the second test at the Galle International Stadium which has made the series 1-1 level. Both teams are now heading towards the last test match of this series which will start from 8^th August, 2008 at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo. It is expected to see an exciting and closely contested match between host Sri Lanka and travelers India. Everyone should try to beat each other to claim the series. No one is dominating the series in that time.

Here in this post I am giving a list of things about the Sri Lanka vs India 2^nd Test which may not be known to you-

1. The opening day of the second test delayed to be held because of rain. However, match was played only four days to be finished.

2. India bounced back the series with the win in the second test at Galle International Stadium clinching and recorded their fist Test victory in this venue. In their last tour in August 2001, they lost to Sri Lanka by 10 wickets at this venue.

3. Sri Lanka team has inspirational performance in this venue that’s why it is called lucky ground for host team. They played 10 matches where they have won 7 lost 1 and drawn 2. They last defeated by Pakistan team by 8 wickets at Kandy in April 2006.

4. After clinching a big win by 170 runs in the second test, they recorded their 31^st victory away from home. They have played 207 away Test where they lost 87 and drawn 89.

5. Under the Test captain Anil Kumble, India played 11 away Tests from home. Statistical highlight of his career shows him as a perfect captain. Under his leading India won 3, lost 4 and drawn 4. Victory against Sri Lanka was the second under Anil Kumble’s captaincy in 6 Tests.

6. Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh made his remarkable come back and spun India into a strong position taking 10 wickets against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium. For the first time, he has captured 10 wickets in a Test match on foreign soil.

7. Claiming 10 for 153 in the second test, Harbhajan Singh has become the best by any Indian bowler in Sri Lanka. His figures at Galle are now best by visiting bowlers and the record of Australian bowling great Shane Warne’s record of 10 for 159 in 2003-04.

8. He has provided himself the ninth instance by an Indian bowler to bag ten or more Test wickets in away from home, joining Irfan Pathan, Bishan Singh Bedi, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna, Chetan Sharma, Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble. Irfan Pathan got this success twice- once each against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Harbhajan Singh recorded his name beside Anil Kumble claiming ten or more wickets twice, first achieved the feat against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad in 2005-06, in a Test match against Sri Lanka.

9. Harbhajan Singh bagged his fifth ten wickets or more test in Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium. He claimed it thrice against Australia and twice against Sri Lanka.

Indian opening pair Virender Sehwag got his fifth double century, including two triple centuries, against Sri Lanka in the first innings of second test at Galle. He was unbeaten 201. He has also become the 10^th Indian batsmen to have complete 5000 runs in Test cricket. He is the only Indian batsman to have scored triple century.

10. Virender Sehwag was awarded Man of the match sixth time but first against Sri Lanka.

11. Sri Lanka’s new bowling mystery become the first Sri Lankan to bag ten wickets or more in Test cricket in second test against India at Galle, bettering Muralitharan's 8 for 90 in 2001-02. He has become leading wicket taker after claiming 18 wickets at an average of 18.94 at a strike rate of 33.7.

12. Mendis has become the second Sri Lankan after Muralitharan to capture 10 wickets in a Test match at Galle. Muralitharan has accomplished the feat four times- once each against South Africa, England, West Indies and Australia.

13. Interestingly VVS Laxman got dismissed by Mendis in each innings of the Colombo, SSC and Galle Tests.

14. Claiming 10 for 209, 6 for 117 in the first innings and 4 for 92 in the second innings, Ajantha Mendis produced his best bowling performance in a Test match.

15. Sri Lanka’s 136 in the second test was lowest ever score at Galle. Their lowest score was 154 against Australia in 2003-04.

16. Muttiah Muralitharan has 751 wickets at an average of 21.90 in 122 Tests. After taking the wicket of Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik in the second innings of second test at Galle, he has become the first bowler to capture 750 wickets in Tests history.

17. Anil Kumble has made world record for most ‘Caught and bowled’ dismissals (34) bettering Muralitharan's tally of 33.

18. VVS Laxman has become the fourth Indian fielder after Rahul Dravid (175), Sunil Gavaskar (108) and Mohammad Azharuddin (105) to complete a century of catches in Test cricket achieved the distinction with Prasanna Jayawardene's catch.

19. Virender Sehwag’s 50 off 52 balls is his 14^th fifty in Test cricket- his first against Sri Lanka. He has recorded a double hundred (201) and a fifty (50) in the same game.

20. Muralitharan’s figure of 13 for 171 against South Africa in 2000-01 are best by any bowlers at Gally.

However, dear fans I think most of you could see an exciting and nail biting test match between Sri Lanka and India. Both these two South Asian former world cup winning team are always strong team in their home ground. Both teams will face each other in third test with full of confidence and rhythm. As a host team Sri Lanka should try to take benefit. No doubt, India team should try to take revenge for their defeat by 2-1 in last Sri Lanka tour in 2001. What do you think who can win the series?

Useful links-

http://inhome.rediff.com/cricket/2008/aug/03sta.htm

http://inhome.rediff.com/cricket/2008/aug/03stats.htm

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/India_beat_Sri_Lanka_by_170_runs/articleshow/3321381.cms