Memory of ODI win could help…

The problem here is that one of the batsmen, Russel Arnold, who helped Sri Lanka achieve that five wicket victory, is back in Colombo walloping big scores in the island’s rain-hit Premier League tournament.

Arnold is a tough, experienced competitor and likes to take up a challenge. It was Arnold’s partnership with all-rounder Tillekeratne Dilshan that led the way to that one success in the 1-6 hiding. A win always puts a brave smile on the face of the team eventually vanquished in a series of seven matches.

The unbroken sixth wicket partnership between Dilshan and Arnold added 131 runs.

It was one of the more inspirational moments of that limited overs series, which led to the axing of Sanath Jayasuriya from the Test side and the inexplicable decision to drop Arnold as well. What Moody will be hoping for is that Dilshan’s second innings effort of 32 against India at Forezshah Kotla on Wednesday during the second Test will encourage the other batsman to build on that effort and add extra solidity to the middle-order in this third Test.

Sri Lanka need to turn around history to win here to level the series. The tourists have yet to win a Test on the sub-continent. In some ways there is an underlying hope that the distraction caused by Sourav Ganguly’s sacking after the Kotla Test, where India won by 188-runs will infiltrate the Indian team’s psyche.

Well, that is one thought. The other is how Marvan Atapattu’s inspirational batting and leadership will convince Dilshan and Thilan Samaraweera to set about building totals, as they did in the second Test against Bangladesh.

Both scored centuries after the top-order was blown away, the innings was tottering on the abyss, and another wicket would have created serious ripples within the Sri Lanka side. Remember this was against a Bangladesh team that lost the series 0-2 and both defeats were by an innings. It was Jayasuriya’s 100th Test and he didn’t look that impressive against the moving ball. At the time, Moody was bothered by the top-order weakness against the new ball. While on this tour that concern would still be a worrying factor, the middle-order’s failure to capitalise on a carefully developed platform is going to be examined by the coach and captain.

At Ferozshah Kotla six wickets fell for the addition of only 29 runs in the first innings and five for 22 in the second – 11 wickets falling for 51 runs. It is why the appearance of the middle order is flaky and lacks the substance needed to pressure the Indian bowlers.

Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene, who scored the bulk of the runs in both innings and the only Sri Lankans to put double figures on the board, showed the dedication needed. Moody will be looking for a 100 percent improvement at Motera when the Test starts on Sunday.