Murlidharan ready to spin South Africa again

Jayasuriya admitted his main trump card against the South Africans was off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. “Obviously we don’t have anyone (else) like him. We gave him a good rest for the last five to six days to keep him fresh for the Test. I am happy the way he is bowling,” he said.

The 27-year-old World class spinner spun South Africa to defeat in the first Test with a match bag of 13 wickets. He is expected to perform a similar role at the Asgiriya International Stadium here, his hometown, where thousands of spectators are expected to flock just to cheer him.

The Test is also a big game for Kumar Sangakkara, also from Kandy. Twenty-three-year-old Sangakkara, who made his Test debut at Galle, has come up so well that his presence as a middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper gives the selectors the option of playing an additional batsman or a bowler.

Sri Lanka will decide on the morning whether they want to play with only one fast bowler or choose between Kumar Dharmasena and Dinuk Hettiaratchi on the final spot.

Dharmasena was not impressive in Galle, and his place is danger of going to Hettiaratchi or batsman Tillekeratne Dilshan.

Sri Lanka are also toying with the idea of going into the Test with only one fast bowler – Chaminda Vaas, if the pitch is similar to Galle’s. Vaas’ new ball partner, Nuwan Zoysa, bowled only nine overs in the entire Test.

South Africa are expected to make one change with fast bowler Nantie Hayward coming in for Makhaya Ntini.

The pitch is expected to suit Muralitharan’s spin with hardly any grass left on it. It is the same pitch used for the third and final Test against Pakistan nearly a month ago, which was ruined by rain.

This will be former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga’s final Test here, and the local association has planned to honour him. A life-size cut out of Ranatunga will grace the venue throughout the Test. It will also present him a souvenir.

Teams (from): Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Arjuna Ranatunga, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Dharmasena, Nuwan Zoysa, Dinuk Hettiaratchi, Tillekeratne Dilshan.

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (captain), Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Kallis, Darryl Cullinan, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Paul Adams, Monantau Hayward, Makhaya Ntini, Roger Telemachus.

Umpires: Darryl Harper (Australia) and Gamini Silva (SriLanka), TV umpire: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka), Match Referee: Brian Hastings (New Zealand).