India v Sri Lanka Test Series.........Unfinished Business

By Bigjoe

Starts Monday 16th November 04.00 GMT

India come into this series on the back of a very disappointing ODI home series against an injury ravaged Australian side. Whilst they will be disappointed at that surprising loss, they will be looking forward to this test series against Sri Lanka hoping to avenge the only test series defeat they have suffered in the last 18 months.

Date and Time	Match
Mon Nov 16 - Fri Nov 20	1st Test - Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Tue Nov 24 - Sat Nov 28	2nd Test - Green Park, Kanpur
Wed Dec 2 - Sun Dec 6	3rd Test - Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai

That loss in Sri Lanka in July 2008 was dominated by the emergence to the world stage of Ajantha Mendis. This unorthodox spinner bamboozled a powerful Indian batting lineup that struggled to read and pick him.

The Indian fightback started in the ODI series that followed. They won that series, but more importantly, they seemed to have worked out how to play Mendis. India have faced Sri Lanka quite a few times in ODI games since then and they have continued to dominate those games and Mendis too.

If India are to win this series, they have to continue to play Mendis, and also Muralitharan more comfortably then they did in 2008. The ODI results since then will give India the confidence to do just that and they will be keen to finish some unfinished business with Ajantha Mendis.

It would be a big mistake however to assume this Sri Lankan team only relies on Mendis and Murali. They have not lost a Test series in 2 years. Kumar Sangakarra has taken over as captain and has them playing with passion and spirit.

History is against them though. Sri Lanka have yet to win a Test match on Indian soil after 27 years of trying. On a previous tour they lost the Test

In scintillating form Sachin Tendulkar

series 2-0 and were humiliated 6-1 in the ODI series that followed.

India have been a bit hit and miss in recent games in the shorter formats of the game, but in this longer form they have been in great form. In the last couple of years, apart from that blip in Sri Lanka, they have slayed some long standing dragons by winning Test Series in West Indies and New Zealand for the first time in 40 years. They also beat England away and avenged an away defeat to Australia by comfortably beating them 2-0 at home.

I believe that on their home pitches, India will continue their impressive form in Test matches. Tendulkar is in scintillating form as is Gambhir, Sehwag, Dhoni and Yuvraj. The return of the legendary duo Dravid and Laxman makes this batting lineup extremely formidable and it will take a very special effort from Sri Lanka to restrict them twice in any of the 3 Tests in this series.

I believe Sri Lanka’s long wait for a first Test match win in India will be extended further, especially now that it seems the Indian batsmen have worked out Mendis. They already had a good record against Murali and so I find it difficult to see how they will take 20 Indian wickets cheaply enough to win any of the 3 tests.

I am extremely confident that India will win this series, and win it comfortably. Sri Lanka will do well to escape with a draw or two, but a win is unlikely. Therefore my suggested bets for this series are:

In The Series Outright Market:

BACK India to win for 5 points @ 1.91 at Stan James

In The Series Correct Score Market:

BACK India to win 3-0 for 2 points @ 13.0 at Skybet , Stan James
BACK India to win 2-0 for 2 points @ 5.0 at Stan James, Ladbrokes sportsbook , Sportingbet , Bet365
BACK India to win 1-0 for 1 point @ 5.5 at Sportingbet

Join me as I believe India will indeed finish that unfinished business.

Bigjoe