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South Africa
Tour Sri Lanka - 2004 |
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icricketer.com > Series >
South Africa Tour Sri
Lanka - 2004 > News
Murali ready to race ahead
of Warne at favorite Test venue
GALLE: Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan is all set to
take a lead over arch rival Shane Warne when he returns to his
favourite hunting ground on Wednesday for the first Test against
South Africa.
Muralitharan, who shares the world record of 527 Test wickets with
Aussie leg-spinner Warne, is sure to sprint ahead after giving his
rival a chance to catch up by missing a Test series in Australia.
The off-spinner has an astounding tally of 82 wickets in 10 Tests on
the spin-friendly track at the Galle International Stadium, where
his team have won six of 10 matches and lost just two.
It is also the venue where Sri Lanka registered their lone win in 13
Tests against South Africa, with whom they lock horns in a two-Test
series.
The first Test starts in Galle on Aug 4 and the second in Colombo on
Aug 11. The Tests will be followed by five one-dayers from Aug 20 to
31.
Records may favour South Africa, who have won eight Tests against
Sri Lanka, but they have the feared Muralitharan to contend with
even though he is not allowed to bowl the controversial 'doosra',
his away-going delivery.
Muralitharan, who boycotted a two-Test series Down Under following
comments from Australian Prime Minister John Howard that he was a
chucker, took 13 wickets in the Test win over South Africa four
years ago.
Sri Lanka have done well to adjust to both forms of the game in the
recent past.
They drew the second Test in Australia last month, and switching to
the shorter format immediately on return, won the Asia Cup one-day
tournament that ended on Sunday.
In less than three full days they have to once again play a Test
against a side that is fresh, not having played international
cricket since their tour of New Zealand in February-March.
South Africa had an opportunity to shake off their rust in a
three-day side game against a Sri Lankan Board President's XI, which
ended in a draw.
Captain Graeme Smith struck an unbeaten 85 in the second innings
after an unimpressive batting display in the first innings by his
team while paceman Makhaya Ntini shone with a five-wicket haul in
the first innings.
If Sri Lanka ensured they were not blanked in the series in
Australia which ended 1-0 in the hosts' favour, South Africa too did
well to draw a three-Test series against New Zealand 1-1.
Both teams are now hoping to use the series to prepare for the
season ahead.
"A good tour here would give us a lot of confidence going forward,"
said Smith. "It certainly won't be an easy series but we are looking
forward to the challenges."
Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu hopes to carry forward his team's
success from the Asia Cup which they won beating India in the final
"We have been playing well and can continue winning if we stick to
the basics and play well as a team," said Atapattu.
For South Africa, Herschelle Gibbs has been ruled out of the first
Test because of a sprained ankle with young left-handed opener
Andrew Puttick drafted in.
Puttick returns to Sri Lanka after having toured here for the
under-19 World Cup in 1999.
Sri Lanka too have named an uncapped opener in Ian Daniel after his
consistent performances for the under-19 and Sri Lanka A sides.
Sri Lanka (from): Marvan Atapattu (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar
Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Chandana,
Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah
Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa, Thilan Samaraweera, Rangana Herath,
Romesh Kaluwitharana, Ian Daniel.
South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (capt), Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje,
Boeta Dippenaar, Mornantau Hayward, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener,
Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Jacques
Rudolph, Martin Van Jaarsveld, Andrew Puttick.
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