Cricket without boundaries

India’s Sri Lanka defeat adds spin to their batting

Have Indian batsmen lost their skill to tackle quality spin bowling? That is the big question that has followed their crushing defeat in the first test in Colombo last week.

Their innings and 239-run defeat on a good Singhalese Sports Club ground pitch saw a line-up boasting Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly and VVS Laxman bundled out twice around four sessions of play.

Off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, test cricket’s highest wickettaker, captured 11 wickets, but Indian batsmen were also clueless against debutant Ajantha Mendis, who snapped up eight with his mysterious mix of deliveries.

Indian batsmen have struggled under pressure against off spin in the past, contrasting with their command against leg break bowlers, including Shane Warne.

Anantha’s prediction: India’s best hope is a draw

India start a three-test series in Sri Lanka on Wednesday which will answer a few questions on how different will be their approach in the island where they only have a modest record.

Their confidence will come from the sheer experience among their batsmen and their consistency in tests playing abroad in the last two seasons.