Kumble set to reach 100 Tests as India eye Test series win

AHMEDABAD (India)—Veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble is set to play his 100th Test Saturday (today) as a confident India eye a series victory against a struggling Sri Lanka.
Kumble, who starred in a 188-run victory in the last match in New Delhi as the home side went one up the three-Test series, won praise from skipper Rahul Dravid.
“He has proved his worth over the years and is always an asset to the side,” said Dravid, who is looking for victory in his first Test series as captain after the rain-hit opening match at Chennai ended in a draw.
Kumble, who bagged 10-157 in New Delhi to take his Test wicket tally to 478, will become only the fifth Indian to figure in 100 Tests after Kapil Dev (131), Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar (125 each) and Dilip Vengsarkar (116).
“Having been there for 15 years I have learnt to take things positively and focus on improving my game and bettering my performance,” Kumble said.
Dravid, while praising Kumble, termed his team’s performance in the previous match a very good team effort.
“It was not that a single performance lifted us. It was a hard fight and we played good cricket. But we can’t slip up as there is still a lot left in the series,” said Dravid.
India, who dropped former skipper Sourav Ganguly even though the stylish left-hander scored 40 and 39 in the second Test, have an additional opener in recalled batsman Wasim Jaffer.
Jaffer, who played seven Tests without much success from 2000 to 2002, provides an alternative to left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir who has scored just five runs in three innings in the series.
Opener Virender Sehwag, who missed out because of a throat infection, is also available. Dravid and Irfan Pathan opened once each with Gambhir in the last match.
With Yuvraj Singh striking form with an impressive 77 not out in the second innings and Mohammad Kaif pushing hard for a place, the competition for slots in the middle order is tough.
“It is good when we have two or three players in contention for one place,” said Dravid, who led his team to Test wins against Australia and Pakistan as stand-in captain when Ganguly was indisposed.
“It might be tough for players who miss out in such a situation but it is always good for the team”.
Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu felt India had got contributions from players when they needed them but the same could not be said for his side.
“I thought we did not concentrate hard enough. We did not get players to perform when needed and lost the match during different sessions,” said Atapattu, who scored 88 and 67 in New Delhi.
“But we are capable of doing better and hope to put up a good show in the next match”.
The teams (from): India: Rahul Dravid (Capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Anil Kumble, Rudra Pratap Singh.
Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (Capt), Avishka Gunawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Jehan Mubarak, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Malinga Bandara.—Agencies