Umpire challenge system, Tendulkar record draw focus in Colombo Test
The three-Test series beginning on Wednesday at the Sinhalese Sport Club will for the first time allow players to challenge umpiring decisions and have them referred to TV replays.
The system takes the lead of tennis, which has used a similar challenge system to challenge decisions in Grand Slams since 2006.
Captains of both teams spoke to reporters about the experiment while at practice on Tuesday.
“I am all for it,” Sri Lanka’s captain Mahela Jayawardene said. “I think it’s a very good system, what we are trying to eradicate is the obvious mistakes that happen on the field. I think the umpires are in favour of this as well. I think it will benefit cricket overall.”
India captain Anil Kumble said that the game must change with the times while preserving its traditions.
“In tennis, line decisions are accepted now it has become part and parcel of a tennis game,” he said. “It’s the same with cricket. We have already accepted third umpire decisions on run outs and stumpings, it’s just moving forward.”
Like tennis, each side will be allowed three challenges in each innings.
The number of challenges remains intact if a decision is overturned using the system and the International Cricket Council is hoping the limits will eliminate “frivolous challenges.”
Mendis who became an instant star with his stunning bowling return of 6-13 in the Asia Cup final against India earlier this month in Karachi is very likely to make his Test debut on Wednesday.
With their bowling attack weakened through injuries to Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof, Sri Lanka have named Mendis as a second specialist spinner alongside veteran Muttiah Muralitharan in a 14-member squad.
“It’s good for him if he makes the debut. It’s a great opportunity for the young guy who has come from a humble beginning,” Jayawardene said.
Mendis’ six wickets in a 100-run win over India helped Sri Lanka defend the Asia Cup limited-overs title in Pakistan earlier this month. He has so far played in eight One-day Internationals and taken 20 wickets.
The Indians are confident of giving him a tougher initiation in the Test arena.
Kumble said India’s Test batting order, featuring Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Vangipurappu Laxman, has enough quality and experience to tackle all the Sri Lankan bowlers — particularly Mendis.
“This is his first Test match and let’s not forget that — pressure is on him,” Kumble said. “As a youngster when you play your first Test match you are obviously nervous. If you look at our batting strength most of them have played more than 100 Test matches.”
Kumble was expecting, as usual, the main threat from Sri Lanka to come from Muralitharan, the world’s leading Test wicket taker, and veteran paceman Chaminda Vaas.
Tendulkar, returning to the Test side after a groin injury, is set to overtake former West Indies captain Brian Lara as Test cricket’s leading run scorer during the series. The 35-year-old has 11,782 Test runs and needs 172 more to surpass Lara.
Kumble indicated Tendulkar would be among six specialist batsmen, backed up by Dinesh Karthik, an accomplished wicket-keeper batsman, and four bowlers. He said there was unlikely to be changes from the side that played a three-day warm-up match last week.
Teams (from):
SRI LANKA: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilina Thushara Mirando, Ajantha Mendis, Chamara Kapugedera.
INDIA: Anil Kumble (captain), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Vangipurappu Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha.
Umpires: Mark Benson (England) and Billy Doctrove (West Indies).
TV umpire: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa).
Match referee: Alan Hurst (Australia).—AP