Cricket: Kapil Dev's sights on Test record
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.KAPIL DEV will be the main attraction when India open a three-Test series against Sri Lanka in Lucknow today. The 34-year-old all-rounder needs seven more victims to break Sir Richard Hadlee's record of 431 Test wickets.
The wicket at the K D Singh stadium has a reputation for favouring batsmen before helping spinners towards the end of a Test match. However, rain last week has softened the ground and may help his fast-medium swing and seam. If Kapil falls short in Lucknow, where he will also have the advantage of bowling to Sri Lankan batsmen who have had little practice, then he has further chances in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.
The Sri Lankan captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, is likely to bring in at least one new cap, either the medium-pace bowler, Ravindra Pushpakumara, or a batsman Anura Gunawardene. His Indian counterpart, Mohammad Azharuddin, will also have to decide between the pace bowler, Javagal Srinath, and the spinner Venkatapathy Raju. The wicketkeeper, Nayan Mongia, makes his Test debut.
INDIA (v Sri Lanka, first Test, Luckow, today; from): M Azharuddin (capt), N S Sidhu, M Prabhakar, A S Jajeda, S V Manjrekar, S R Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, J Srinath, A Kumble, Venkatapathy Raju, R K Chauhan, N R Mongia (wkt).
SRI LANKA (from): A Ranatunga (capt), R S Mahamana, D P Samaraweera, H P Tillakaratne, P A de Silva, S T Jayasuriya, R S Kalpage, M S Atapattu, R Pushpakumara, G P Wickramasinghe, A A W Gunawardene, P Dissanayake (wkt).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments