SriLanka keen to even the series

Being 1-0 down in a Test series is nothing new to Sri Lanka. They have on two previous occasions come back from that position to turn tables and win the series.

Sri Lanka find themselves in a similar situation in the on-going series against Pakistan where they lost the first Test played at the SSC grounds by five wickets to trail 1-0 going into the second Test starting at the Galle International Stadium here today.

"We are not strangers to this situation. We've comeback before. It all depends on how focussed everyone is on the day. I am pretty sure and pretty confident the players understand the situation, how they have to fight every inch and try and get that advantage and try and keep it there," said Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore.

Sri Lanka who were at one time so dominant over the Pakistanis, are suddenly finding their opponents quite a formidable outfit to beat. Sri Lanka go into the second Test having lost advantage largely due to their own mistakes rather than Pakistan's.

Whereas Pakistan have been able to come back even after making mistakes of their own, Sri Lanka with their limited talent and experience in comparison to their opponents, have been unable to do so, which alone shows the difference between the two sides.

"Pakistan seem to be well on top of their game, we all knew for a long time that they've got very talented players, some extraordinary players like Wasim Akram. And when you have the rest of the team playing really well, it becomes a very difficult team to beat," said Whatmore.

"Pakistan are not unbeatable. We had the advantage on them in the last game, but unfortunately, we didn't capitalise on it. I think we shouldn't relax at any point of time because, against a team like Pakistan you can't do that.

"Against other team's that come from Western countries we can relax a bit for a small period of time, but not when you are playing teams familiar with similar conditions. They are a very good side playing very good cricket, I don't think we can relax. We have shown that if we don't relax we can get an advantage, what we have to do is to extend that advantage," said Whatmore.

"You can't say that anyone is not trying they are all trying their hardest and we were unfortunate in a couple of instances not to break that last wicket partnership early. We had a couple of instances in our own control. Instead of having a healthy lead, we only seven runs and pressure on to bat well in the second innings to give us a sufficient total to protect. It was not on," he said.

Pakistan are determined to reverse the 2-1 result they suffered at the hands of Sri Lanka in the home series in March this year. Skipper Moin Khan has often repeatedly said from the time the team arrived in Sri Lanka that the entire team was focussed on achieving that goal.

Winning the first Test by five wickets at the SSC grounds inside four days was one step towards achieving that objective. They are expected to field an unchanged side.

With all-rounder Wasim Akram at his brilliant best with both bat and ball, Sri Lanka have more than 11 players to contend with.

Where they have erred on the field is in their batting and fielding, two areas which they were brilliant at one time. Crucial catches have been dropped and the batting with a mixture of youth and experience has not produced the scores they are capable of.

For many of the senior players this Test is a do-or-die effort. Failure on their part to produce the goods is going to cost them their place in the final Test at Kandy. Those who need to come up with good performances are the two seasoned campaigners Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva and wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana, whose place in the side has been under surveillance for some time. De Silva did not practice yesterday as he was suffering from a slight strain in his right ankle, but is expected to play. With plenty of dry weather around except of course for the sharp outburst of showers, which are quite common these days, the Test is expected to produce a result one way or the other.

Curator Jayananda Warnaweera said the pitch was a result-oriented one and that it would turn appreciably for the spinners as the game progressed. Knowing the assistance it would give the slow bowlers, Sri Lanka have recalled left-arm spinner Rangana Herath to support off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan. Ravindra Pushpakumara is also back to support Chaminda Vaas as Sri Lanka have opted for a four-man pace and spin attack.

However Jayasuriya did not rule out the possibility of playing three seamers. He said a final decision would be taken on the morning of the Test. It is not there bowling that Sri Lanka need to brush up but the other two departments - batting and fielding.

Former Sri Lanka Test leg-spinner Asoka de Silva will be making his debut as a Test umpire in his home town.

The teams: SRI LANKA (from): Sanath Jayasyriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene, Arjuna Ranatunga, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Muthiah Muralitharan, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Zoysa, Upul Chandana. PAKISTAN (from): Moin Khan (captain), Saeed Anwar, Mohammad Wasim, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdur Razzaq, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Arshad Khan, Imran Nazir. UMPIRES: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka), and Russel Tiffin (Zimbabwe), TV umpire: Gamini Silva, Match Referee: John Reid (New Zealand).