Sri Lanka call up pacer Fernando in Test squad against India

India hope to end a 22-year wait for a Test series win in Sri Lanka when the three-match rubber marking Kumar Sangakkara s farewell opens in Galle on Wednesday. More than 60 global centuries (38 in Tests and 25 ODIs).

The Sri Lankan batting great, whose 12,305 runs make him Test cricket s leading scorer among those still playing, is due to quit global cricket after playing in the first two Tests.

But what will put creases on the forehead of India’s skipper Virat Kohli will be the patchy form of his team’s batsmen who once again failed in the second innings, getting out for a paltry 180.

“Kumar’s greatness was his ability to score runs against any attack in all types of conditions”. The void left by him will take some time to fill.

While he was emotional about the farewell of his closest friend (they run a restaurant together in Colombo – Ministry of Crabs), Jaywardene did not forget to mention that India will have an “upperhand” in the upcoming series. “Hopefully, the team will give Kumar a fitting farewell by winning the series”, said the 38-year-old who decided to quit worldwide cricket after the World Cup in March. “I am confident that it’s not just going to be spinner-friendly wickets and I guess it will have to be a combined effort from all the bowlers”, said Bangalore-based Kumble on Saturday, on the eve of his 25th anniversary of his Test debut – against England at Manchester in 1990. Jehan Mubarak has had a great domestic season and I am happy that he has been recalled. In 2008, while Sri Lanka were chasing 307 for victory, Ishant sent back Basnayake Warnapura, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillekeratne Dilshan to help bowl out the Lankans for 136.

He himself is still involved in cricket, having recently played for Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League and is happy at this phase of life.

“Spin will play a major role, but I also feel the fast bowlers will have to do their bit”.