India bat throughout day as Ganguly temper frays

India made good use of their only chance to gain match practice before the first Test at Galle next week, when they batted throughout the second day of this three-day warm up game against a Sri Lankan Board XI at P Saravanamuttu Stadium today.

Replying to the Board XI's first innings score of 326 they were 281 for five at the close after an opening century partnership by Sadagoppan Ramesh and Shiv Sunder Das and an unbeaten fifty from a disgruntled Sourav Ganguly, whose high emotions continue to bubble.

Yesterday, he was upset with media criticism back home and the suggestion that he had been critical of Rahul Dravid's captaincy whilst commentating on television during the Coca-Cola Cup. Today, his frustration centered on this Saravanamuttu pitch, which had already started to crumble yesterday afternoon.

With a couple of deliveries jumping last night he was understandably concerned about further injuries to his depleted squad today. He tried to have the match moved to another venue, but acquiesced in the end when the curator filled some of the offending patches with mud.

In the morning the wicket played truly and the Indian openers batted sedately. They saw off a fast new ball spell from Ruchira Perera and lively spells from both Suresh Perera and Dinusha Fernando. Das was dropped twice in the thirties, but they generally looked very comfortable, as they added 135 for the first wicket. It was not scintillating by any means - Javagal Srinath took the opportunity to read a novel on a grass bank next to two grazing nags - but its just the kind of start that India would dearly like in the Test matches.

By the afternoon, however, the curators mud had clearly been baked dry by the burning sun and the wicket started to misbehave with increasing and disconcerting frequency. Ramesh was the first to suffer, as a delivery from Fernando popped from a good length and he was caught at mid off, having made 63 from 165 balls.

The middle order then started to stutter. Das was bowled whilst trying to sweep the left arm spin of Sajeewa Weerakoon for 72. Mohammad Kaif was caught behind off a fine ball from Fernando having made just six and Dinesh Mongia was brilliantly picked up by Sangakkara diving down the leg side. India were 172 for four.

Sourav Ganguly steadied the innings, finishing the day on 74, but he became increasingly annoyed by the behaviour of the pitch and was rapped nastily on the gloves on two occasions, the second of which prompted him to throw away his bat in disgust. When Sameer Dighe joined him at the wicket, after the fall of Hemang Bandani, he too was on the receiving end of a lifter. Ganguly could be seen gesticulating to the dressing room in annoyance. Thankfully, they survived injury free to the close.

With the captain having already scored runs and with Dighe unbeaten on 25, it makes little sense to continue batting tomorrow and risk further injuries. In fact, there is a chance this game will be abandoned tomorrow morning - there is simply too much to lose and too little to gain.

Even the Sri Lankan may not be too keen to play with four possible Test players in the team, although the selectors have delayed their final meeting tomorrow so that can have another look at the batsmen.They had a good look at the fast bowlers though, one of whom is likely to play in Galle.

The choice will be difficult. Ruchira Perera was the quickest and the most economical, conceding just 35 runs in his 17 overs, so his bowling can be relied upon. Unfortunately, his on field behaviour may be deemed unacceptable. This afternoon, having had three successive appeals against Ganguly turned down, his disappointment crossed the line and, should a match referee have been present, he would surely have been hauled before him.

The other contenders were also impressive at times. Suresh Perera was lively in his two spells, but expensive. Dinusha Fernando was also costly, but nevertheless picked up two wickets and could easily have had more.