Sri Lanka, India look to combat wind

Sri Lanka and India will battle more than each other when they lock horns in the second ODI at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.

Home captain Mahela Jayawardene and visiting batsman Virender Sehwag are well of the trying elements in Hambantota, where the wind swoops across the ground at a great speed.

The conditions are particularly trying for the fielding side, which the Sri Lankans were well aware of in the series opener last week, when Virat Kohli's century resigned the hosts to a 21-run defeat - and one-nil deficit in the five-match series.

"When we were fielding, the challenge for us is the wind," said Jayawardene. "It is quite windy, so it is difficult for the bowlers as well as some of the guys who were off balance.

"Then, you have to protect one side of the ground better than the other side. This venue is throwing up a lot of different challenges. You need to adapt to it."

Sehwag, who scored an attacking 96 in the first fixture, concurred with Jayawardene, but insisted the Indians will draw on past experience at other windy venues come Tuesday's clash.

"You have to be careful when playing your shots against the wind or with the wind," said the hard-hitting right-hander. "But we have played in Dambulla and in Wellington, now we are used to the wind."

The right-handed Kohli, named Man of the Match for his outstanding ton on Saturday, acknowledged the added dynamic brought by the day-night series.

"One thing we observed was the ball was traveling quicker than the day at night," he added. "It surely made a difference. The ball was running off the bat and it is important to assess what we did in the field."

Sri Lanka will be without the services of seamer Nuwan Kulasekara for the remaining four games. He has been sidelined by a groin injury, with Nuwan Pradeep called up as a replacement.

Source: http://www.cricket365.com/news/story/7928739/Sri-Lanka-India-look-to-combat-wind

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