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Colombo: India's Harbhajan Singh skipped nets on Sunday, with sources suggesting he had not recovered from a side strain but is expected to play a part in the third Test.
Though Sri Lanka Cricket's national curator Anurudda Polonwita spent Sunday afternoon supervising the shearing of grass on the pitch surface, form issues, and not past records, have meant India are juggling with different options in a bid to stand up to Sri Lanka's solid winning record at this ground which hosts the third and final Test from Tuesday.
MS Dhoni has indicated at various times throughout his tour that a 3-1 combination could be necessary if India opt to bowl first.
On the dull SSC pitch though, that wasn't a feasible choice. The captain has also categorically ruled out a five-bowler approach in the absence of a genuine allrounder, like Sri Lanka have in Angelo Mathews. "We have been very comfortable with the seven-four combination," he feels, "We will see the conditions and decide. Playing five bowlers is difficult. But if we see there is a real opportunity and we can play another seamer we will see that. When it comes to the spinning department Sehwag has done well, and Yuvraj or Raina can also contribute with five or 10 overs."
Since 1982, seamers have taken 54% of the wickets here. The curator says there's considerable initial lateral movement on offer. Is Munaf Patel, who hasn't had much to do on this tour so far, a feasible option? The Tamil Union used to be Muttiah Muralitharan's club, though, and the spinner did exceedingly well here at their ground with 52 scalps from nine Tests.
However, that could be more an indication of Murali's own skill and familiarity with the conditions, since the list of top 10 wicket-takers includes only four spinners, with one of them being Shane Warne.
Sri Lanka will be heartened Lasith Malinga took to the nets with gusto on Sunday, though he bowled with a short run-up. The dodgy knee notwithstanding, Malinga has recovered from the stiffness and fever which ruled him out at the SSC.
His presence might prove a handful for India, though they are also up against Dilhara Fernando, who is second-highest on that list with 15 wickets here from three games, apart from Ajantha Mendis, who wrecked India the last time around.
In 2008, India went in with two spinners in Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, apart from Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma. Sourav Ganguly backed up as a third seamer though he was used sparingly.
With no Kumble, Zaheer or Ganguly this time, and Ishant and Harbhajan both struggling to recapture their best form, Dhoni has had to play defensive on flat tracks so far. His problems have been compounded because of some injury issues and the absence of a part-time seamer in the ranks.
Main strike bowler Harbhajan skipped nets on Sunday, with sources suggesting he had not recovered from a side strain. He has been rested from the tri-series but is expected to play a part in the third Test.
But with no penetrative spinner of the quality of Kumble around to boost Harbhajan's wicket-taking prospects, is Dhoni prepared to gamble? "It is not a bad idea given India's lack of depth in their spinners," said a source close to the team management. "But a quality assessment can only be made after seeing the pitch on the day."
Sachin Tendulkar, incidentally, resumed training and is well on his way to becoming the most-capped Test player here, ahead of Steve Waugh, with 169 appearances.
