India in SL

India and Sri Lanka would clash in very different conditions in the third and final Test at the PSS in Colombo on Friday.

The track at the PSS might be bouncier than any of the two pitches seen so far in the series. Curator Anuruddha Polonwita has said that the pitch will assist the fast bowlers for the first few hours on the first day.

"This wicket will have bounce. The spinners, the quicker bowlers and the batsman will all enjoy playing on it, a little bit of something for everybody," Anuruddha Polonwita said on conditions at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium.

"The wicket initially will have some movement for quick bowlers for a few hours on the first day," he added.

While Sri Lanka sailed to an emphatic win in the first Test at the SSC in Galle, India came back like wounded tigers to rout the hosts by a whooping 170 runs to set things even at 1-1, going into the final Test, starting from Friday.

However, both camps have a few areas to focus on and set right before the first ball is bowled at the PSS on Friday morning.

While India would be a little jittery with the way the famed middle order comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman has shaped up, Sri Lanka would rue the fact that they do not have a genuine speedster in their ranks to try and exploit what could be seamer friendly conditions.

Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Kulasekera have hardly troubled the Indian openers apart from some probing spells by the veteran Vaas. It must be nerve wracking enough for Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene to note that it is India's deadly opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir who have set the tone for India in Galle in both the innings. They later settled down to even keep the feared spin twin of Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan at bay.

India's Fab Four have barely looked like belonging to the big league and their silence with the bat has so far kept the Indian bowlers under a lot of pressure. It has been largely the exploits of Sehwag and Gambhir at the top of the order that the visitors are still holding their heads high.

To make matters more complicated, India would be without the services of coach Gary Kirsten, who had to rush home to South Africa to be with his ailing mother. However, he has complete faith in skipper Anil Kumble and expects him to do just fine.

"I have complete faith in what Anil can do. He can come and take over the reins," Kirsten told The Hindu.

"There is a calm focus and humility about how we go about it. There is no arrogance in the environment.

Kirsten did not seem too perturbed with the lack of runs by his batting might, saying the batsmen are experienced enough to know what need to do: "These players are aware of what they need to do. And they are right on track in terms of their preparation. They know they have an opportunity to make history. And when each individual gets into that space we will be quite difficult to beat."

Kirsten's assistant Paddy Upton, who has been given the coach's reins for the final Test also said the seniors in the team are well aware of their responsibility.

"All players have been aware of their responsibility, of their roles in the team. Not only the players but also the management. It's a case of doing just what we have always been doing," Upton was quoted in a national daily.

"Each person knows their role very well. There's a lot of expertise within the team. There are five guys who have captained India, so it will just be a case of co-ordinating that expertise that's already in the team."

Upton also suggested India would have a flexible strategy for the final Test as conditions at the PSS would be vastly different from the earlier two venues.

"It's a different game, it's a different wicket. It's a different part in the series."

"But in terms of preparation, it's the same. The strategy will change according to these conditions but otherwise everything is pretty much the same."

Senior Sri Lankan batsman Kumara Sangakkara said there is no reason for his camp to panic even though India came back emphatically from the ashes.

"There is no reason to panic and all we have to do is raise our performance levels and have confidence in each other.

"We've done so well over the years and we know each other's abilities. That trust works well going into a game."

Sri Lankan coach, Trevor Bayliss, meanwhile revealed his team has worked out ways to keep Sehwag under check. The dashing Indian opener blasted an unbeaten 201 in his team's first innings total of 329 in the second Test in Galle before coming back in the second essay to blast a furious 50 in quick time.

"Sehwag played an exceptional knock at Galle, and we have to make sure that we bowl straight and get him early in the third Test. His knock of 201 took the match away from us and the manner he got those runs was amazing," he was quoted saying to the local media.

Bayliss conceded his batsmen were poor in their shot selection against Ishant Sharma.

"Along with Sehwag, Ishant Sharma delivered a very impressive spell in the second innings of the second Test to pick up three wickets though I would not like to blame our batsmen for the collapse. It happens once in a while and the mood in the dressing room is a bit low right now," he admitted.

However, the fact that India and Sri Lanka are both level and have a chance of winning a well fought series will spur both teams on to greater heights at the PSS and the legends certainly would not want to let go of the moment.