India fails to cash-in from a winning position

India faces a stiff task in their attempt to level the series and salvage the pride of being the No.1 Test Nation. It is left to a battling Sachin to revive India's hopes, as Sri Lanka gained a certain advantage through a 9th wicket partnership of 118 runs between Samaraweera and Ajantha Mendis. From a tottering 87/7, Sri Lanka reached a respectable total of 267. The spinners were expected to play a prominent role on the fourth day but Sri Lanka adopted an attacking approach against them in order to progress to a safe score. India surged ahead with the introduction of Mishra into the attack, as he sent back Angelo Mathews and Prasanna Jayawardene off successive deliveries. Then began the fightback. Malinga chanced his arm in a 38-run stand with Samaraweera, Mendis fought through a wicket-less second session and an hour into the next, and Sri Lanka's last three wickets had accumulated a potentially decisive 180.

This has to be the most annoying bit about modern captains. The moment a tailender and a proper batsman start batting together, they start giving the specialist batsman free singles. No matter the situation, no matter how treacherous the pitch might be, no matter what score that proper batsman might be batting on. Some sort of textbook, which must be burnt if it exists, tells them to attack only the tailender, and not try for the batsman's wicket. They blindly follow. MS Dhoni is not the first man to do so. He won't be the last. Look at the situation, though. Sri Lanka had been on a self-destruction mission. India had accepted gifted wickets. Five batsmen had been dismissed for 24 runs. The score read 87 for 7, effectively 76 for 7. Thilan Samaraweera was 4 when Lasith Malinga joined him and in three hours time, the score read 267.

This is not to devalue the contributions of Samaraweera and Ajantha Mendis, who were outstanding. Perhaps they might still have had a century partnership. Rarely did Samaraweera or Mendis offer a chance, adapting well to the turn and bounce with solid defence and a steady flow of singles. Just as he had during his century in the first innings, Samaraweera played the ball late and with skilful use of the wrists worked the ball around.

5th days play is only a minds game - who gets better of the each other, will surely play in each others mind.

1. Thus, India has to approach to a semi-attacking/semi-defensive - at one end, we need to have players who could be on the defensive and at the other end, we need players who can attack the bowlers.
2. Indians should rotate stike and ensure that the bowlers dont be on top of a batsman.
3. Indians should built on small partnerships.

Nevertheless, it is going to be a herculean task for Team India.