Injury-hit India brace for Sri Lanka

Injuries to key batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Vangipurappu Laxman are weighing heavily on India's mind ahead of their Test series in Sri Lanka.

Tendulkar has been ruled out because of a foot fracture, sustained during the tour of Zimbabwe early last month, while Laxman has a torn ligament in his right knee.

The Test series starts in Galle on Tuesday, followed by matches at Kandy (August 21-26) and Colombo (August 29-September 2).

Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly is disappointed that Tendulkar is unavailable.

"Obviously we will miss him. I hope he gets fit soon. But such things are going to happen in the game when you are playing day in and day out. So what can you do," Ganguly told Reuters on Saturday.

The Indians are in the midst of a hectic season, having toured Zimbabwe before travelling to Sri Lanka. They tour South Africa in October and face England at home on their return.

Ganguly said injuries to key players have been a problem since he took over as captain in the middle of last year.

"From the time I took over as captain, I have been unlucky. I have never had a full-strength team to lead," he said.

KUMBLE SIDELINED

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble, India's second-highest Test wicket-taker and a proven match-winner on slow sub-continent pitches, has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since October.

Kumble is recovering after undergoing shoulder surgery in January and hopes to be ready for the South African tour, having returned to action in an ongoing domestic tournament.

The pace attack has also been hit by injuries.

Youngster Ashish Nehra has been rested for the Sri Lankan tests because of groin trouble after regaining his place in the team for the Zimbabwe tour after a two-year absence from international cricket.

Fellow left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan is nursing a painful shin on his landing foot and was cleared for the Tests only after doctors ruled out any stress fracture.

Left-handed opener Sadagopan Ramesh has recovered from a back strain though after missing the second game of India's two-Test series in Zimbabwe.

Ramesh hit a half-century for India in a three-day warm-up game against a Sri Lanka Board XI earlier this week.

Mail Cricket Editor