Chasing an improbable target of 490 to level the series, the tourists finished day three on 139-5, their highest total in the spin-dominated series, at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.
'Did you read Harbhajan's comments about Ashwin? He was out of order there. What is first spinner and second spinner? Spinner is a spinner,' said Engineer during a talk show organised by Legends Club at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka's slow bowlers spun a web around South Africa who collapsed for a meagre 126 to concede a significant first innings lead on a spin-dominated second day of the opening Test.
Pakistan wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal and South Africa batsman Robin Peterson have been fined 50 percent of their match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their shoving match during the first Test.
'Hardik is also set to go the United Kingdom to consult the same doctor, who had treated him during the first injury post Asia Cup. He is certainly not playing the Bangladesh series but how long he will be out is still not clear. We will know after he comes back from the United Kingdom'
South African Graham Ford will take over as the chief coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team for his second stint replacing Marvan Atapattu, who had stepped down five months back. Ford is expected to join the side in February before the three-match T20 International series against India. The news was announced in Surrey county's website as they confirmed their current coach Ford's decision to leave for international assignment. Ford had earlier coached Sri Lanka for two years starting from 2012.
At the peak of Mahela Jayawardene's career, international cricket was flooded with world-class bowlers, something many feel is not the case now.
KL Rahul was dropped while senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left-arm tweaker Ravindra Jadeja continued to be left out of the Indian ODI team, for the forthcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has warned that his team cannot lower their guard against the Indians despite captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni being rested for the first three ODIs.
Adil Rashid and Ben Stokes scripted a spectacular turnaround to earn England a handy first-innings lead after skittling out Sri Lanka for 240 on day two of the third and final Test on Saturday.
England beat Sri Lanka by 211 runs inside four days in the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at the Galle International Stadium on Friday.
India goes into the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday hoping to register their first series victory in the island nation in 22 years.
Sri Lanka's top-order batsmen put up a solid display and were ably aided by their bowlers to help their side thump England by 219 runs for the touring side's worst one-day international loss by runs.
Harbhajan Singh's tweet about 'spin-friendly' pitches in India lead to a controversy with many perceiving the senior spinner was taking a dig at India's spin king Ravinchandran Ashwin. Ashwin was awarded man of the series for taking 27 wickets in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. The off-spinner has also taken the No.1 spot in Test rankings for bowlers.
Maithripala Sirisena was considered so meek and self-effacing that he appeared no threat to anyone. What a mistake his rivals made!
Languid strokeplay might make his batting look easy but Indian batsman Rohit Sharma says making an international comeback after a six-month injury-forced layoff is easier said than done.
Rajneesh Gupta presents the numbers from Day 3 of the first Test.
Muttiah Muralitharan on Thursday blamed non-performing youngsters and an unsettled combination for Sri Lankan cricket team's woes in recent times.
Rajneesh Gupta presents the numbers from Day 2 of the Galle Test.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya questioned the president's decision to suspend parliament till November 16, saying it will have "serious and undesirable" consequences on the country.
The jury is still out on whether Mahendra Singh Dhoni should be a part of 2019 World Cup squad but Virender Sehwag strongly feels that the Indian team is yet to find a capable replacement for the former skipper.
India will host Bangladesh for a one-off Test in February next year, marking the neighbouring country's first official trip here since claiming Test status in the year 2000. "India will play Bangladesh in a historic one-off Test match from February 08-12, 2017 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. The Test match will mark Bangladesh's first official visit to India since attaining Test status in 2000," BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke said in a statement.
India captain Virat Kohli fell out of the top-10 while Ashwin climbed up the bowlers and well as the all-rounders' chart
Since the Supreme Court has banned the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu, normally conducted on Mattu Pongal day, the festival is expected to be low-key in Madurai and neighbouring districts, where it is widely popular.
India took a firm grip on the first Test against Sri Lanka by taking a first innings lead of 192 and snaring the hosts' openers in the second innings by the end of Day 2 in Galle on Thursday.
Bowing to pressure from the BCCI, Cricket South Africa is likely to keep its CEO Haroon Lorgat out of any future engagement with the Indian Board to ensure that the marquee tour by India goes ahead without any further hiccups.
'What's the best thing about this attack is the fact that they are on top of their game'
South Africa opener Quinton de Kock's attacking 87 set up a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second one-day international in Dambulla on Wednesday, handing the tourists a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Dravid lavished praise on Murali Vijay for his good run with bat in recent times.
Cricket South Africa could lose massive amounts in revenue if India's tour to the country later this year gets shortened, as the BCCI now wants a mere two Tests, three ODIs and two Twenty20 matches, instead of the seven ODIs and three Tests.
India have won the Asia Cup on seven occasions, Sri Lanka on five occasions, with Pakistan winning it twice.
Left-arm pacer Junaid Khan on Wednesday shrugged off rumours about him considering options regarding switching to England cricket team after being repeatedly ignored by Pakistan selectors. The reports stated that Junaid is looking to permanently settle in England and gradually represent The Three Lions in international cricket. The left-arm pacer admitted that he was immensely disappointed for not being selected for Pakistan's upcoming England tour.
South Africa will dearly miss AB de Villiers in the World Cup. De Villiers announced a shock retirement from international cricket last year.
Keshav Maharaj claimed a career-best eight for 116 to prevent Sri Lanka from making the most of a strong start and limiting them to 277 for nine on the opening day of the second and final Test on Friday.
Sri Lankans on Thursday voted in large numbers in the bitterly contested presidential election in which incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa is seeking a record third term against his friend-turned-foe Maithripala Sirisena, with an unusually high voter turnout in Tamil and Muslim areas.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was handed a two-match suspension for maintaining a slow over-rate during his team's one-wicket defeat against India in the final of the Tri-series in Trinidad.
Steyn has confidence in his team of match-winners
India captain Virat Kohli does not mind if anger or aggression is channelised in the right direction which is what happened with a fiery Ishant Sharma after his altercation with Dhammika Prasad.
Sri Lankans Thirimanne, Chandimal and Prasad also charged
Several people succumbed to their injuries sustained in the blasts, taking the death toll to 359.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances