Sri Lanka's long-suffering fans saw a sliver of hope when Dinesh Chandimal and his men blanked Pakistan 2-0 in the United Arab Emirates in October before embarking on their bid to win a maiden Test on Indian soil.
Mahela Jayawardene scored a superb unbeaten 167 and Michael Vandort made 138 as Sri Lanka reached 379 for four at close of play on the third day of the second Test on Tuesday. Sri Lanka, who resumed the day on 105 for two, overhauled England's first innings total of 351 all out for a 28-run lead with six wickets remaining.
After the stumps on Day 2, Sri Lanka's score read 108/4 as they are trailing India by 466 runs.
Trent Boult took two quick wickets after lunch to help New Zealand complete a 122-run victory over Sri Lanka on the fifth day of the first Test at University Oval in Dunedin on Monday.
Joe Root's patient, unbeaten 99 anchored England's chase of 234 against India, securing a four-wicket victory and levelling the three-match ODI series 1-1. India captain Shubman Gill attributed his side's defeat to a middle-order collapse, which saw them slump from 178 for 3 to 193 for 7.
Sri Lanka won both the first two matches by an innings and now have the chance to give reserve players an outing.
The same charge was levelled against Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft who was caught on camera rubbing a piece of sandpaper on the ball against South Africa in March.
Sri Lanka claimed the extra half-hour at the end of the fourth day to complete a 209-run rout of Pakistan in the first Test on Monday. The visitors, chasing an unlikely victory target of 510, were bowled out for 300.
Chasing a daunting target of 386, the hosts collapsed after skipper Angelo Mathews was dismissed for 110, his seventh Test century, and were dismissed for 268.
Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chamara Silva added 100 for the sixth wicket to boost Sri Lanka to 217 for 5 at close of the first day of the second Test against the West Indies on Thursday. After fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor had reduced the Sri Lankans to 117 for 5, Dilshan (58 not out) and Silva (37 not out) posted their century stand from just 101 balls. Only 46.3 overs were possible on a rain-interrupted day after Chris Gayle had won the toss.
The first Test starts from November 16 while Nagpur and Delhi will host the second and third Tests respectively before the sides play three one-day internationals and a same number of twenty20 internationals.
Conway's 78 from 108 balls on a grassy pitch gave the hosts a flying start
"At the same time we are also looking at exploring the possibility of rescheduling postponed tours and looking at the windows which are available and alternatives too."
Sri Lanka's selectors have appointed Tillakaratne Dilshan as captain of the national side for all formats until the end of 2011.
Dashing batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan stepped down as Sri Lanka captain following the team's dismal performance in South Africa, where they lost both the Test and ODI series.
Thisara admitted his side were far from perfect after another batting disaster, he insisted they always knew they had a chance of success if their bowlers stepped up.
Sri Lanka ended Zimbabwe's day-long resistance seven overs from the end of play to grab victory by 225 runs on the final day of the first Test at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday. Zimbabwe were bowled for 186 runs in their second innings within sight of what would have been a morale boosting draw. Sri Lanka's Dilruwan Perera and stand-in skipper Rangana Herath took three wickets each with Perera bowling out tailender Chris Mpofu in the 91st over of Zimbabwe's second innings to clinch victory despite a gallant knock by captain Graeme Cremer, who followed up a first innings century with a stubborn 43.
Chasing 164 to win, opener Zak Crawley was dismissed in the second session before Dom Sibley and Jos Buttler took the hosts to victory.
It was the first time in Test cricket that a full day's play had been completed without a wicket falling since the first day of the second match between South Africa and Bangladesh on Feb. 29, 2008.
Concerted pressure from New Zealand's bowling attack pushed them to the brink of victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday.
India were dismissed for 642 in their first innings after tea on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
On Saturday, India dismissed Sri Lanka for 245 in their second innings on day 4 to complete a comfortable win and lead the three-match series 1-0.
New Zealand were bowled out for 249 in the first session but Sri Lanka struggled to get going during Patel's spells and finished on 227-7, trailing by 22 runs.
Tharanga Paranavitana and Kumar Sangakkara both hit half centuries on Sunday as Sri Lanka extended their lead over Pakistan to 237 runs at the close of the fourth day and set up an intriguing finale in the third and final Test in Sharjah.
Hamish Marshall and Nathan Astle both made centuries as New Zealand piled on 561, their sixth highest total in Test cricket.
Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera hit a maiden Test half-century off 86 balls to place his team in a strong position at the end of the third day of the third and final Test against Pakistan at the Pallakele Stadium on Tuesday.
Australia's T20 World Cup campaign hangs by a thread after shock defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, with injury setbacks and controversial selection decisions -- including Steve Smith's omission -- drawing sharp criticism.
Murali took 6-36 and Samaraweera top scored with 51 in their second innings.
Pakistan's Yasir Shah claimed seven second innings wickets in a spectacular display of leg-spin bowling to destroy Sri Lanka.
Trailing by 270 runs on the first innings, Sri Lanka were 134 for 1, still needing 136 to avoid an innings defeat in the second Test against Pakistan.
Sri Lanka hit back with three Pakistan wickets in Saturday's final session, including century-maker Younus Khan, to boost their chances of drawing the series by the close on the third day of the third and final Test in neutral Sharjah.
Sanath Jayasuriya said he expected his side to bowl South Africa out on a crumbling pitch during the final day.
Jerome Jayaratne will be Sri Lanka's interim coach for the home series against West Indies beginning next month, the country's cricket board announced.
Sri Lanka, 2-0 down in the series, closed on 239 for two in reply to Australia's first innings total of 401
Sri Lanka were 262 for 5, on day 4 in the second Test against South Africa, still needing 90 to win the match.
Images from Day 2 of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka, in Bengaluru, on Sunday.
Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey scored centuries as Australia declared their first innings on 551 for 4 and then reduced Sri Lanka to 31-2 on the second day of the first Test in Brisbane on Friday. Clarke and Hussey, who resumed with Australia's total reading 242-3, were involved in a record partnership of 245 runs before Hussey was dismissed for 133.
The Kiwis dismissed the touring side for 154 before reaching 85 for two at the close in Christchurch on Thursday.
England were reeling at 89-4 when Buttler somewhat steadied the innings before Curran clobbered six sixes in his blistering 64 to help them to a competitive score.
India and Sri Lanka will square off in three T20Is and two Tests, with the first match of the series starting in Lucknow on Thursday.
