India vs Sri Lanka 2017-18, 1st Test at Eden Gardens: 270-plus overs will produce a result, feels R Sridhar

R Sridhar feels that it is these days when the teams get to sit together in the dressing room and spend time together.

The rain-marred opening Test between India and Sri Lanka could be frustrating for fans. However, Indian fielding coach R Sridhar believes that such days help the teams spend time together in the dressing-room. With only 165 minutes of play possible in the first couple of days, India are currently reeling at 74 for the loss of five wickets, with Cheteshwar Pujara batting unbeaten on 47. Nevertheless, Sridhar feels that despite the rain, a play of 270-plus overs would lead to a result in this tie. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Sri Lanka 2017-18, 1st Test at Eden Gardens

On the rain break

“Days like these is what brings the team together. They spend a lot of time in the dressing room with each other and when the team is in bit of a adverse position these kind of days are wonderful for the team, I always feel. Going by the conditions we have at the Eden Gardens, if we get 270 overs of play I think that should be interesting as this Test match will have a result,” said Sridhar during the post-day press conference.

On the conditions

“If the wickets are going to remain the same, the field will be as good as you saw. During the rain break, I asked Bangar whether the conditions here are similar during the time he opened the batting in Headingly back in early 2000s, he said maybe this could be more challenging.” FULL CRICKET UPDATES: India vs Sri Lanka 2017-18, 1st Test at Eden Gardens, Day 2

“Because here you don’t know where the next run was coming from. That was the kind of lateral movement and swing which Lakmal and his fellow bowlers were purchasing from this wicket which is fabulous to watch. So hopefully when Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav steam in and we have the sultan of swing in our team Bhuvneshwar Kumar…would love to see the fields we will have.”

On slip fielding

“We can only work with what I have. We can only work with the fielders in the squad. As a team going ahead over the next 15-18 months we are playing more matches away from home than at home. So slip catching is going to be one of the areas which can contribute towards the result which we wan to achieve in our away Test matches. We will be quite relentless in terms of our preparation regarding that.”

“Having said that, I feel slip catching is more difficult in sub-continent conditions than abroad. Abroad there is good carry, true bounce so slips can position themselves at a certain position where catches do carry comfortably. In the sub-continent, if you see it’s always a challenge because of the two-paced wickets we get in most centres.”

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