Will mystery spipnner play the first test?

In the end there was no mystery. There was no surprise at all when Ajantha Mendis's name popped out, as Sri Lanka's selectors named the 14-strong squad for the first two Tests against Indian, the first starting at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Wednesday.

If anything, the way the side is shaped for the SSC game suggests that Sri Lanka's plan is to risk playing four bowlers which include two specialist spinners. This is risky at a venue where seam and swing is the main weapon in the first eight sessions at least. If the cloud cover remains as it has in the build up to the three-match series, the spin duo plan could backfire.