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Laxman itching to face Muralitharan
The two have never pitted their wits against each other in the five-day version of the game.
India batsman Vangipurappu Laxman is itching to face Sri Lanka off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in the three-Test series starting in Chennai on Friday.
The two have never pitted their wits against each other in the five-day version of the game.
"It will be highly challenging to play him, we have had some good battles in one-day cricket," Laxman told reporters on Wednesday.
"I have practised certain ways to tackle him and hopefully they will click," the 31-year-old said.
The 33-year-old Muralitharan, the second highest Test wicket-taker behind Shane Warne with 568 victims, missed Laxman's only match against Sri Lanka in Colombo in February 1999 with a hand injury. Laxman missed India's 2001 tour of Sri Lanka with a knee injury.
Laxman is approaching the series positively.
"I expect a good, competitive series, and at some stage, when the opportunity arises, I hope to play a match-winning knock or two," he said.
"The mood in the team is excellent, we had two very good one-day series where we beat Sri Lanka and drew with South Africa."
"Everyone is looking forward to the Test matches, and if we do win the series, it will be a great feeling."
Laxman, who scored 140 in the first Test against Zimbabwe in September, said a good start to the season had given him confidence.
"I had a good tour of Zimbabwe, and I am looking forward to doing well against the Sri Lankans too," he said.
Though not a regular member of the one-day side, Laxman is a key member of the Test team.
"There are a lot of opportunities ahead of me as far as Test matches are concerned," he said.
"We have a tour of Pakistan coming up, then England come to India and we go to the West Indies, so there is plenty to look forward to, and I want to start off on a good note again against Sri Lanka."
