Such is the hype surrounding Ajantha Mendis since his stunning exploits in the Asia Cup earlier this month that a few remarkable facts have been swept into the background, ahead of India's first Test against Sri Lanka starting at the SSC ground on Wednesday.

For starters, the Lankans — fuelled by the massive pride of playing in front of their fans, as skipper Mahela Jayawardene put it — have lost just one of their last home 16 Tests in the last four years whilst winning 11. Even though five of those wins came against Bangladesh, it is obvious that in their own backyard, their are quite a handful. For another, Sachin Tendulkar — who averages 111.66 in six Tests in Sri Lanka — is just 172 runs away from supplanting Brian Lara as the most prolific run-scorer in Test history.

Throw in the fact that on view will be the leading wicket-taker and the man with the third highest Test wickets as well as the pair that holds the world record for the highest Test partnership, and you really wonder why this buzz about Mendis. The fuss, of course, is not just because the 23-year-old destroyed India with six for 13 in the Asia Cup final, but also owing to his beguiling use of the fingers to send down a variety of deliveries that one man is simply not supposed to possess.

Unless the conditions deem otherwise, and we are talking a seriously heavy cloud cover, Mendis should earn his Test cap on the morrow. Then, everyone can sit back and watch how he shapes up against a fearsome line-up that will read Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman.

Quick to remind

To be fair to players from both sides, the hype surrounding Mendis is not their doing. The Indians have been quick to remind anyone who cares to listen — and at the moment, there aren't too many! — that between them, Muttiah Muralitharan (735) and Chaminda Vaas (343) have more than 1,000 Test wickets, and have been key as well as constant fixtures in many a stirring victory. On their part, Jayawardene has made it clear that if Mendis plays — please note the 'if' bit — he will not be saddled with unrealistic expectations by his colleagues. So much for Mendis mania. Whether Tendulkar keeps his tryst with 11,954 runs and beyond or not over the next five days, this Test will go down in history as the first to trial the Player Referrals experiment aimed at eradicating obvious umpiring gaffes. Given the plethora of spinning riches on both flanks — skipper Anil Kumble and his trusted lieutenant Harbhajan Singh have accounted for 883 Test victims — there are bound to be numerous appeals for close catches in particular on a surface that will assist the tweakers as the game progresses, and it shouldn't come as a major surprise if at least a couple of decisions are overturned.

The SSC is where Jayawardene and his deputy Kumar Sangakkara put on 624 for the third wicket against South Africa two years back. Impressive as that number is, what makes it even more remarkable is the high levels of concentration the two good mates maintained for more than 12 hours in extreme heat and enervating humidity. The conditions will be a huge factor throughout this tour; managing them will be as crucial to success as managing one's cricketing resources, a reality not lost on either camp. India's recent record as excellent travellers against the Sri Lankans' proud home run will entail a fascinating contest full of sub-plots, though one man will be conspicuous by his absence. Sanath Jayasuriya, an eternal thorn in India's side, is done with Test cricket, and it won't merely be new-ball pair Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma that will heave a sigh of relief!

Teams (from): Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Thushara, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera.

India: Anil Kumble (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Dinesh Kaarthick, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Rohit Sharma, Parthiv Patel, Rudra Pratap Singh, Pragyan Ojha.

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (West Indies) and Mark Benson (England). Third umpire: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa). 

Match referee: Alan Hurst (Australia).