By Rex Clementine

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara is excited at the prospect that Sri Lanka could become the number one ranked team in Test cricket if they are able to win the three match Test series against India 2-0. The hosts are already 1-0 up after winning the first Test in Galle convincingly by ten wickets.

Sri Lanka were ranked number four in the ICC Test Championship and after their win in Galle, and Australia's defeat to Pakistan in Headingly, they moved up to number three, with Australia being relegated to number four.

"It's a great opportunity for us. The number one ranking is something that we haven't got in the past and lot of pride is involved in the whole process of trying to achieve it," Sangakkara told the Sunday Island yesterday.

"It'll be good if we can convert it. Hopefully it'll be an added motivation for us. Playing a side like India itself is a motivation for us," Sangakkara added.

Sri Lanka, however, will be without the services of Lasith Malinga, who came up with a match winning performance claiming a five wicket haul in the second innings. Malinga has been ruled out of the second Test with a stiff knee. However, he is expected to play the third Test.

On losing Malinga, Sangakkara said: "Losing Lasith is a big blow for us. But we need to look at the bigger picture and it'll be good if we can have him fully fit for the third Test at the P Sara Oval in Colombo. The new bowlers who are coming in will get an opportunity and hopefully they'll do the job for us."