Javagal Srinath
A series defeat on home soil is more devastating than series lost on foreign soil. But with Srilankan proximity and similarity in general, playing in Srilanka is as good as playing on the home soil. In total this defeat is a matter of grave concern to Indian test cricket. 
Anil Kumble was quite candid in the post match presentation blaming the defeat squarely on the batsmen. Barring Sehwag's one match winning innings, none of the other Indian batsmen were able to adapt to the given conditions. The worrying factor is the collective failure of the Indian famous quartet in Sachin, Saurav, Rahul and Laxman.
There could be whispers around Indian camp about the referral systems not working for them. But the fact remains that the rules of the referral system applies equally and squarely for both the teams. Even the team management was not brave enough to make bold decisions in blooding one or two youngsters to blend with the failing veterans. Although bowling looked good in patches, the fewer runs put on board by the Indian batsmen only inspired the host more than the Indian bowlers.
It could be the creativity of the debutant Ajantha Mendis or the guile of evergreen Murali, the combined experience of the Indian batting should have withered any storm. In fact this batting debacle could be counted as one of the new lows in the last decade and a half.
Being an eternal optimist of Indian cricket the gains in this series came from Ishant and Harbhajan Singh. The lanky fast bowler growing from strength to strength looked the best in the series. Harbhajan made amends and let his performance speak. It is never easy for anyone coming from a ban to get straight into the act.
Apart form the obvious reason of batting failure there might be a new dimension that has crept into Indian cricket which could be costing the test cricket.
With the advent of T-20, the new avatar of the game, the difference between the various formats of the games are seemingly widening more and more. At the beginning of the IPL, we did hear and read about the respective cricket boards and the ICC, expressing the imminent threat and the measures to protect the Test Cricket, the traditional form of the game. The T-20 success through IPL in India found many positives. But its now time to focus on the possible repercussion. The potential threat could be the hype, glamour and the monetary benefits associated with this format. It could steal most of the young beginners along with many one- time traditionalists of the game. The change in loyalty to T-20 could put cricket in a catch-22 situation. If test matches are lost, the way we witnessed in the Srilankan series, there will be fewer takers of longer version of the game at the grass root level. At one end we might see many seekers for the T -20 which could leave the test cricket orphaned in the near future.
It is time for the custodians and the stake holders of the game to check the health of Test cricket.
HAWKEYE COMMUNICATIONS