COLOMBO. Aug 7: Sri Lanka's celebrations for compiling a world record total in the first Test against India were ruined

today by wide-range criticism of the run-laden wicket, reports AFP.

"Such wickets kill the game," said Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar, whose team was kept on the field for three days as Srl Lanka piled up an incredible 952 for six on Wednesday.

"I don't blame my bowlers for taking the stick. They had absolutely no chance on it. It was an unequal contest between bat and ball.''

The Sri Lankan media backed Tendulkar's criticism of the dead surface at the Pre-madasa Stadium which produced an astonishing 1,489 runs for the loss of Just 14 wickets over the five days.

The widely-read Dally News called for a ban on holding Test matches at the venue "unless the wicket Is relaid and made more competitive to both batsmen and bowlers.

The eventual winner was not the game of cricket but the pitch," the newspaper said, adding it was not helping Sri LankaYs alm to become the best

Test playing nation by the turn of the century.

"Pitches of this nature are not going to encourage Srl Lanka to produce match-winning bowlers." It said.

Barely 100 paying spectators watched the batting feast on the first four days, forcing organisers to throw open the gates on the final day as Sanath Jaya-

suriya attempted to surpass Brian Lara's individual record of 375.

Some 32.000 fans turned up on Wednesday, only to see Jayasuriya fall 35 short of the target in the fourth over of the day.

The move to open the gates was slammed by local Journalists who said the expectant crowds only added to the pressure on Jayasuriya.

The pressure got to him," one Journalists said. "It was a silly gamble by the Sri Lankan board. If they want to attract crowds they should instead make wickets that produce results."

Srl Lanka’s efforts at surpassing a 59-year-old record held by England, who made 903 for seven against Australia in 1938, did not go unrewarded.

The Sri Lankan cabinet today granted each player a plot of land at a place of their choice. Media Minister Man-gala Samaraweera said.

Sri Lanka, the world s reigning one-day champions, have won just nine of their 75 Tests so far. six of them at home.

The second and final Test, of the short series starts on Saturday at the Sinhalese Sports Club, where the wicket is expected to be more sporting.