Sri Lanka lack firepower, says coach
View(s):Sri Lanka are confident their spin sensation Rangana Herath can have a big impact in the second and third Tests in Melbourne and
Coach Graham Ford and skipper Mahela Jayawardene have a lot of planning to do to save Sri Lanka’s face in Hobart.
Sydney, but there’s the small problem of getting through the Hobart match first.
After two days of play the tourists are finding the going tough on 4-87 in reply to the home side’s 5-450, with Herath taking 0-75 from 26 overs in Australia’s first innings.
A surprise declaration from Australia which left Sri Lanka facing seven overs before tea didn’t help and losing a fourth wicket in the final over of the day was a crushing blow.
“It was disappointing,” Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford said on Saturday.
“Australia put us under a lot of pressure and they batted superbly well and got the runs on the board.
“They came out with the ball and put us under a lot of pressure and perhaps we weren’t quite up to it today.
“It was a good declaration because it put us under pressure prior to tea.
“We sort of have a mind-set that they might try to get 500.”
Ford said he didn’t feel there were any demons in the pitch, but admits his bowling attack can’t match Australia’s.
“We haven’t got the kind of attack that just really blows batsmen away,” Ford said.”We didn’t really have the firepower to get through his (century-maker Mike Hussey’s) defences.”
The tourists are pinning their hopes of a fightback on opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, who’s unbeaten on 50.
“Dilshan has shown if you get yourself into good positions you can handle what’s coming your way,” Ford said.
“It’s still going to take a lot of character and a big fight tomorrow.
“Losing a wicket at the end of the day is always very tough to handle. We almost felt we had got through with only three down so that does hurt.”
If the Sri Lankans suffer defeat in Hobart, they are confident of a fightback later in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka have never won a Test in Australia.”The record suggests it is toughest for Rangana Herath to really have an impact here (in Hobart),” Ford said.”Probably at the other two venues he should come into the game a whole lot more which would give us more of a shot.” – AAP
Follow @timesonlinelk
Related Posts:
Swim coach clarifiesIn your article headlined ‘Dolphin Aquatic Club won the nationals six times’, on December 2, 2012 that I was confirmed ...
Head Coach Greenings sells a dummy and moves to ScotlandPhil Greenings. - Pic by Indika Handuwala
Women stickers for FIH qualifierFor the first time Sri Lanka’s women stickers will be participating in a tournament conducted by the FIH when they ...
Excess cricket causing student burnout, probe revealsMany students are unfit due to over-coaching and participation in too many matches, says a committee which probed present school ...