Test win Down Under – any Lankans dream
View(s):By Trevine Rodrigo in Melbourne
If Sri Lanka’s top three cricketers believed in Santa Clause, their wish for a Christmas present would be no secret. Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillekeratne Dilshan have wowed fans all over the world for a decade and a half with their cricketing brilliance and although figuring in four World Cup finals, they have two wishes left before retirement, to win a Test match in Australia and India, two places in the world where they have not tasted success in cricket’s most important and traditional format.
The Sri Lankan superstars together with Thilan Samaraweera, are probably on their last hurrah in Australia before retirement, and, on the wrong side of 30, their illustrious careers are in its twilight so this tour is one that is undoubtedly fuelled with anticipation and occasion in a last ditch attempt to topple the rebuilding Aussies. Along with that they already have a Test defeat behind them on this current tour.
Beating Australia in Australia is always a big ask as the home team have made it known to all comers that they have to be on their game to achieve such an arduous task. Sri Lanka found this out in the first Test in Hobart where they were immediately forced on the back foot by the hurting Aussies who were still recovering from the humiliating home series defeat to the South Africans.
But South Africa were lucky to have escaped with their world number one tag intact after the Aussies dominated them for almost all of the first two Tests before losing the initiative and inexplicably capitulating in the third and final Test.
Such vulnerability could only have been exposed by a team with a world class bowling attack that the Proteas possess and in that respect Sri Lanka will definitely be found wanting with a makeshift and inexperienced line up struggling to cope with the loss of Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vass.
If there is an element of hope for Sri Lanka in the next two Tests it will be the unpredictability of their attack with no big names for the Aussie batsmen to focus on apart from left arm spinner Rangana Herath who has been a consistent performer for them this year though he is not in the brilliant class of a Muralitharan or Shane Warne. Yet he bagged five wickets in the Australian second innings.
Herath is a bowler who prevails with persistence bowling a nagging line until the batsman faults. He will have only Nuwan Kulasekera whose medium pace is complemented by accuracy to assist him against a strong Aussie batting line up who appear to be raring cut loose and make amends for the South African debacle. Chanaka Welagedera and Shaminda Eranga have shown some potential to be wicket takers in the future but remain in the interim a couple of average performers who could advance their careers with experience.
Sri Lanka’s mammoth fan club in Melbourne and Sydney are hopeful that the team will bounce back from Hobart and give them fond memories of their cricketing prowess. They need to lift a few cogs to achieve this. But the team has the experience and knows how to turn things around. What they currently lack is a positive mindset.
It is heartening to note that Cricket Australia have place special emphasis on reviving the Warne –Murali Trophy for the series in recognition of the best two spinners the world has ever seen. Sri Lanka’s cricket board botched the relevance of the trophy when the
Warne- Murali series will be revived in Australia
sides last met in Sri Lanka and after a series of embarrassing media inquiries a hurried presentation was made without Murali being invited to attend the event. Michael Clarke’s men are on a mission of redemption and urgent to appease the disappointed Australian cricket fans who were in anticipation of a South African whipping as they harboured thoughts of re-claiming their number one status in Tests which they surrendered to the Indians a few years ago.
Australia’s pace battery will test the Sri Lankans who have been known to be suspect against the rising ball. The Aussies will no doubt opt for a three prong or four prong pace attack led by Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc with a host of others putting up their hands up for selection even despite the injuries to key quicks Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson, Patrick Cummins and most recently, promising Josh Hazelwood. Mitchell Johnson’s comeback Test which yielded him four wickets went unrewarded as the selectors opted for the younger Starc relegating him to carrying the drinks in the first Test against the Lankans.
Nathan Lyon appears to be the number one choice among the spinners for Australia but Xavier Doherty, and Steven Smith are not too far from selection.
Sri Lanka will be praying for their seasoned batsmen to fire in the Melbourne and Sydney Tests if they are to make a contest of it.
The fantastic Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene shoulder the heavy burden of responsibility to keep them in contention with the brilliant but highly inconsistent Tillekeratne Dilshan, Angelo Matthews, Thilan Samaraweera and perhaps emerging star Dinesh Chandimal likely to star when the challenge is thrown at them. Sri Lanka have shown that if they apply themselves they can deliver the goods proving this during their last one day series which they won against the Aussies when the toured here before the Ashes series.
Let’s hope they can make the summer an exciting one if they can stay with Australia if not deliver the unthinkable and defeat them much against the run of thought.
A Test win will be a fitting remembrance for the departing Sangakkara, Jayawardene , Dilshan and Samaraweera who have served the world game with so much distinction.
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