Could Pakistan’s cricket drought be Lanka’s gain?
Lankan chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya feels that the need to beat Pakistan in upcoming series has become much more important to Sri Lankan cricket since losing to South Africa last week.
Jayasuriya speaking to the Sunday Times said: “When you play in your own backyard the expectations are always high. This is not a new phenomenon; it was the same when we played the game and I must say with the type of cricket that we have played in Sri Lanka – beating us at home has become a prized trophy for the visitors”.
Just a week ago …. It was an epic battle that lasted for more than a day….but the Lankans failed to achieve their ultimate goal - Pic by Shantha Ratnayake
The touring Pakistanis begin their two Test, three ODI tour with the first Test match at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
The former champion opener was a concerned man. He was not satisfied with the Lankan performances against the Proteas. Jayasuriya said, “Batsmen getting starts and not continuing was something of concern. If one gets out in the first ball or so, it is excusable. But, getting out after they had scored thirty or forty runs is inexcusable. At that stage they have done all the hard work and somewhat built up their inning. Then suddenly in a rush of blood, they give it all away. That is bad”.
Rangana and Angelo …. They have now formed a good partnership - Pic Amila Gamage
The Lankan fielding also worries Jayasuriya. He said, “To come out of this present situation, there has to be an overall elevation in all departments that include fielding. However, bygones are bygones. No player can sit on his laurels and say he scored a century in the last match or at the same time the team cannot be disheartened by the series loss to the South Africans.
“This series against Pakistan is a new leaf that we are turning. At present they are at number three in the ICC Test rankings while Sri Lanka is in the sixth place. So if we could beat them in this series, it would do a lot of good to our cricket and players’ morale”.
Jayasuriya also was a bit concerned about the bowling department. The ankle injury to dependable Suranga Lakmal worries him. “There is an inflammation in his ankle and it will take 3-4 weeks for it to settle. So we have drafted Nuwan Pradeep who is coming out of injury to the squad. At the same time we have a sigh of relief because left-armer Chanaka Welagedara is ready to play and he should be a part of the playing eleven this time. At the same time Shaminda Eranga is also at the nets now. The problem with him is whether he would be able to field?”
Though the Lankans scored over four hundred runs and nearly won the second Test against South Africa, the Lankan batting line-up looked a bit lop-sided as skipper Angelo Mathews was forced to bat up the order. If the situation continues, the Lankans will be back at square-one with the tail batting along with novices Kithruwan Vithanage and Niroshan Dickwella.
At the same time, the coming series will be the real test for the new Lankan spin combination of time-tested Rangana Herath and off spinner Dilruwan Perera. It is a matter of fact that the South Africans are not too great in tackling good spin. During the just finished series, Dilruwan Perera was among the wickets, but, Pakistan will be a different proposition. Being sub-continental brethren, they are naturally good at facing spin. If the Perera-Herath combination proves to be successful against the current visitors, it will be a boon to the Lankan spin bowling propositions.
On the spin bowling, Jayasuriya said, “At present this combination has proved to be good. However, we are keeping a close tab on their performances. Anyway if there are any breakdowns we have a few options and we are working with them now”.
Misbah-ul-Haq’s Pakistan arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday and drove straight to Galle and they will be at the nets this morning preparing for the Test match on Wednesday.
Unlike the Lankans, the Pakistanis after their Test series against Sri Lanka in the Middle East early this year have lived in cold storage and even this tour is not an FTP tour, but, a contrived series between the two administrations. Pakistan last played a Test in Sharjah in January against Sri Lanka and at the time faced a nine-month drought but the PCB managed to strike a quick deal with SLC on the sidelines of the ICC meeting in Dubai in April and arrange the upcoming series.
Sri Lanka (from): Angelo Mathews (Captain), Lahiru Thirimanne (Vice Captain), Kaushal Silva, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Kithruwan Vithanage, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Shaminda Eranga (Subject to fitness), Suranga Lakmal (Subject to fitness), Chanaka Welagedara, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep
Pakistan Test squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Khurram Mansoor, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt), Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Talha, Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz
Pakitan ODI squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt), Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Anwar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Talha, Wahab Riaz, Zulfiqar Babar.