An expedition into the unknown
Last morning, Sri Lanka cricket captain Angelo Mathews and company embarked on a mission into the unknown. Yes, they are well aware of their mission and destination, but, the question is whether they are equipped enough to challenge the status quo posed by the marauding Kiwis.
A bit of advice from the former national cricketer Sidath Wettimuny who now is the present custodian of the game to the Lankan cricket captain Angelo Mathews - Pic by Amila Gamage
On the eve of their departure Mathews admitted that they are short of experience. He said “The majority of the touring party for the Test leg are young guys – short of experience, but, skill wise they are good, but, they should be good enough to ward off the threat posed by the New Zealand bowling attack. I am aware that with the experienced players in the side, playing in New Zealand has been a challenge, but all the same time comes when the young have to blood the next brigade”
The first leg of the tour would the test series which would keep the Lankans busy until their Christmas break where they would be playing two matches — from 10 -14 at the University Oval, Dunedin and from 18 to 22 at the Seddon Park, Hamilton.
Some describe a mission in New Zealand as a gruelling experience. Certainly the wickets and the conditions are going to be tough, challenging and unrelenting. Besides the New Zealanders are also rearing to go after their series against Australia in Australia – which in itself is a huge precursor and a rewarding experience. So when taking on the Lankans they certainly have to be ready for a fight.
Sri Lanka coach Jerome Jayaratne also feels the series is going to be tough. He said “We trained hard in all three disciplines and laid a lot of emphasis to the acclimatisation and batting methods on New Zealand wickets.”The Lankans opened their post-Sanga-Mahela era well enough by winning the series against the West Indies at home, but, this challenge certainly is going to be very much stiffer.
Coach Jayaratne also feels that the young batting order is good skill wise but, explains playing a Test match against a side like New Zealand in alien conditions could be difficult. He said “After the training sessions while at home we worked on our skills, but, inexperience in our batting could be a serious factor.
“The New Zealand bowlers would take the 90 overs in 20 over slots for the seam bowlers with ten overs of slow bowling. In the 80 overs of seam, they would keep bowling in the corridor of uncertainty – on and just outside the off stump. “This would be a Test of will rather than skill. Inherently our batsmen are stroke makers and they have that tendency to flirt in the danger areas. The problem is initially they may play the most fluent cover drive, but, that very ball may lead to their downfall.
“The management may keep telling the art of building the inning and the do and don’ts, but, finally it is up to the individual batsman to build the inning and that happens in the middle where we have very little control. “It was not so long ago when we had batsmen like T.M. Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena who knew the art of building an inning, but, the current young lads are still to gain knowledge of those intricacies.”
Besides Dimuth Karunaratne, the No 2 and 3 slots will be a tossup between Kusal Mendis, Udara Jayawardena and Kithruwan Vithanage. Especially, Mathews was very impressed with the manner that Vithanage and Jayasundera did their scoring under New Zealand conditions during the ‘A’ series a few months ago.
Jayaratne expects the first Test wicket at Dunedin to be seaming and feels that they would do with a three-one attack for that game, with some help from the left arm spin of Milinda Siriwardena. In all probability barring injury the Lankan attack may look like Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera/Suranga Lakmal, while the lone spinner could be Rangana Herath.
The Test squad: Angelo Mathews (Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Mendis, Udara Jayasundera, Kithruwan Vithanage, Dinesh Chandimal, Milinda Sirimanne, Kusal Janith Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal and Dushmantha Chameera.