Remedies for our National Cricketers to win on alien soil
View(s):After beating Australia and Zimbabwe in 2 Test series our national team’s morale was very high. The Australians ate humble pie against Sri Lanka (SL) for the first time. Also, we beat Zimbabwe in its own den. As a result of this, our team expected to carry all before them against South Africa (SA). However, it did not turn out as planned. SL Cricket fans were thoroughly disappointed and unhappy because our team performed far below expectations. I heard some of our fans criticise our National Cricketers ‘left and right.’ To me, what happened in SA was something natural. We played against Australia in SL on pitches familiar to our lads, as they were prepared to suit our players. In Zimbabwe too, we played on pitches familiar to our lads. Those victories were good, but the experience gained from the two Tests was not sufficient for us when we faced SA on their home soil. Our Cricketers went to SA without any preparation. As a result, our batsmen were unable to cope with the fearsome pace attack on fast, bouncy pitches. SA made use of the opportunity and outplayed our team in every department. In the past, we have not done well playing away from SL, In short, I can only say that our batsmen cannot deliver the goods on fast and bouncy pitches. Also, our batters are not capable of handling swing bowling. To me, it would be a miracle if our guys beat SA in SA. Therefore, there is no point in blaming our lads for their poor show.
It is high time that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) took some remedies and help our lads overcome these difficulties. I wish to suggest the following:
1.            Prepare some pitches similar to these found in those countries, for our cricketers to practise on these pitches.
2.            Before touring a cold country, the team should practise in Nuwara-Eliya. The Radella Cricket Grounds can be used for this purpose, with its turf turned into a fast and bouncy wicket.
3. Before preparing pitches, soil and grass should be imported from other countries, and fast, bouncy pitches prepared.
4. When a foreign team comes to SL for a Test Series, one match at least should be played on a pitch that suits them. This would help our lads ‘face the music’ when they go to the visitor’s country.
5.            SLC should send some of our players to other countries to play 1st Class Cricket. This would help them get accustomed to unfamiliar playing conditions.
6.            Some of our overseas players should be invited to play in our domestic tournaments. This would help our players to improve their standard.
Our present team is very good and talented, but not trained to show their skills away from home. If the problems I have mentioned are not solved, then they will perform well only in SL. ‘Once in a blue moon’ will they win a match on foreign land. SL Cricket will suffer if our selectors change players every now and then.
I know that SLC is doing many things to raise the standard of local Cricket. A teacher can teach many things to students without covering the syllabus. This will not help them pass the exam. To me, most of our batsmen are more talented than their SA counterparts. But they did not have the ability to cope with real fast bowling. I must mention here that some of our fast bowlers bowled really well. At times, however, they became ordinary bowlers because they lacked consistency. If they had training on how to bowl on fast, bouncy pitches, then they would have bowled much better.
So, dear members of SLC, it is high time you woke up and put our Cricket on the correct track. If not, our chances of winning on alien soil will be only a ‘pipe dream’.
Rev. Bro. Nimal Gurusinghe F.S.C