Sports

Sports

Pick up the pieces
After rain affected the first test match the next two produced absorbing cricket as the visiting Sri Lankans batted to come to grips with the playing surfaces. There were similarities between the pitch at New Delhi and Ahmedabad. Both assisted the bowlers from day one. It got tougher as the game progressed, but the bowlers too had to work hard for success. It required patience from the batsmen and the bowlers and the Indians did win the battle.

The first innings century of Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Lakshman mattered much. For 4 Sri Lankan batsmen who got in and were set could not go on and make big scores. Mahela Jayawardena, Marvan Atapattu and T.M. Dilshan could not go on after batting for three hours or so. There was no letting the guard down on these pitches and with these Sri Lankan batsmen the mental strength waned after a period of time.

On the whole in tight situations the Indians fought back putting on partnerships. In particular the Indian second half delivered far better than the Sri Lankan second half. Wicket keeper Dhoni and Irfan Pathan contributed as much as the top order batsmen. It is time that coach Tom Moody worked more with Farvez Mahroof and Malinga Bandara and developed their batting strengths. They are young enough to brush-up on technique. It would double their contribution of runs. Even Dilhara Fernando and Lasith Malinga should do more work in the nets because the game now requires every achievable contribution with the bat.

The Indian spinners were more effective than their counterparts. Anil Kumble and Harbajan Singh were more accurate, were harder to get away and produced more unplayable deliveries. Muttiah Muralitharan bowled one exceptionally good spell, on the morning of the Delhi test and picked-up five wickets, to add to the two he had got on day one. He did get some wickets in the other innings too but wasn’t as significant from the teams point of view. Malinga Bandara improved with every outing, but could not prevent the Indians from reaching winning totals. Pacemen, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga and Fervez Mahroof, all tried valiantly.

Vaas in particular gove a champion performance. It was a big pity that he was not fit for the third test. Of the newcomers Malinga Bandara and Upul Tharanga improved with each performance and displayed potential for the future. These two and the other youngsters, Mahroof, Malinga, Mubarak must now be exposed more. They must be taken into confidence and provided with every opportunity to develop and progress fast. They have to form the nucleus of younger players to take the game into the future.

At least until they are given enough chances and do not come off.
The twin ODI and test tours have exposed reality. There are a number of players who must now be sidelined and new blood must be infused. The selectors have to form two squads for one dayers and tests and work intensely with those players for the next 12 months. AS for these two tours Sri Lanka was totally outplayed. India was the better team by quite a margin.

Top