In denial? Not the Lankans

Times Media

TELFORD VICE, Colombo

Whatever else is said about Sri Lanka’s performance in the first test, which SA won by 153 runs in Galle on Sunday, denial is not among their problems.

They know they need to fix what went wrong, and they know they need to do so in the second test starting at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo today.

Sanath Jayasuriya has given up smashing fear into bowlers for what he would have thought - before he needed minor heart surgery early this month - was the quieter life of serving as the deputy minister of postal services in Mahina Rajapaksa’s cabinet and chairing the national selectors.

But he still talks as direct a game as he used to play. For Sri Lanka’s former captain, there was no point hiding the home side’s galling display behind a fort of excuses.

“They didn’t bat well enough to put enough runs on the board,” Jayasuriya said. “If you don’t do that, there’s no way you can win or save a test match.”

The Lankans were dismissed for less than 300 both times, with just three half-centuries to show for their efforts. SA added two centuries to their three 50s and declared in both innings.

Among the other key questions facing the Lankans is whether their star spinner, Rangana Herath, can be the dominant force he was when he bowled them to their only victory in SA, at Kingsmead in December, 2011, when he claimed match figures of 9/128.

Or will he be as ineffectual as he was on a pitch bespoke for his skills in Galle, where he bowled 82 overs for a meagre return of 3/232?

“It can happen, even on pitches that turn,” Herath said. “Sometimes you take five wickets, sometimes you take 10. And sometimes you don’t.”

The clouds that have swirled over Colombo this week and a shower of rain yesterday morning could help preserve some early life in today’s pitch. That is, until the sun snuffs it out.

“This looks like a good pitch, but in the recent past batsman have done well here,” Herath said with a soft sigh. “But I’m sure batsman and bowlers will have a chance here.”

He did not seem to believe himself, and why should he when he knows only too well how flat SSC can become.

Perhaps, if Herath has 9000 Sri Lankan rupees (R728) to spare, he can have his spirits lifted by attending a seminar in Colombo tonight.

“How to build a winning team,” is its billing on posters around town. Smiling down from that headline is a familiar face: Gary Kirsten.

SA’s former coach is here as a “strategic and batting consultant” to his erstwhile team as part of the ad hoc arrangement he has with Cricket SA. But he is using that opportunity to impart some of his knowledge and experience to w wider audience.

“Tap into his insights as he shares his wisdom from powering the Indian and SA cricket teams to be No. 1 in the world,” the poster says breathlessly.

After the way the first test unfolded, Kirsten’s help may be of more use in the other dressingroom.