Sri Lanka needs to play positive cricket
Wet weather, dogged batting, masterly spin bowling, poor umpiring decisions, defensive cricket and finally bad light, was witnessed over five days at Galle. It all had an effect on the final outcome - a draw.

Weather and light is part of nature and no one can alter its course. Therefore should a team be chasing a victory, then, they must make the most of the playing hours and overs. Sri Lanka has triumphed regularly at Galle and that was even more the reason for them to have pushed with more purpose to secure a victory.

There was turn on the pitch from day one. The ball was coming slower off the surface by the time the game reached day five. The bounce was variable though, but all is to be expected. Overall the track played satisfactorily to its established characteristics.
It is never easy to umpire on a turning pitch.

Add to it, when a bowler of Muralitharan's class turns the ball equally, both ways. The number of decisions to make are increased three or four fold when compared to a game played on an even surface. Decisions have to be made on split second evidence. Caught behind the wicket, bat pad catches, lbw decisions, makes it a tough day in the office for the men dressed in black and white.

Umpires from the elite panel officiate in all test matches currently. They are classed the best in the world. They are scrutinized unmercifully by the television cameras and the media. Its a tough job. But then they are good, they are well paid and it is their full time profession. It is their duty to deliver the goods.

Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Darrell Harper, both had a poor game. On the final count the home team suffered more. With the game going down to the wire, with one wicket to get, the Sri Lankans would consider themselves hard done by, with the decisions that went against them.

On the flip side Sri Lanka did not attack sufficiently. Their scoring pace was never accelerated. Of course there was no big partnership. Many batsmen got in and then got themselves out. That did not help in lifting the run rate.

There could have been an earlier declaration. It was highly impossible for England to score over 250 runs in the fourth innings. Further, at most times there were not enough attacking fielders round the bat. Hashan Tillekeratne gave too much respect to the English batsmen. There were many catches offered close in but no fielders around to lend a hand.

As expected Muttiah Muralitharan stole the show. Galle is one of his favorite hunting grounds and he did not disappoint. Butcher, Thorpe and later Collingwood coped with him reasonably well, but the others had no clue.

The second test commenced with some baffling selections. England decided to take the field without a proven opening fast bowler and seemingly thin in the bowling department. Sri Lanka selected three off spinners in their attack. England have three left hand batsmen in the top order. But should variety be sacrificed for that theory?

Both decisions seem to be insurance, not to loose. At the time of writing the game is interestingly poised on day three, in Kandy. Sri Lanka needs to attack, play positively, attack relentlessly, believe they are the better team, to win and go one up in the series.

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