Sports

Two – nails in the head means that the team in the lead has a huge advantage and a firm grip in a five match series. Sri Lanka is in such a favourable situation in their ongoing encounter with England. After a gloomy start to the tour in May, Mahela Jayawardena and the team have shed the early indifferent form and are now dominating over the home team.

Through it all the captain – Mahela Jayawardena – has shown mature leadership qualities and a solid temperament in every situation. As much as the success of the team must be acknowledged, the success of the individual deeds applauded, the leaders qualities must be expressed and admired.

One thing about Jayawardena is that he never seems to be rushed. That quality gives the team plenty of assurance that the skipper will not loose the plot. Even when the ship seems to be sinking he has stood tall and commanded the troops to the very end. A quality that is essential for an apprentice leader handling a team mixed with experience and raw youth. It makes matters easier to get the most of his players whilst simultaneously learning the trade.

During the test series much of Sri Lanka’s weakness was centred round the batting. Some of that was attributed to the English conditions. So far in the one dayers batting has been a strength.

Very noticeably it has been a case of one batsman who has got in going on to make a big score. By and large that is the theory of a team’s batting success. In one day cricket one or two making the big contribution and in the longer version of the game two or three contributing the major share and others chipping in around them swells the total. The situation becomes even more healthier for the team should one of the top three set the tone. That was the case when Upul Tharanga stroked a century in the first ODI and the other opener Sanath Jayasuriya blasted a ton in the second game.

All the ideal scenarios came about in the batting department. Captain Jayawardena promoted himself to the number three slot. A brave move! It will be very interesting to know from Jayawardena himself, the reasons for the move. After all Kumar Sangakkara was well established and entrenched in that position. Nevertheless, the move has produced results initially. Both players have made a contribution and the team has made sufficient runs to wade off the opponents challenge.

Sri Lanka’s bowling success in the test matches was hugely due to the efforts of one man – Muttiah Muralitharan. It was his and his bowling solely that brought victory in the third test. In one day cricket that is a very rare occurrence, mainly because of the ten over limitation for a bowler. Secondly, the accent is more on defense, on saving runs, not on getting batsmen out.

This means that four bowlers are a definite requirement. Pacemen Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and to a lesser extent Chaminda Vaas and the vastly experienced Jayasuriya, with his left arm spinners, provided that support. Having a big total to defend then becomes a massive advantage. So again, like in the batting department the pieces of the jigsaw fell into place for the bowlers too.

England meanwhile is stumbling from one crisis to another. Their Ashes glory of an year ago is now well and truly swept under the carpet. There is much hype on the Ashes series to come in Australia, later this year. But England has a truckload of work to do if they are to challenge the Aussies on their home turf.
Firstly, they have to get their main players, physically and mentally cricket fit as soon as possible. The effects of the past summer and then the winter tours to Pakistan and India have taken its toll. Vaughn, Flintoff, Jones, Anderson, Giles are out of the side right now. Harmison has just returned and showed off his value at the Oval on Tuesday with an exceptionally good spell of seam and quick bowling.

The batting is woefully weak, with Paul Collingwood at number five. Another quality batsman is essential for that line-up. Wicket keeper Jones is not a good player of spin. Against a team like Sri Lanka the middle order needs batsmen who can cope with spinners. England therefore lack allrounders. Barring Harmison the bowling too lacks experience. They do not have the bowlers who possess the consistency and cunning to succeed at the highest level or at least not yet with the present lot of bowlers.

For Sri Lanka the problems are far less. Their test and one day sides are beginning to gradually take shape and the bench players are getting exposure and improving. Now they cannot let go. Progress continuously should be the name of the game.