It is two down and one to go. Kandy will be the next port of call, where rain has been at a premium. The score line in the series is still nil-all with a chance for both teams to clinch the rubber in the deciding test. In theory that is definite the case though the Sri Lankans should consider themselves unlucky not be two nil up by this stage with a clean sweep looming large come the third test.
But what is now possible is also for the West Indies to come with one last effort to ensure that they come from behind and win a most unlikely victory, which no one expected, was possible when the tour commenced. Hence the pressure is bound to be more on Sri Lanka as they could ill afford to falter at the final hurdle.
It was interesting to note that Sangakkara and his team entered the second test with a clear strategy of bowling to the West indies batsmen in general and Chris Gayle in particular and the plot was perfectly hatched when the debutant Lakmal had the great Gayle mishooking a bouncer to be caught on the boundary by Mathews.
One wondered whether it was the same Gayle who plundered the daylights out of the Sri Lankan bowlers in Galle! Here was a batsman who was tormented by the former Sri Lankan pace ace Chaminda Vaas who dismissed him on seven to eight occasions and reduced his average to a paltry eighteen plus against Sri Lanka. And then he suddenly rises from nowhere very much like the phoenix from the batting ashes, reducing the home bowlers to mere onlookers.
It was the same Gayle that the Lankan’s found vulnerable and uncomfortable when going round the wicket and also when being bounced occasionally. It is a pity that the whole plan came an innings too late from a Sri Lankan perspective or was it not executed well in the innings that is in question? Of course one could also argue that it was better late than never, but aren’t we ruing the missed opportunity now?
With very little cricket played in the test match at the Premadasa Stadium, one may not find enough material to base an opinion.
Having said that the stand out performance was from the skipper Sangakkara who appears to be heading almost in the same direction of his predecessor Mahela Jayawardane and that is to thrive under pressure or succeed when the burden he is carrying is heavier! On day one it was a good toss to lose and when Sangakkara won it, many eyebrows were raised when he batted! His decision appeared to be so wrong when Sri Lanka lost three for 34 and it was then that a combination of things caused the West Indies to lose a firm looking grip very quickly.
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| Sri Lankan cricketer Suranga Lakmal (L) unsuccessfully appeals for a Leg Before Wicket (LBW) decision against West Indies batsman Chris Gayle (R) during the third day of the second Test match between Sri Lanka and West Indies at The R .Peremadasa Stadium later the same bowler had Gayle caught at square leg. (AFP) |
The first was the poor and unimaginative captaincy of Darren Sammy. In bowling friendly conditions he was looking to play on the batsman’s weaknesses of patience by bowling himself and Bravo a good ten to twelve inches wide of the off stump when ideally he should have looked to attack with his best bowlers namely Roach and spinners Benn and Shillingford or adopt an attacking line himself. His plan was ideal for a slow and brown track which was similar to Galle with full of runs, but in Colombo he had the pace, bounce and movement he wanted and yet didn’t use it. To the credit of the Lankans both Sangakkara and Samaraweera played the survival game on the first day and then when the sun was out on day two came in to their own, dominating the bowlers and adding a record stand which vindicated the decision to bat first.
It was a pity to see him miss out on a big hundred, hooking a friendly bouncer from Bravo to fine leg.
The second and the most telling feat was from the young and exciting Kemar Roach! At a time or during an era when quick bowling seems to be a forgotten word or a past time in the Caribbean, Roach was a breath of fresh air. He ran in with a purpose and bowled with determination and was rewarded with a haul of five wickets with very little support at the other end.
They say bowlers hunt in pairs and in the case of the West Indies in the decades of the seventies and the eighties and even the nineties you could have plucked very good and quick West Indian fast bowlers by the dozen, but in the second test in Colombo it was a lonely business for young Roach who had to do it by himself which he did with flying colours! Ian Bishop the Former West Indian great currently commentating with Ten Sports was full praise for young Roach. “I think he is two hundred and fifty test wicket bowler. He has all the attributes to be a good fast bowler for the West Indies. He is fast and skiddy and has a big future ahead of him” indeed very high praise from a bowler who was one of the most feared in his time.
Bishop who is very much at home when it comes to quick bowling was also full of praise for the Sri Lankan fast bowlers.” I believe the Lankan fast bowlers we have seen so far has great potential. They are extremely talented and have the ability to go far. The issue is exposure and continuation. One can’t expect a fast bowler to be played sparingly. Dammika Prasad is the best example of this. When did he make his debut and how many games has he played up to now? A fast bowler can never develop if he is not continued with” definitely interesting thoughts and food for thought for the people who matter!
True there wasn’t much to speak of, at the Premadasa Stadium but Kandy as I said will be critical firstly due to the prevailing weather and Pallekelle too is unknown to the Lankans, and with the Lankan cricket contingent despite the very high expectations failing in the Asian Games to win a medal, which should have been easily achieved considering the experience the team carried, it is time that the seniors or the main team continues its winning which it started in Australia. Let’s hope Kandy will not disappoint us.
Roshan Abeysinghe is a leading cricket promoter and an international cricket commentator |
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