Talking won't do, but 'walking' will do
 With
another awful batting display in both innings of the Second Test, Sri
Lanka gifted the match to Pakistan by nine wickets who now lead the
Three Test series one-nil. Yes we lost the Test. And no excuses should
be proffered. The record book will simply record that we lost. But we
shall lose more if we do not take care to analyse the causes and take
strategic action. But before going on to elaborate it would be
interesting to dwell on the topic of batsmen "walking" when they know
they are out and making the job of the umpire that much more easy.
Some of our batsmen have been boasting that they admire Australia's
Adam Gilchirst who made 'walking' an example and would follow him.
But in the lost Test, it was fun and we laughed our sides out
watching batsmen who boasted about 'walking' staying put when it was
obvious even to the blind they were well and truly caught.
Umpiring below par
At the outset we must state that the umpiring in the Tests has been
below par and both teams - Pakistan and Sri Lanka-- have suffered.
However it must be stated that the umpires were not taking sides but
simply making mistakes. But these mistakes have proved costly to both
teams. Had the Umpire Decision Referral System that the International
Cricket Council had gloated about from every roof top was in operation,
the umpiring blunders could have been avoided. But with UDRS not in the
picture, the two teams had to grind their teeth, smile and bear the
loss. When the ICC will finally get the UDRS going and force every team
to play to that system will be interesting to pad up and watch. If they
can't then they should make a determination once and for all rather than
waste more time.
Boon monitoring
Former Australian opening batsman David Boon who is the Match Referee
and who is closely monitoring the action out in the middle will have a
lot of comments to make in his report about the umpiring.
The Sri Lankans cannot hide behind the fact that the umpiring cost
them the Test. It was simply lack of interest, commitment and dedication
that brought this ignominy on them. None of the team will of course
admit this, but if they examine their inner conscience, and if the coach
and the selectors tell them this in a straightforward manner, they will
realise that the team was clearly guilty. One expected the team to come
back fighting, after wriggling out with a lucky draw in the First Test,
and get the bętter of the Pakistanis in the Second Test. But it was sad
watching the Sri Lankans capitulating with not a semblance of a fight.
Shirt front wicket
Again after winning the toss and batting first on a shirt front of a
wicket, the Lankan batsmen, who have now become the rule rather than the
exception looked lambs awaiting slaughter, failing as they do in the
first innings and following this disgusting pattern in the second. 239
in the first innings and 257 in the second, was not formidable enough to
put pressure on the opponents and castle them. Pakistan made 403 and 94
for one. Any side batting first endeavours to put up a big score,
occupying the crease for at least two and a half days and then get the
opponents struggling and batting for the rest of the Test to save the
game.
But the Lankans, who are sadly lacking in this ability, get bundled
out in two sessions. And from there onwards it has been a struggle, with
no attempt of resurrection, but disgracefully surrendering to the
opponents. Sad is too light a word to describe the ugly defeat.
'Doosra' unplayable
What was sadly evident was that they did not have the ability to
counter the 'doosras' sent down by Saeed Ajmal who was made man of the
match for his excellent bowling throughout the Test - especially his 5
for 68 in the second innings that baffled and bemused the Lanka batsmen
to defeat.
Muttiah Muralitharan who made a fine art of the doosra, would have
spent hours bowling the doosra to our frontline batsmen. So there should
be no excuse when facing these deliveries sent down by Ajmal.
Watching our top order batmen struggling against Ajmal was a sad
sight. He was baffling them with this delivery and was amused and was
smiling, watching the batsmen beaten playing the wrong line.
Herath no 'Chinaman'
Then Sri Lanka's only spinner of merit left armer Rangana Herath
sadly lacks variety in his bowling. He just runs in and tosses the leg
breaks and occasionally the arm ball. How he was not shown or taught to
bowl the Chinaman is inexplicable.
The Pakistani batsmen play his bowling with ease. Herath must not
just keeping bowling. He must show variety,lure the batsmen and force
them into mistakes. What he is now doing is just bowling and waiting for
the batsmen to make mistakes. It should be vice versa.
How captain Tillakeratne Dilshan would have been wishing for clever
leg spin/googly bowlers of the likes of Malinga Bandara and Jeevan
Mendis or an off spinner of Ajantha Mendis' class.
Captain's woes
To add to the captain's woes our pacemen Chanaka Welegedera, Dhammika
Prasad, Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep are not doing the basics that
opening bowlers using the new ball are expected to do.
Most times they are going wide off the stumps and the Pakistani
openers Taufeeq Umar and Mohammed Hafeez are allowed to have a good look
at the new ball passing them and getting their eyes in. They are giving
a lesson on how to waste the new-ball which is a poor example to the
young Lankan pacemen watching them. Bowling coaches Champika Ramanayake
and Mario Villavarayen who were top class new ball bowlers must not only
tell but must also show them, that the coaches have to do it and show
them at this level, is a sad indictment on their pioneer coaches.
Dilshan failing
Also it is sad to watch Dilshan failing with the bat. Just that he
made a big score against the Australians, after dropping down the order
does not mean that he slots well into the middle order. It is said that
experience is the best teacher. And we hope Dilshan has learnt and will
resort to opening the batting. His reacting when Kumar Sangakkara was
given out was unacceptable.
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