Sri Lanka team at low ebb

by Ranjan Anandappa

Sri Lanka cricket coach Jerome Jayaratne contends that the morale and confidence of his players are at a fallen level as they prepare to meet the West Indies during a Test and ODI series starting next month.

Jayaratne said that three major factors, skill levels, technicalities and psychology of the players will be addressed as top priority concerns.

The Sri Lankan cricketers are currently on a well earned rest after the Indian tour and are due to start training on Monday.

Sri Lanka will confront the West Indies in the first Test starting in Galle on October 14.

The West Indies have not won a Test series in Sri Lanka for the past 12 years while Sri Lanka has lost back to back Test series to Pakistan and India and it will be interesting to see whether the home team could avoid a hat-trick of series defeats.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka spin bowler Tharindu Kaushal will have to wait until next week to learn of the results from a test he underwent at a laboratory in Chennai, India after the International Cricket Council (ICC) booked him for a suspect delivery action.

The ICC found Kaushal’s bowling action to be flawed with ‘throwing’ during Sri Lanka’s recently concluded home series against India.

But in keeping with the ICC charter on illegal deliveries, Kaushal will still be able to bowl until a firm declaration on his action is made. Kaushal played in six Test matches taking 24 wickets and was in contention to take over as the leading off spinner.

He was tested for his‘doosra’ and other deliveries as well while bowling on either side of the wicket.

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka A team will be making a tour of New Zealand to meet their counterparts while the Sri Lanka-West Indies Tests are on. The second string players will get an ideal opportunity to prove their worth in the national side.