Negativity, Selection and Success

Bangladesh v Sri Lanka. Day One. 1st Test. Dhaka

Sri Lanka fought from a losing position to draw the 1st test against Pakistan. Then they fought for a win from where Pakistan could have drawn the match, in the second. On the third, Sri Lanka didn't fight. Not just on the very last session. Not just on the very last day. From day one, Sri Lanka didn't fight. Sri Lanka slowly and safely batted themselves in to series winning, test match drawing position in the first innings. Bowled safely and tidily to gain a formidable lead, and batted not for runs, not to win, but for time in the second innings. And once all the safety locks were in place, in the blink of an eye, Sri Lanka lost the test. And had to share a series that they had deserved to win for fourteen days of cricket and a session. Cricket gods don't usually favour those who play like a bunch of softies.

On the back of that heart breaking loss, Sri Lanka have arrived in Bangladesh. They face similar foes on similar conditions. They've been forced to make one change, adding Kithruwan Vithanage to the middle order replacing Prasanna Jayawardane who returned to the island for personal reasons. The unforced change is welcome for the young batsman, who was dropped from the test squad for reasons unimaginable after a good debut series. But such is the complexity of Sri Lanka's selection criteria, for a formula that selects a front line spinner for making 95 runs without bowling a single over in the fourth innings of a test match is a formula that defies the brain capacity of the rational thinking cricket enthusiast. Sachithra Senanayake must wonder why he worked hard on his bowling when all he had to do was get more batting practice to become a better bowler. He even gets dropped from the squad. 

Sachithra will have to score more first class hundreds
if he is to play more tests as a front line spinner

Amidst the meta-quantum-string-theory-and-lots-of-other-big-words selection criteria, Sri Lanka have started the test well. The Eranga-Suranga combination has once again weaved it's web around the top order on a flat wicket, but once again having taken out the top 6 for 150, Sri Lanka leaked a further 82 runs to get the tail out. Although, with a century to boot, Sohag Gazi was hardly the tail, after winning the toss, electing to field and sending back the better batters, Sri Lanka should be disappointed that Bangladesh still made 230, knowing that they will have to bat here on the fourth innings.

But Sri Lanka's ability to win this game would be dictated by how they bat in their first innings. And so far the two young openers have made a solid start. Obviously Sri Lanka will want to build on it, and obviously they'll want to get a big lead and bat Bangladesh out of the match. Oh the rest of it is too boring to write!

How easy it is to picture the right way to do something. If only words could win games.

Catch you again before the next day's play.

Adios.
Kumma

With apologies and hope

Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 3rd Test. Day 1. Sharjah

Test matches shouldn't end on Saturdays. Well, technically its the players and the pitch that decide in how many days a certain game would end so, to be precise, Test cricket matches shouldn't be "scheduled" to end on Saturdays. Not because it's the middle of the weekend, or because Sunday is probably everyone's preferred day to go watch cricket or anything. Because I'm usually busy on Saturday nights and Sunday morning just don't occur around here. Just Sunday nights. Which means a match that I wrote on for 3 or 4 days ends without me being able to write about the final day and the result. So, my apologies about that.

Looking back at the win, it was fairly obvious by the end of the 3rd day that Sri Lanka were too far ahead for Pakistan to catch up. Once Pakistan were bowled out for 165 and a lead of 200+ was mounted up on them, a 3rd innings score of at least 500 was needed to make a competitive 4th innings chase. The 130 odd was easily knocked over by Kaushal and Dimuth which ended what was a well eared victory for the Lankans, with almost everyone contributing. But a win here and a win there won't prove anything about the calibre of this team. There have been Sri Lankan teams of the past which have defeated South Africa away and England at home, both when the said teams were the world's #1 team. Pakistan is no world #1, but if they can win twice against them, it would add a bit of consistency to a Sri Lankan team that has thus far been as consistent as the rolling of a dice on a Sri Lankan Casino craps table. Or the Sri Lankan Casino act it self. Take your pick.

And already, the hunt for consistency has begun. And already, questions about the consistency of Sri Lanka's middle order can be raised. Dimuth Karunaratne is probably Sri Lanka's most consistent batsman of the series. Scores of 30s in almost every innings he has batted. Not that it should impress anyone, but enough to keep his place. His second innings score on this track, could well tilt the balance between the two sides. Kaushal failed for the first time in the series, perhaps, and therefore can be excused. Sanga and Mahela played them selves to good starts, but on a pitch that looks to have a ball with your name on from the first day it self, their near 50 scores might have been enough of a foundation. Angelo and PJ are once again the overnight batsmen and they will want to capitalize on their starts to push Sri Lanka towards "300", but if they don't, and get bowled out for 240, tonight Sri Lanka might have to "dine in hell". And Chandimal will be dropped for Thirimanne in the next series if he doesn't get an 80+ in the second innings. Madness? Madness?? This.Is.Sport-a.

Dimuth Karunaratne's level of consistency with the 30s is surely unmatched.
But if wants to impress anyone, he should probably get a 100.

There actually isn't much to write about the day's play. The slowness of the pitch indicated that it was probably curated by an ex-SLT ADSL agent. The bounce seems to be fair for now, but as the game goes on the slips will need to be a little aware of it than usual. Hawkeye may also need to do so as well. PJ's LBW looked pretty plumb. I reserve my comments on the DRS, as to me it's fairly obvious that it's a much better judge of a decision than an on field umpire, so even if it is not 100% accurate all the time, why should you scrap it all together in the first place and resort to the word of a retired, old human being, just because he wears a white hat.

The morning session on the 2nd day will be crucial for Sri Lanka, more so than Pakistan, as this is their last recognized batting pair. The pitch looks slow and it has already taken turn, and if rain doesn't intervene, a result looks obvious. But as cricket has shown its fans time and time again, a pitch should not be judged until both teams have batten on it. So we wait.

And so we hope.

PS: A note about Dilruwan Perera's selection over Sachithra. To quote the old guy from Indiana Jones; "You chose POORLY!". Even if he gets 8 wickets in the match; "You chose POORLY!". Even if he becomes the man of the match, "YOU CHOSE POORLY!". I don't need anyone to agree with me, but if you want to know where my opinion comes from, check his age on espncricinfo player profiles.

Catcha after the end of day's play,
Adios.

Kumma 

Through arrows and bullet wounds

Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 2nd Day, 2nd Test. Dubai 

John Hamish Watson recently wedded Mary Moston on BBC One, on their hit TV Sherlock. Mr. Holmes was the aptly chosen to be his best man and in the process of being quite possibly the worst best man ever, he delivered a best man's speech for the ages. At one point, he said "I will solve your murder, but it takes John Watson to save your life".

If Sherlock Holmes is to Kumar Sangakkara, then John Watson is to Mahela Jayawardane. Sangakkara will be the pinnacle of Sri Lanka's batting prowess through the ages, he will be the master wordsmith who delivers the fanciest speeches, and he will be the one to win all the ICC awards. But it takes Mahela Jayawardane to score a hundred at the World Cup final. It takes Mahela to muster up a draw at Lords, and it is he who you depend on to save you and then win you the game. And on the 2nd day's play, he proved that and a bit more.

Although Kumar is much like Sherlock, the star of the show and the best man around, Mahela is more than just a John H. Watson. On a day most others had written him off, due to his double ducks in Abu Dhabi, which probably symbolized both his lack of form and his injury, Mahela strolled out to bat with Sri Lanka in a bit of trouble, at 88/3. One may argue, that even if he had got out cheaply, the in form Mathews along with PJ and Kaushal would have got Sri Lanka a sufficient lead anyway.But Mahela doesn't usually leave things to the rest without giving it his all.

Mahela's smile is one through pain, criticism and courage,
much like his hundred.

On the innings, he may not have played as perfectly and majestically as we had seen him in the past, but this would classify as one of his greatest knocks, simply due to the personal battles he had to face up to. He'd been the passenger in the team that drew in Abu Dhabi, and with two ducks at the age of 36, attracted much of the critic attention. Mahela doesn't come under fire often, if at all ever, but when he does, his replies are wittier and more sour on the eyes of his critics than the total combined tweets of Warne, KP and Piers Morgan.

He was ably supported by Sri Lanka's latest spark on the field, Kaushal Silva, who proved yet again than Dilshan's retirement was timely as his peaking to form. Taking crucial catches, making important runs at the top, and being the voice in the field that once Dilshan was, Kaushal as already filled half the boots that the Dilscoop artist has left on the Test field. Let alone, Sri Lanka's test future, Kaushal has certainly further lifted the team in to a position from where they could command the game.

But as this series has gone, on the third day, Sri Lanka may still squander and falter and muster up only half the lead they may have planned over night. If not, we will once again see the declare dilemma that Mathews still looks like he needs to master, around the time of Tea. If Mahela can continue in his merry way, and if Mathews can repeat his magic at Abu Dhabi, and this and that and all the finest of permutations come together, Sri Lanka might leave the field on the 3rd evening with a first over seas win since Durban in 2012. Or Pakistan may just accidentally press on the hulk button.

While the 2nd day belonged to Mahela and Kaushal, an enthralling third day is ahead of us.

Catch you then.
Adios.
Kumma

Unfamiliar territory

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st Day, 2nd Test. Dubai 

Gryffindor doesn't always win the Quidditch Cup. The rabbit doesn't always get out of the Red Queen's maze alive. Hobbits don't often "simply walk in to Mordor." Sri Lankan fast bowlers don't often bowl out oppositions for less than 200 on the first day.

Nor do they hunt in packs. Or stick to a line and a length for long, consistent periods. They hardly ever build pressure from either end, without the aid of a spinner. This is indeed unfamiliar territory for Sri Lankan cricket fans. But territory they would love to get used to.

But it was such a day. It was such a pitch. Unfamiliar. Where most, along with the fingers-crossed Abdul Rehman and Sachithra Senanayake, thought it would be a square turner, either team opted for three pacemen. Winning the toss, Angelo decided to bowl first. In hindsight, it looked as if the decision was made, not because Sri Lanka's pace attack was potent enough to make early in roads using the conditions and the pale green tinge on the track, but more likely because such advantage could not be risked in to the hands of Junaid Khan and Bilawal Bhatti. The Ranga-duo along with Sirasa Pradeep could not have proven that predicament more wrong. Mathews went from foolish Nasser Hussain at the Gabba, to genius who ever it was, on a green top in Durban or Old Trafford.

Last week in Abu Dhabi, for the first time in a long time, Sri Lanka were put on the front seat by the collaboration of it's pacemen. Now they've made it two in two. They nicked off 7 for 80 on the 3rd morning in Abu Dhabi, and they've bettered those figures by taking 9 for 90 in Dubai.

You don't really know how many times you have to look at the scorecard before you believe this sort of thing. Or how many times it needs to be repetitively iterated, in a hundred different ways, in a sort of literal way of pinching your self, to let it really sink in. Like the effect of Professor Umbridge's punishment quill. "Umbridge's quill effect" should be a thing. It probably already is a thing.

Sri Lanka actually have a capable pace attack that can turn games around.
And it's happened not once, but twice!

These good days don't come often. And a Sri Lankan fan would know that they won't last long either. Sri Lanka are the equivalant of Manchester United under David Moyes. One day they are beating the table toppers, the next they are drawing games that they should have won against mid table teams, and on another they are getting out played by the bottom dwellers. Sri Lanka need to make hay while the sun shines. Literally.

Sanga and Kaushal have been provided the golden opportunity to get Sri Lanka a big lead. They both have their eye in. And if they can see off the morning dew, when the sun shines, the hay making shall merrily begin. Sanga doesn't usually miss out on such hands. And specially with Mahela having split the webbing after his wife gave birth, it will be up to Sanga along with the Chandimals, PJs and the re-born Mathews, to make the unfamiliar ground that they were lead on to by the pacies, a one of their own.

Sri Lanka, though, are mercurial. But so are Pakistan. Whether which or either of those are good or bad, is yet to be determined. And thus, a compelling second day's cricket awaits.

Until then,
Adios.
Kumma

A Sign of Things to Come

2014 has started with quite the bang. Afridi's lost his most famous world record, out of many, to little known Corey J. Anderson. The final punch was thrown at England in a fight they had already lost. Haddin and Johnson have brought back memories of the Aussies of the 90s. Sri Lanka's middle order didn't capitulate after Sanga and Mahela fell. And I'm back on the blog.

Let's leave every other cricketing nation aside. Sri Lanka is back to playing Test cricket. Good test cricket. Against a formidable side. The last time Sri Lanka played good cricket against a formidable test side was way back in late 2012, when Mahela Jayawardane single handedly defied New Zealand at Galle. Then they lost in Colombo, and have never looked back. Or should I say, have never moved on.

Until five days ago, on the 3rd morning of the 1st test at Abu Dhabi. On that day, Sri Lanka turned a new leaf in it's test cricket book. Newbie Kaushal Silva took a one handed blinder, Suranga Lakmal and Shaminda Eranga bowled two 10 over spells, probably the first time a Sri Lankan pace bowling pair has ever done, Herath cleaned up the tail, four wicket keepers soldiered to four fifties and Mathews batted Sri Lanka out of a loss.

Then he batted Sri Lanka to a position from where they could not lose. Then briefly, he batted Sri Lanka in to a position from where they couldn't win.

But, in all honesty, Sri Lanka wouldn't have won that test even if they had a 600 run lead, five sessions to bowl Pakistan out, and had Murali come out of retirement to bowl with Herath from either end. Not on that pitch. 24 wickets fell on the first 3 days. 2 on the last two. It started out as the "Samagi Mawatha", with a lot of grass and some fiery bounce, and then turned in to the Katunayake Expressway. 22 yard road, flat as ever, and not enough exits.

Sri Lanka's younger brigade showed fight and character.
But how consistently can they fight?

But Sri Lanka fought. From a position where they were doomed for certainty, Sri Lanka clawed back inch by inch. Apart from Mahela and to an extent, Sachithra Senanayake, everyone else contributed. Dimuth and Kaushal saw off the new ball in both innings. Sanga batted sensibly, but not up to expectations, but sensibly. Chandimal and PJ put their hands up when it was needed. The Ranga-duo, Suranga and Eranga, finally put up a performance. Herath was Herath. And Mathews just batted. He batted and batted until all my doubts of his ability as a test batsmen had been cornered to pitches in Australia and South Africa.

But if anyone thinks such a performance could be mimicked twice in two tests, or even thrice in three tests, they should pinch themselves. Maybe if they do it here, and do it again in the next test, I would expect them to do so in the next series. But as of now, it's only a one time affair.

Seldom performances mean nothing, consistency is the evidence of true ability.

And so are the seldom failures. Which is why for the test that starts today, I would personally leave the team unchanged. Mahela doesn't usually fail twice in two games. Sachithra is the future. Dilruwan is old and it's high time he wore a tie and went work full time at the bank, and I will stand by it even if he plays the next game and claims 15 wickets.

As pleased I am with the performances of Dimuth, Kaushal, Chandi, Ranga-double and Mathews, until they perform as consistently as they should, I would not be satisfied. Sri Lanka have gained a reputation as fighters. They have come to be known as the team that fought till the last bowl was bowled. But they wouldn't want to be the team that fought. They would want to be the team that fought, and won.

And therefore we wait...

More on the game at the end of the 1st day's play.
Adios,
Kumma

PS: It's damn good to be back. 

Curse in disguise - 2

Curse in disguise - Cont.

At the conclusion of the ODI and T20 series against South Africa, Sri Lanka will look back and think they have done rather well. They beat the Proteas 4-1 in the ODI series, and stumbled in the T20 series but somehow managed to hold on to their Number 1 ranking by the end.

Sangakkara, Mahela and Dilshan were in sublime form, so much so that towards the end of the series, it looked as if the three seniors were just playing for amusement, much like how you would play FIFA on easy mode to try out your trick moves. If Sangakkara wasn't dropped for the last T20, I would'nt have been surprised if he came in to bat with a golf stick,  one hand tied to his back, with blind folds on. The ease at which the three seniors played were emphasized by the fact that all three tried and connected the reverse scoop at least once in the series.

The bowling really started to click too. Sri Lanka played two spinners in almost, if not every game. Herath, Sachithra, and Mendis all delivered the goods, while Sachi proved that he should be a permanent fixture on the one day side with exceptional bowling performances every time he was included. The pace had discipline. And depth. When Malinga had an off day, Thisara would come to the rescue. Or Lakmal. Or Kula. Sri Lanka had options. Good, solid options. Apart from maybe Jeewan Mendis, who looked like he didn't know what he was doing in the middle.

But Jeewan's approach of never knowing what to do in the middle is a trait not only he has developed in the past 15 months or so. It is a trend that spreads throughout the Sri Lankan junior batsmen. A trend they have come to embrace and worship to a point that I am convinced that Kusal Perera has a tattoo that says "Inconsistency is everything" on his left forearm. Chandimal and Thirimanne have shown us glimpses of the superior batsmen they could be, but the memory of a match winning knock from either is as distant as those photographs of "The Bridge by the River Kwai" in Kithulgala. A long forgotten memory, of a beautiful start to a tale that ends up in blowing everything to little pieces. Upul Tharanga sort of tried to differ, but he has backed up towards the same wall he fell over, 3 years ago.

They come. They impress.  Is that it? Patience is key.

If you need someone to take responsibility, let them
be the only ones responsible.

Sri Lanka's success in the series owed to the massive workload done by Sanga, Mahela and Dilshan. In the games they failed, Sri Lanka failed too. And soon will come a day when the big three would start failing consistently, for the candle lights brightest when it's about to go out. And when it does, Sri Lanka cricket will go to a dark corner, with no one left to re-ignite the fire.

But it must be remembered that the one who breaks the lamp is the one who tries to light it. Therefore, youth must be persisted with. With different combinations and better strategies. Starting with resting Sanga, Mahela, Dilshan, Malinga and Herath for the series in Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka might lose all the games, but they will know that this is the future. Take away the saving grace of the juniors, and let them save them selves. And hopefully, along with it, the future of Sri Lankan Cricket.

Patience is key.

Cusre in Disguise - I

Another great innings by Sangakkara. Another century by Dilshan in Pallekele. Just at the right time you would think? Or is it? For me, from here onwards, each and every good knock Sanga, Mahela and Dilshan scores happen to be a not so good thing for Sri Lanka Cricket. It was one hell of a majestic knock by Sanga in the first ODI that made all the cricket fans forget about the recent ups and downs in the field for the country. This seems to be the tale for Sri Lanka Cricket. Eventhough they are doing badly, an innings in the type of Sanga's 169 comes up and spoils the party. What I mean by spoiling the party is that it's better off if Sri Lanka went much deeper into the hole, so that there is one way around. The more the senior players score, the more Sri Lanka will be reliant on them, and you can't change. The less the opportunities the young guns will get. And the cycle will keep on going forever, and everyone will keep on complaining about the younger brigade.

A Blessing or a Curse?

However, you can't complain when you see innings of that calibre can you?  Yet, I still believe, there is enough room for the team allow more chances for the youngsters. For me, this depends upon a crucial decision, of enabling MJ to open the innings. Yes, Tharanga's position will be at stake, if that's the case, but it will clearly enable the likes of Thirimanne and Chandimal to bat at no.4 and 5, which is much better. We have already seen Thiri grabbing the opportunity whenever he was given a go at the top. The 68 runs he scored in the final ODI demonstrated his capabilities. He just have to fine tune the rotation of the strike, which in my mind he will, and we have got our future No.3 batsman. True enough, if Tharanga keeps on performing he should be given a go, but I honestly doubt how long term will Tharanga's return will be, especially thinking of 2015WC, to be held in Australia and New Zealand. However, I personally thought that Angelo Perera could have come ahead on Sanga on the final ODI. Angelo has had only one chance, and on a pitch where most of the Sri Lankan batsman struggled, he also succumbed to the pressure. Yet, the final ODI could have been used as the ideal platform to enable the youngster some time in the middle. Watching him play in the warm up match, he was really in good shape, and I though deserved a better opportunity.

The bowling and the fielding looked sharp. You tend to be so, when you have 300+ most of the time on the board. I believe that, Shaminda Eranga, despite all the critics he has earned himself, will be the next bowling sensation of Sri Lanka, and become the mainstay for a long time. True that he's quite weak at the death, but with experience and time, he will prove to be a match winner in my opinion. The early wickets of Duminy and ABD clearly provided the edge for Sri Lanka in the matches.. Both of them were in supreme touch but just couldn't fire in the series, eventhough Duminy scored a 97. The loss of wickets in a sequence clearly halted the chases.

The real struggle for the batsmen was against the accuracy of Rangana Herath. This also raise anther important question of why aren't Sri Lanka playing the second or third spinner more often. Maybe the conditions, but still Sri Lanka's strength is spin bowling, and I would say you should back it, even on a green surface. You go with what you are best at. Sachithra Senanayake grabbed the opportunity provided with both hands, and clearly bamboozled the likes of Amla, and the young De Kock.

All in all, it was nice to see Sri Lanka win in an emphatic manner like that. However, as mentioned earlier, the real problems are yet to surface for Sri Lanka, as the 3rd ODI demonstrated. Out go Sanga, Dilshan and Mahela early, Sri Lanka seem to be struggling. Therefore it could easily be seen that eventhough a lot of good things actually happened in the series, a lot of not so good things are hiding underneath the surface, which will surface soon or later. It is up for the youngsters to take their opportunity, just like Thirimanna did, and dig Sri Lanka out of the hole.