Tom Moody slams Asgiriya Test pitch
 

BY SA'ADI Thawfeeq reporting from Kandy

KANDY, Friday - Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody slammed the Asgiriya Test pitch after 15 wickets fell on the first day of the second cricket Test against West Indies here today.

"We were expecting a good Test cricket wicket. When you lose 15 wickets in a day for not too many runs it is not quite a good batting wicket," said Moody at the end of the day.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 150, their lowest total against the West Indies and West Indies had scored 92 for five by stumps in reply.

"It was a mixed day of awkward cricket. Both teams found it difficult on a difficult wicket. We were like they were, surprised at the way the pitch played. It was pretty tough out there at times. On a couple of occasions we let ourselves down with poor shot execution. Apart from that it was a pretty tough day's cricket," he said.

Once again it was the Sri Lankan top order that failed to deliver.

"I am not prepared to make comment and judgements on the top order on conditions like this. If we had a good flat batting wicket or a good Test wicket we can look a little bit closer at things.

When on the first day of a Test match balls go through the top and strike batsmen in the forearms and chest it is very hard to judge people's form. A couple of balls spat just off a length," said Moody.

"After an early setback we had a good partnership. The unfortunate run out just before lunch was poor timing. We played a couple of poor shots but overall I think we should have scored over 200. We failed to get close to that. In the second innings hopefully we can rectify that," he said.

Moody does not expect the wicket to improve from its present condition and said: "I wouldn't want to be batting last on this wicket so it is not a bad toss to lose. The ball is still looking as if it is going through the top."

"Unfortunately for us Murali is still suffering with flu. If he was 100 percent fit the score line might be a little bit different. He is not in a great way. He just found that he was getting a little bit dizzy out there and that he didn't have strength.

As the day went on he thought and we all thought that he will improve but he didn't. After a good nights rest, hopefully he will come back a lot better tomorrow," said Moody.

West Indies pace bowler Darren Powell said that he was very happy the way he bowled on the pitch, which he described as 'slow'.

"It is not a difficult pitch to bat, maybe difficult against the spinners. But for the seamers it is pretty slow. All you have to do is bowl straight and be patient. Success will come," said Powell who returned career best figures of five for 25.

"I believe that once I have the ball in the hand it is on me, on my shoulders to go there and perform. Certainly I haven't finished in this game. I still have some more work to do. But I am pretty satisfied with today's performance," he said.

The 27-year-old Jamaican attributed today's bowling performance to seven months of hard work he has put in with coaches Bennett King and Robert Samuels.

"It is the start of things to come. I have just continued to work hard, not to relax and do the best for my country," said Powell who draws inspiration from former West Indian pace ace Andy Roberts.