Former batting maestro condemns Lankan batting, praise for Mahela
 

SA'ADI Thawfeeq reporting from India

AHMEDABAD, Friday - Former Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his disappointment the way Sri Lanka lost the second cricket Test against India at Delhi on Wednesday.

Writing in his weekly column 'First Up' in the 'Hindustan Times', Gavaskar said the Lankan team does not have the heart for a fight and is giving in quite easily.

"That was evident in the ODI series, where the Lankans showed little resistance and were happy to simply turn up. These are harsh words from one of Sri Lanka's great supporters, but just look at the way they have thrown in the towel. It's clear that there's not much pride in performance in most, excepting the odd player."

"Cricket needs discipline and that's clearly lacking in this team. The selection also has not helped and the absence of Jayasuriya and sacking of Jayawardene as vice-captain has not precipitated things," wrote Gavaskar.

However the Indian batting maestro who scored a world record of 34 Test centuries, a figure that was passed by Sachin Tendulkar in the Delhi Test, had words of advice and praise for Mahela Jayawardene who scored twin fifties (60 and 67) in the match.

"Jayawardene still disappoints with the manner of his dismissal and that's where discipline comes. Even the most talented player has to mould his game according to the situation and the requirement of his team.

If Jayawardene has a closer look at his career, he will find that he could have had many more hundreds to his name and that's all due to wrong shot selection.

"Every game has its periods where the ball will be on top and then the bat and these are the periods that great players are able to sense and make the adjustments.

Jayawardene, when he learns that, will go on to thrill even more people and most importantly do justice to what is a rare God-given talent, for believe me there aren't too many batsmen who have the technique, range of shots and the classic elegance that he possesses.

"He is still young and will score loads of runs but those runs will give added satisfaction when they have helped the side to win or save a game," wrote Gavaskar.