Lankan batsmen should give a better display

Elmo Rodrigopulle - Reporting from England

Sri Lanka and England will walk into the holy land of cricket Lord’s - to resume their battles in the Second of Three Npower Test matches beginning here, today. As for the Lankans they will be praying that the calamity that befell them at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff will not happen again. It was terrible watching the inability of the Lankan batsmen to ride the pressure put on by the England bowlers and fielders who just rolled us over.

It was just lack of application and the determination that saw our batsmen being lambs to the slaughter and being bowled out for just 83 in 24.4 overs was a sad indictment.

After the debacle the question was whether the batsmen lack the technique and temperament to play the longer version of the game.

Having played a surfeit of the ‘cowboy game’ the 2011 World Cup and the IPL, it was apparent the way the batsmen that had still not shed that slap bang approach and left that groove.

Bad dream

Now the Sri Lankans must treat the Cardiff set back as bad dream and step into Lord’s with that second to none feeling, determined to slap a similar defeat on the Englishmen. It won’t be easy. The Lankans must remember that fortune favours the brave.

Before going on to comment, there was talk after the humiliation in Cardiff, that former champion left armer, now turned all-rounder Chaminda Vaas wanting to come back from retirement and serve the cause.

Vaas 37, is performing for Northants as his figures of 10 for 82 against Glamorgan in a county game shows. There have been many instances where older retired cricketers have padded up and served the cause. England’s Cyril Washbrook was one. So why not Vaas?

Critics here reckon that the Lankan batting lineup is one of the best in world cricket, with the Captain Tillekeratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena as the stand outs. Then they must perform by scoring big runs and justifying that reckoning.

Lord’s wicket

The Lord’s wicket over the years, has played true and it is expected to stay that way. It is hoped that batsmen will stay put at the wicket and not be in any undue hurry. This is Test cricket and it requires staying power.

One ugly aspect of batting was on display by Dilshan and Thilan Samaraweera. Not to hit against the break is a lesson taught when one takes to the game as a junior. Playing against the break of Greame Swann, they dragged the ball on to the wicket which was an ugly sight, and a sad indictment on their coaches. It was poor technique at this level. Batting coach Marvan Attapattu would have told them.

While a better and much stronger batting show is expected with no changes to the lineup, the selectors here will be in a quandary as to the selection of the bowlers. While a fit Dilhara Fernando is a must, they will be splitting hairs discussing how to play left armer Chamara Welagedera which will add variety.

It is important that Sri Lanka either win this game or come out with a draw, to keep the series alive. Not to do so will spoil the show that the team of 2005 led by Mahela Jayawardena did by drawing the series 1- all.

No letting up

As for England who are aiming to be the best in the world in this format, which is what the game is all about, there will be no letting up as they will once again look to strangle the Lankans. England’s batting runs deep and unless the Lankan bowlers deliver, another run chase with Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Jonathon Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Eoin Morgan excelling is on the cards. Pietersen in particular will be gritting his teeth and waiting.

As for the England bowling seamers Stuart Broad, Chris Tremlett and off spinner Greame Swann proved sufficient to ruin the Lankans. Whether they will go in with another seamer in Steven Finn or new kid on the block Jade Dernbach will be interesting to watch.

With England being the best side in the world at the moment with Sri Lanka’s interim coach Stuart Law also thinking so, it will be difficult for the Lankans to wriggle out and now that England have the Lankans by the jagular will want to finish it off and the gut feeling is that this Test won’t go the distance.