Sri Lanka out to sharpen their rough edges

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from England

The Sri Lankan cricketers, in their quest for victory in the Third Test which begins at the Rose Bowl next Friday, which will enable them to hold England, will make use of the game against Essex which begins, here tomorrow to sharpen their rough edges.

Sri Lankans are in a bit of bother with the injury to Captain Tillekeratne Dilshan who has suffered a hairline fracture to his thumb. The physio and doctors are doing everything they can to have him fit for the crucial final Test.

But an injury such as the one Dilshan suffered, heals only with rest. The team management is keeping their fingers crossed and hoping that when Test match time comes around, he will be fit to lead and handle a bat.

Batting gloves

With every modern gadget available for protection, it is surprising that the batting gloves still have soft spots on it where a batsman could get hit and suffer career threatening injuries.

In the absence of Dilshan, the selectors here will think long and hard on whom to pick to play against Essex and if necessary in the Test. Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal are the two contenders.

The gut feeling is that leftie Thirimanne will get the nod to open. If he scores, and he must make it his business to do so, he will be in the frame when the selectors meet to pick the final X1 for the Rose Bowl Test and make his dream Test debut.

Worrying aspect

Thirimanne is a stylish left hander. He has the correct technique, temperament and strokes required to settle into big time cricket. If he curbs his impetuosity and concentrates more, should go a long way.

A worrying aspect in the Test at Lord’s was the poor slip fielding. A good fielding side is a sight to behold. The slip fielders were poorly positioned and snicks that could have been held and stopped from hitting the boundary boards, were freely allowed for runs.

Fielding coach Ruwan Kalpage who was brilliant at that, will have to do a lot of talking to the specialist slip fielders and show and tell them how. At this level the slips should know their jobs and need not be told.

The other worry is the poor form of Kumar Sangakkara. He is sure to use this game to slip into the form that has made him one of the best in world cricket. His confidence seems to have deserted him. It is said that form is temporary, class is permanent. Surprisingly Sangakkara has not scored big runs in England, and should use this opportunity to get his act right and make the Rose Bowl a bowl full of runs.

The Essex side has not yet been declared. They are not doing that well in the county scene. But could deliver against the Lankans. Alastair Cook the England run machine plays for Essex. But he is in top form with the bat and with the all important Third Test ahead could skip this game.

Essex players who have represented England and come to mind are - Trevor Bailey, the present England batting coach Graham Gooch and TV commentator Nasser Hussain. Gooch and Hussain captained England. Chelmsford, Essex, Thursday