Lankan coach worried

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting from Galle

It was a worried and disappointed Sri Lanka cricket coach Rumesh Ratnayke who faced the media at the end of the second day’s play.

When questioned about Sri Lanka’s poor batting display in being bundled out for 105 in reply to Australia’s 273, the coach admitted it was bad batting, but did not take away the superb bowling effort by Australian debutant Nathan Lyon. But reiterated that he will talk to the players and ask them to put in a much more disciplined batting effort when chasing victory.

When asked about the wicket, he did not make any excuses and said that whatever the wicket, the batsmen must have the technique to cope.

When asked about Angelo Mathews’s poor form with the bat, he admitted that he was having a bad patch and hoped that he would come good. When questioned on the non inclusion of mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, he said that Mendis is a wicket to wicket bowler and does not have the ability to make use of the rough created by the bowlers. But he will remain in the frame for selection along with leg spinner Seekkuge Prasanna.

The first to front up to the media was Australian five wicket debutant off spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon said that he was elated in taking five wicket in a Test on debut.

‘I did not dream of taking five wickets. My joy was to walk out in a Test match with the Australian team. I would like to take this wicket with me where ever I play in the future’ he said.

The wicket was turning square at times. It is not the spin that is worrying batsmen. It is the uneven bounce that is making batting a nightmare.