Dilshan wants support for Herath
Sri Lankan skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan wants his bowlers to help the
prolific left-armer Rangana Herath tame Pakistan in the first Test
starting here today. Sri Lanka have struggled in bowling in Tests since
the retirement of spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan (highest Test wicket
taker with 800), losing three Tests and drawing eight with only Herath
threatening to take wickets.
Sri Lanka have also missed slinger Lasith Malinga who retired from
Test cricket earlier this year because of injury problems, leaving the
new-ball attack in the inexperienced hands of Chanaka Welegedara and
Suranga Lakmal.
Sri Lanka have five fast bowlers for the three-Test series against
Pakistan and despite sharing only 58 wickets between them, Dilshan hopes
the pacemen will help his team end a victory drought.
"The future for our success lies with our fast bowlers. In the spin
department only Herath has proved himself a top-quality bowler," said
Dilshan of the spinner who has 100 wickets in 29 Tests.
Herath took 16 wickets in the two of the three Tests he played
against Australia last month but found no support from the other end in
the home series which Sri Lanka lost 1-0.
"If we hope to win Test matches we will have to have the support of
the other spinners as well," said Dilshan of the slow attack which also
has off-spinner Suraj Randiv, who has 19 wickets in five Tests.
Sri Lanka will also hope Herath keeps his good record against
Pakistan intact, having guided them to a series win in 2009 with 15
wickets in three Tests and 11 in the drawn two-Test series in 2004.
Dilshan was confident his team will adjust to the conditions of
United Arab Emirates (UAE).
"This is the first time we are playing the Test series in the UAE.
But we got a very good experienced players and I think they should
adjust quickly to the conditions," said Dilshan, who took over as
captain in May this year.
Coach Geoff Marsh, a former Australian opener who also coached his
country and Zimbabwe, hoped a Test victory was imminent.
"We have not won since the past 11 or 12 Tests," said Marsh, who took
over as Sri Lankan coach last month. "That for us is past and we have
been on a roll over the past three weeks and we have been just focusing
on this squad getting ready for this Test series.
"I am sure there is a Test win just round the corner."
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said Sri Lanka were still formidable
even without Murali.
"There is no replacement for Murali, a guy who can take ten wickets
in almost every Test. It does make a difference but again, they are a
very good side even without Murali.
"Last home series (2009) without Murali they beat us. They have good
fast bowlers, good spinners," said Misbah of the Sri Lankan attack which
can have only one spinner in Herath on a green-looking Abu Dhabi stadium
pitch.
Ever since Misbah took over as captain last year, Pakistan have not
lost a series, squaring 1-1 against both South Africa and the West
Indies and beating New Zealand and Zimbabwe.
AFP
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