Three takeaways from Sri Lanka’s six-wicket defeat to Pakistan

cricketer Friday, 13 October 2023 11:35 AM

During the past year or so the Sri Lanka cricket team have been playing all their matches at home against weaker opposition under friendly home conditions etc, Having won 13 consecutive matches and boasting about soon breaking the Australian record set by former captain Steve Waugh's record of winning 21 consecutive matches against stronger opposition trying to hoodwink the cricket loving Sri Lankan public. Sri Lanka never realized soon they will be facing stiffer opposition in the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India. Though the batting has clicked thanks to Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama the bowling lineup looks very weak and were taken to the cleaners by the strong South African and Pakistan batting line up. There'smore misery to come for Sri Lanka when they have to face the likes of Australia, India and NZ.

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Cherath Saturday, 14 October 2023 04:40 AM

Just concentrating on ODIs alone, to have any chance of winning, a team cannot rely on its batting alone. Bowling and of course fielding also matters. At present, although some batters are hit and miss cogs in the wheel, we have players who will step in when others fail, not so, sadly in bowling. Only one pacer, Dushmantha is coming up with the goods. Others are either mediocre, venomless or wild. Pathirana who is definitely the wild, has served 185 runs on a platter in the 2 games. He has no idea of swing or seam bowling nor direction, he just wants to hurl the ball anywhere, breaking his neck in the process! It's too late to correct the blunders in team selection this time round, though through lessons learnt the future can be planned more sensibly.

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Man Wednesday, 18 October 2023 10:03 AM

Past is past and forget about all and look forward for the future. Look forward for the test championship and the test against Afganistan where the match shall be played on a grassy pitch and with the highest bounce, available in SL. Cricket board must follow the recommendations of Sangakkara and Mahela with a highly competitive first class tournament with probably 10 clubs (disregarding votes) and then a super tournament. Under 19 side must be attended to, following the defeat in Pakistan though won against England.

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