Sri Lankans not hiding behind excuses

24 July 2014 - 02:14 By Telford Vice in Colombo
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
ARMS AND THE MAN: South Africa's Morné Morkel during a practice session ahead of today's second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. South Africa won the first Test by 153 runs
ARMS AND THE MAN: South Africa's Morné Morkel during a practice session ahead of today's second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. South Africa won the first Test by 153 runs

Whatever is said about Sri Lanka's performance in the first Test, which the Proteas won by 153 runs in Galle on Sunday, at least the losers are not in denial.

They know they need to fix what went wrong, and they know they need to do so in the second Test starting at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo today.

Sanath Jayasuriya has given up batting bowlers for a loop for what he thought was a quieter life - before he needed minor heart surgery early this month - as the deputy minister of postal services in Mahina Rajapaksa's cabinet and chairing the national selectors.

But he still talks as he used to play - directly. For Sri Lanka's former captain, there was no point hiding the home side's galling display behind a fort of excuses.

Said Jayasuriya: "They didn't bat well enough to put enough runs on the board. If you don't do that, there's no way you can win or save a Test match."

Among the other key questions facing the Lankans is whether their star spinner Rangana Herath can be the dominant force he was when he bowled them to their only victory in South Africa - at Kingsmead in December 2011, when he claimed match figures of 9/128. Or will he be as ineffectual as he was in Galle, where he bowled 82 overs for a meagre return of 3/232?

Said Herath: "It can happen, even on pitches that turn. Sometimes you take five wickets, sometimes you take 10.

"And sometimes you don't."

The clouds that have swirled over Colombo this week and a shower of rain yesterday morning could help preserve some early life in today's pitch.

Said Herath: "This looks like a good pitch, but in the recent past batsmen have done well here. But I'm sure batsmen and bowlers will have a chance here."

He did not seem to believe himself, and why should he when he knows only too well how flat the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground can become?

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now