After a rollicking start to 2014 with Test and ODI wins in Bangladesh and then the Asia Cup and World T20 wins, the dream run continued to England where SL got the better of the whingeing Poms in the last over of both Test matches.
However, we’ve been brought down to earth with a fairly loud thud, losing the ODI series against South Africa and then the first Test in Galle as well.
Despite these losses, I’m not in as militant a mood as I would have been after similar results previously. Why? Because we’re not playing terrible cricket. We’ve had better results playing worse cricket
The Test was lost in the first innings. Dale Steyn bowled a devastating spell and the local middle order just wasn’t good enough. This just goes to show that England – if they got their egos out of their backsides, and bowled a good length – could have rolled us over, given the Lankans collective vulnerability outside off stump. However, vulnerability or not, the Saffas had to bowl well, and they did. The balls that got both Silva and Jaywardena in the second innings were excellent, and there’s no shame getting out to a good bowler bowling well, on a dirt track. Hats off to Dale Steyn, it was an excellent showing in tough conditions, and a superb example to Sri Lankan fast bowlers as well.
Be that as it may the ball tampering incident will always leave some doubt as to the legitimacy of this result. It was clear that the ball began to talk no sooner than Philander had tampered with it. It was this crucial period that saw the back of Sri Lanka’s middle order in the first innings. And it was here that the match was lost. 100 runs more in the first innings and Sri Lanka may well have won this game. So the eternal question is, whether Philander’s admitted tampering had a direct result on the result of the game.
I think it did. And in that circumstance is a mere 75% fine of Philander’s match fee sufficient? Should Hashim Amla be entrusted with ensuring his bowlers keep within the accepted limits of the game? There has been talk of the administration of SA also being admonished but I think it would suffice to sanction captain and player. While the player may have been acting completely on his own, it is unlikely the captain will not become aware of the situation later on in the game. Does that put an onus on Amla? Of course it does, and it should. So the punishment for Philander doesn’t even begin to justify the gravity of ball tampering.
The good news is that Angelo Mathews blamed his batsmen, and not the blatant cheating that South Africa adopted. That’s a good sign. You don’t want excuses. Nevertheless, Dinesh Chandimal is not playing with any sort of character. Sangakkara got out to the worst ball JP Duminiy has ever bowled and Silva and Jayawardena got very good balls, which they should be equipped to play much better. So the batting is a problem. I would dearly like to see Kithruwan Vithanage in this side, and if that means that Kaushal Silva dons the gloves, so be it. Jayawardena just has to come good. It’s his last Test at SSC and I hope he leaves his home ground on a high. He won’t be dropped, but he has to work harder, ironically on the same problem that has plagued him all career.
Whether Dilruwan Perera is the acceptable second spinner I don’t know. And also whether we should be playing another pace bowling all rounder is an issue for debate. The Saffa attack seems very balanced, and it’s something that Sri Lankan need to strive for.
No cause for panic, but certainly need to shift focus from England to the here and now.
