The past three years were hard for Sri Lanka, the last year was as dismal as it gets for a nation which was once a nemesis for all other cricketing giants.
Free Hit Contributor – Praveen Samarasinghe
In test cricket, Sri Lanka had lost their first test match at home to Bangladesh, then almost lost to Zimbabwe, and got thrashed like never before to India. To be fair to them, they had to live through an action-packed few years with consistent changes in Cricket Boards, Management, Coaches, Captains, and players.
But now, Sri Lanka have won, finally. They have won an away series bar Zimbabwe, although this would go as a neutral test match series in the record books, for the first time since Sanga-Mahela’s last away tour together in the early summer 2014 in England.
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Team Spirits
The most heartening to witness was the effort and team spirit showed by all the players. They were re-energized and fine-tuned after the last series loss to India. After a long time, they played like a cohesive team, a team on a mission, one of the trademarks of the Sri Lankan brand of Cricket. Also, the energy they have shown in the mind-losing heat at both venues was exceptional. Even that minute detail had been well-calculated by the management keeping the players hydrated all the time.
Batting comes of age
Without a doubt, Dimuth Karunaratne was the batsman of the series. His calm exposure and solid technique kept the Pakistanis scratching their heads for a breakthrough. From Karunaratne’s point of view, he had built on a successful Indian tour and improved to become an even better player scoring 306 runs at an average of 76.5. Bear in mind that he was run out on 93 in the first test match and wrongly given out in the second innings. Karunaratne’s rise in the past year has given Sri Lanka much hope into the future. As a specialist test match opener, if he can secure a county cricket deal soon, that will be a boost for him as well as Sri Lanka in test cricket.
Captain Dinesh Chandimal made 224 runs at 74.6 apiece in his first complete series as full-time Test captain. His 155 not out in the first innings of the series nicely set up the series for Sri Lanka. Chandimal’s 62 runs in the first go in the second match came in at a crucial stage and although he did not bat like the Chandimal of old, the concentration and grit he has shown was a reflection of the team’s effort.
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Among the young brigade, Niroshan Dickwalle has shown maturity learning very quickly from his mistakes. His 196 runs at 65.3 came at an attractive strike rate of 73. But more importantly, his knocks were risk-free and sensible. His 83 in the first innings of the series dragged Sri Lankan total from a zone of average to very good. The unbeaten 40 in the second gave Herath just enough to unravel his magic. His cameos of 52 and 21 in the second test sealed the Sri Lankan win.
Debutant Sadeera Samarawickrama made an impressive entrance with an attacking innings that gave fans a lot of hope while the other young talent Kusal Mendis had a forgettable series. While Kaushal Silva had another horrible tour, Thirimanne, another player who has made a comeback into the test team, got injured after another poor test match.
The spin fare
A lot of credit should go to the bowlers, from both teams for continously coming back at the batsmen in such heat throughout the test series.
As expected, Yasir Shah and Rangana Herath took the honours of leading the statics with 16 wickets each. However, the contrasting difference between the two spinners was the supreme average of 17.3 and strike rate of 40.1 Herath had managed, comparing to Yasir’s 25.1 and 56.1, which was by no means ordinary. Other than winning the series for his country, Sri Lankan left-arm maestro went on the reach his 400th test wicket as well as 100 wickets against Pakistan. Herath’s defence of 136 in the last innings of the first test was a classic Rangana Herath display at its very best.
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While he became the first left-arm spinner to reach the magical mark, Herath sat nine wickets behind the legendary Wasim Akram at the end of the series, who holds the record for most test wickets for any left arm bowler. Another left-arm spinner in the squad, promising Chinaman Lakshan Sandakan, was dropped for the second test, after having failed to take wickets in the first match.
When Sri Lanka outshone Pakistan
Although statics may suggest a different story, the Sri Lankan fast bowlers have combined and outclassed Pakistan, a country that keeps producing world class fast bowlers. Although Mohammad Abbas led the wickets column with eight, he has only picked up three top order batsman among them. In contrast, Sri Lanka’s top wicket-taker Suranga Lakmal, picked up six wickets including four top-order batsmen in the series maintaining an outstanding average of 21 comparing Abbas’ 25.
Lakmal’s wicket of the Captain Sarfaraz Ahamed in the first match stopped Pakistan running away with the game while also taking Asad Shafiq, the Pakistan hero in the second test, demolished any chance of a Pakistan victory. Lahiru Gamage showed superb temperament for a debutant and his 3 for 22 was a testimony to his accuracy and developing skills. Nuwan Pradeep, Sri Lanka’s best seamer in the last year, had a somewhat below-par series with just 3 wickets but picked them up at crucial times. His spell in the last innings of the series, which he did set up Azar Ali set up nicely before taking his wicket, was fast bowling as good as you will ever see in such conditions in Dubai.
A must mention
Dilruwan Perera, who had impressed a lot with the bat this year, had another outstanding series. Having been promoted to number seven after the superb show with the bat against India, Dilruwan’s 33 and 58 in the first innings in both matches helped Sri Lanka post above-par scores. Most importantly Dilruwan hit form again with the ball in hand. His 12 wickets, including that of Sarfaraz Ahmed in the all-important last innings, came at an average of 25 and strike rate of 56, which was identical to Yasir Shah’s, Pakistan’s leading spinner.
Batting Collapse and Wiping out the tail –
Two areas Sri Lanka had repeatedly found lacking in test cricket over the last year or so. They have lost from many positions of strength over the past two years due to inability to wipe out the tail quickly and those proverbial collapses.
But in this series,Sri Lanka did well to get the lower order-tail out without letting them drag the game and this secured them victories in both matches. The batting collapses however continue which happened in the second innings of both test matches. This is a matter needs to be addressed quickly.
Captaincy and Strategies –
A lot of credit should go to the Captain and the Management for the strategies. Dinesh Chandimal was outstanding as a captain, his bowling changes were spot on and mature as was the field settings. The way he used Kaushal Silva at short-leg to get Azar Ali was a masterstroke as was him bringing in two extra-covers to stop Haris Sohail from driving which resulted in the batsman nicking it, trying to defend drivable delivery. Also trusting his players and going in with five bowlers was a brave move, and helped Sri Lanka immeasurably.
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The common headache of selections –
Most probably the least improved and least impressed area as in many Sri Lankan series of late. Picking Lahiru Thirimanne on his ODI form and appointing him as the vice-captain was a howler. Selectors should learn from the past mistakes quickly and stop picking players because of the performances in a different format. This kind of decisions will only put undue pressure on players. Kaushal Silva was another player picked for the test team again without any remarkable performances of late. No surprises there, he failed in both test matches.
Another controversial pick was Lahiru Gamage who was considered ahead of Vishwa Fernando who had shown much promise on the India tour. To the credit to the management and Lahiru, he has done remarkably well for a debutant.
Future – consistent opportunity
It was not long ago Sri Lanka whitewashed Australia in a test series under Angelo Mathews. Most of the players in the current squad played in that series. However, Sri Lanka had a torrid time between Australian and Pakistan wins. One of the main reasons for the slump in form was players who had shown potential not getting long enough and consistent opportunities due to many reasons. For example, Dhananjaya De Silva, who was the highest scorer in the series against Australia is no longer on the team.
Kusal Mendis, who was the unimaginable hero of that series is struggling for runs. Lakshan Sandakan, the find of the series is still trying to figure out what selectors expect from him, having being selected to all squads and then dropped.
Selectors have to have faith in their own decisions long enough to harvest results, they must pick potential and hold the faith long enough to show results. Also at the same time, it is a must to guide these young talents with the help of coaches and management, setting targets for them.
Chandimal’s dream of becoming the no.1 test nation could become a reality if the selectors and management can guide this young group of outstandingly talented players.
