It need not be repeated that fans are turning away from Test match cricket, preferring T20s that generate more excitement and last just three hours.
While white ball cricket generates television revenue, gate collection and other forms of income, Test cricket is struggling to survive. The ongoing series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was supposed to be a three-match affair, but once the two teams ceased to be in contention for the World Test Championship final, the boards mutually agreed and cut the series down to two games. An additional Test match could have cost Sri Lanka Cricket an arm and a leg, especially as the series is being played in a bio-secure bubble.
Bangladesh posting 541 and Sri Lanka responding with 648, the two highest scores at Pallekele, saw the 1st game ending in a tame draw. If the first day’s play of the second Test is any indication, this too is heading the same direction. Sri Lanka piled up 291 for one at stumps on day one and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne conceded that a total of 600 plus is his target.
The pitch is under the spotlight. Already, Ranjan Madugalle, the ICC Match Referee has rated it ‘below average’, a rating that cost the venue a demerit point. If Madugalle had rated it poor, it would have cost the ground three demerit points. Madugalle might as well tread that path if the same fate befalls this Test. While a ‘below average’ rating costs one demerit point, a ‘poor’ rating costs a venue three demerit points; that puts the ground in a danger zone as five demerit points in a cycle of five years would result in Pallekele being banned from hosting international games for five years.
That’s harsh, one may think, especially given the interest Kandyans show for shorter formats of the game. For ODIs and T20s this ground is full to its capacity of 35,000 and many more wait outside unable to access the stadium as tickets are sold out well in advance. For a T20 that starts at 7pm, you have got to reach the ground before 5pm and unless you do that, you are struck on the road as traffic from Lewalla Junction moves at a snail’s pace. Every Kandyan is on the road wanting to get a glimpse of the national cricket team. Banning Pallekele from hosting games is cruel.
So, more efforts should have been put in, in a bid to produce a sporting pitch which provided equal opportunities to both batsmen and bowlers. Already the white ball formats are heavily tilted towards the batters. Flat pitches for limited overs game are fine as everyone wants to see big hits. But not for Test cricket.
Bowlers had no chance in the first Test. Wasim Akram would have struggled to swing the ball in his prime, Muttiah Muralitharan would not have been able to bowl two consecutive maidens and Waqar Younis would have forgotten the art of reverse swing. Sanath Jayasuriya, however, well into his retirement, had he got a chance to bat, would have still managed to play his favourite cut shot over point because the bowling looked so harmless.
There was a Test match in Karachi in 2009 that saw Sri Lanka post 644 for seven declared and Pakistan returned the compliment scoring 765 for six declared. There was a triple hundred by Younis Khan and two double hundreds by Mahela Jayawardene and Tilan Samaraweera. In his post-match press conference, MJ didn’t mince any words when he said that pitches like this would make bowlers ‘endangered species’. The same comment is valid on the Pallekele pitch.
When Tom Moody was hired as Director of Cricket, one of the things that the Cricket Committee wanted him to address was sporting pitches for domestic games. The Cricket Committee that consists some of our finest brains observed that there was a trend to prepare turning tracks to favour certain clubs. This was having an adverse effect, killing the fast bowlers, it was noted.
So Moody was supposed to ensure that fair wickets were provided for Premier League matches and a rating system to ensure pitches weren’t doctored. Surely, Moody’s job description should go beyond domestic cricket as well. What has been on display on the first six days of Test cricket this series has been boring, unfair and above all harmful for the great game of Test cricket.
You also wonder whether Sri Lanka were defensive in their mindset. Knowing that Praveen Jayawickrama and Ramesh Mendis had little experience to be the nation’s lead spinners, the team management fancied their chances with seamers. Everyone was deceived by the thick grass cover. Those of us who compared this to Newlands in South Africa were left with egg on our faces. Lesson learned! Never judge a pitch by its colour.
That leaves you with one question. Why wasn’t Lakshan Sandakan in the side in the first place. It is true that Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam have won Bangladesh Test matches but do remember that Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath did not become the champion bowlers they were overnight. Young Mendis and Jayawickrama need to be given support and backing to develop their games.
Perhaps, the clay of our pitches is such that they are never going to be anywhere near Newlands, WACA or Basin Reserve. Maybe, if they are really honest about backing our quicks, they should do a study involving soil experts from the University of Peradeniya to see whether imported clay could make a difference. Let sanity prevail.
