Jayasuriya reflects on Sri Lanka’s Durban debacle

• Insists negotiating first 10-15 overs is crucial
• Says Lankan batsmen didn’t gauge length and bounce properly against South Africa

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya wants at least two batsmen to get hundreds in an innings

Dinesh Chandimal showed courage and determination Head Coach wants

Sri Lanka’s Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya said that the failure of the batsmen to gauge the length and bounce properly resulted in the team getting bowled out for their lowest total in Test history – 42 in the first innings of the first cricket Test against South Africa at Durban which they lost by 233 runs. 

“Before they could realise what was happening all 10 batsmen were back in the pavilion within a matter of time. It was a really disappointing batting performance in the first innings,” said Jayasuriya reflecting on the first innings debacle.

“What is crucial here is that we have to negotiate the first 10-15 overs. The new ball with the shine, there is more bounce and pace. We have to negotiate that. After that the pace of the bowlers reduces.”

“The batsmen realised that they didn’t play to their capacity. I have always been telling them that they are better players than what their first innings performance reflected. Now that it has happened don’t repeat the same mistakes in the second innings. From the technical side we showed the players where they had erred and got out in the first innings. We discussed and analysed how we have been vulnerable to balls bowled outside off stump.”

“In the second innings the batsmen negotiated it well. Everyone got a start but once you get to 20s and 30s you cannot make mistakes. (Dinesh) Chandimal showed the way. He was determined to bat for a long period at the crease. That’s the courage and determination we want. He batted really well. Even Dhananjaya (de Silva), but all these innings have to be converted into hundreds. Two batsmen getting hundreds is important. Kusal Mendis batted well but he should know how to bat with the tail. I wanted them just to bat as long as possible in the second innings. We batted for about four sessions which is a good thing.”

Jayasuriya was all praise for the bowlers who did an excellent job dismissing South Africa for 191 in the first innings.

“They bowled well in the first innings and they had to go back and bowl again inside one hour. The bowlers did their job, we can’t blame them. We need to fine tune all these departments, especially the batting and come back. To some extent they did it in the second innings but they can do better.”

Jayasuriya expects the wicket for the second Test starting at Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) on 5 December to be “fast and grassy”.

“These wickets are generally slow but they will make it fast and grassy. The Durban wicket had a lot of grass. It was like the Oval Test match wicket against England but it had a lot of grass.”

Going into the next Test Jayasuriya said that at least two batsmen of the seven in the side must get big scores if Sri Lanka are to be competitive.

With the first Test ending inside four days, Sri Lanka used the fifth day to gain some valuable practice at Durban yesterday.

“Today we had practice with six batsmen, it was the best opportunity we got. Here, it’s the different length, sometimes with the new ball there is a little bit more bounce. We concentrated on the line and the length and made sure we didn’t commit ourselves to playing at balls pitched outside off stump,” said Jayasuriya.

Following the first Test loss Sri Lanka from third position has dropped to fifth in the World Test Championship standings. 

“We have to do well in our remaining three Tests (1 v South Africa and 2 v Australia). If we play to our potential, the batting unit gets some runs on the board, the bowlers do their part and we hold onto the half chances in fielding, the results will come our way.”

Jayasuriya rued the fact that they could not get at least one warm-up game before the Test series.

“That’s the most unfortunate part, we should have at least one game like we had in England. It is some sort of match practice. Here, we didn’t have any. We sent some of the players early to South Africa but it’s nothing like playing in a match to get practice. We didn’t get the centre wickets to practice either. But these are not excuses. We should know how to play in these conditions by adjusting ourselves quickly. When they come to Sri Lanka they will struggle in our conditions. That’s how it should be.”