Pakistan are in a great position to go 1-0 up in the series against Sri Lanka, with 97 runs to get with 2 days and 8 wickets remaining. The new-look Pakistani bowling has been a revelation, while some of the experienced Sri Lankan batsman failed to trouble the scorers too much. For good measure, Younis Khan once again chipped in with wickets.
Assuming that Pakistan completes the task tomorrow without too many worries, there are many questions for Sri Lanka:
- This is not a good start for Sangakkara as a captain. We have seen how Sangakkara’s batting changed when he turned from wicketkeeper-batsman to specialist batsman. Now, will the pressures of captaincy (especially lost Tests) affect his batting? He is, by far, the best batsman in the Lankan team (Mahela included) and it would be a disaster if he under-performs.
- It is a little weird that the Sri Lankan team has three players with 50+ averages (Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Samaraweera) and yet have been unable to produce results in line with those averages. I have pointed out several times that Sri Lanka’s over-scheduling of matches with the lower-level Test nations like Bangladesh have inflated the averages of many in the team and prevented greater influx of fresh blood. You look at a player like Samaraweera and you wonder how he deserves a 50+ average, especially when his away record is terrible.
- Tillakaratne Dilshan continues as before. I know he has been in good form in the IPL and the World Twenty20, but his Test form has always been a case of, “I think they are ready to drop me, so let me hit a century” attitude. I am pretty confident that he will strike form in the last Test when Pakistan are probably up 2-0 and retain his spot for the next tour. The Sri Lankan selectors really need to light a fire under him, so that they don’t keep having average contributors in the team.
- Assuming Mendis is not going to do anything more in this Test, the question is: Was he over-hyped? Once batsman have started getting a feel for his bowling, Mendis does not seem to have any new tricks. Pakistan have totally taken him apart in many matches they have played. Without Murali bowling, he has been unable to put much pressure on the Pakistanis. This goes back to what I mentioned about Hussey: early success can be a career killer because the opposition concentrates a lot of think power against you and tries to derail your plans. While a more modest player is left alone, the stars are targeted sometimes mercilessly. Mendis needs to make a comeback soon.
Anyway, so far, the match has been great entertainment while we wait for the first Ashes Test.
you echo my sentiments. mendis is overhyped and wud be worked out more he plays regularly against stronger teams.
and SL have birth right to play against BD. They have played twice the number of tests against them than any other country.
Tell me, can ODI or T20 offer you the same drama?
Probably not, Som. I am a little disappointed at Pakistan’s capitulation, though.