South Africa tour looms as the acid test for Sri Lanka’s Test aspirations. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor)
Sri Lanka will be looking for more success in South Africa and the form they carry in Test cricket suggests that the home team will have a serious fight on their hands.
Dhananjaya de Silva leads a team brimming with confidence after recent successes at home and away giving a clear indication that they have, at long last, shed the tag of easybeats.
South Africa on the other hand are a team hard to conquer on their home turf. They will do all they can to establish their own identity by usurping the rising Lankans who currently sit third on the World Test rankings.
Sri Lanka have sent a blend of youth and experience to South Africa and the general consensus suggests that they will harbour aspirations of making it to the final of the Test Championship against Australia or India for the first time.
With the Test team gaining success on the back of a well composed bowling attack, the pressure is on Sri Lanka’s batters to produce the goods if they are to pull off an interesting series win and a tilt at an unlikely success.
Sri Lanka coach Sanath Jayasuriya was recently quoted as saying that the focus on aiming for the stars will be on the improvement of the team’s fielding which has dropped off. “We were the best fielding team in the world a few years ago but the standard has dropped off. But with former brilliant fielder Upul Chandana in charge we will address that issue,” he said.
Emphasis on building consistency in batting around opening batting sensation Pathum Nissanka will be the other focus as Jayasuriya predicted that he has the makings to be the best batter in the world.
While Sri Lanka’s batting hinges on their success, the bowling has established four or five of the best spinners in world cricket. The fast bowling department is also at the highest level, hence, their position at number three.
If Jayasuriya’s belief is aligned with their path ahead, a new dawning is on the horizon of Sri Lanka cricket.
