Has the fizz started to run out?

WITH SRI Lanka beaten in the first two one-dayers against South Africa, many are asking as to whether the fizz has started to run out. That is how quickly people tend to forget how a team has performed before.

While it was only two matches ago that Sri Lanka was said to be at peak of its form and was expected to play out of its skin in South Africa, and it is far too early to make any unfavourable predictions, one also tends to believe that it needs to quickly assess its shortcomings, and eradicate any negative thoughts, if these have already entered the minds of the Lankans.

There is no doubt that they need to make some adjustments in the manner in which some of them play, to suit the South African conditions, and also revise their plans for the new strategies adopted by the opposition, but above all it is a question of staying positive and that could easily be eroded when you lose two games on the trot, and are not careful.

On the quicker, bouncier pitches, where the ball also moves more than in the sub-continent, it would be difficult for the Sri Lankans to adopt their pinch hitting strategy, in the manner in which they are used to at home on the slower, duller pitches, but they must remember that it does not mean that they should get defensive, because that is not the way they know to play, and would be doing something alien. In both games the openers were tentative and did not show a positive approach. They hardly looked for the singles and were waiting for the pitched up deliveries and the width to launch and these were rare or hardly came. Frustration thus got the better of them. Jayasuriya always had an angular bat but he has made enormous amount of runs despite that and has never found it to be a problem on the slower pitches. In South Africa adjustments are required and he will need to either play much closer to his body or accentuate the turning round of the top arm shoulder, to get a straighter bat. He was bowled twice off his inside edge and with Pollock and company looking to exploit this, Sanath will have to find the answer that best suits him.

The Sri Lankans lost too many early wickets in both games and this put pressure on the lesser-experienced middle order sans Aravinda de Silva and Hashan Tillekaratne. While one holds no grouse at blooding youth, the Sri Lankans would have had many more options with one of the two experienced men in their squad, if and when the top order was not making runs.

Kumar Sangakkara showed very pleasing form in the first one- dayer and there is no doubt about his talent. He possesses excellent hand, eye coordination and looks to be a natural ball game player. As we know he sacrificed his tennis for cricket. The manner in which he batted coming in at a tight spot, showed he possessed all the attributes that go to make a top-flight player. Unfortunately there was none to guide him, which would have given Sri Lanka those additional twenty to thirty odd runs in the first Port Elizabeth game, which may have made the difference. The Sri Lankans must realise that they have a problem with their bowling. They cannot over rely on Muralitharan particularly in the one-day games. The South Africans seem to have mastered the sweep with Jonty Rhodes and Boucher being exceptional. The element of risk, playing this shot, has been minimised greatly by most of their players and as such has negated Murali's efforts to a great extent. Rhodes has become a thorn in the off-spinner's flesh and has already scored two half centuries and what is more he reverse sweeps with equal efficiency.Chaminda Vaas has still not lost his guile but needs to think in terms of being a strike bowler whenever he comes to the crease, rather than being one who does a holding operation after the new ball. He has speed that can worry batsmen and has to bring this to the fore even if it means bowling short spells, if he is to succeed against the Proteas. In contrast Nuwan Zoysa has been looking to pick up wickets at all times and has looked the more penetrative operator.

The Sri Lankans need to look at both Dilhara Fernando and Kaushaliya Weeraratne immediately. Having brought these two youngsters it makes no sense keeping them in the sidelines. It defeats the purpose of the policy of youth. Even if these two bowlers take some time to settle down it will be worthwhile, as they would have learnt something when the tour progresses. The quicker bowlers must be prepared to bend their backs and extract the bounce, which is there, and both Dilhara and Kaushaliya are strong and energetic to do that.

The Sri Lankan fielding in the second game cracked under the South African onslaught led by that talented right-hander Neil McKenzie. His timing is impeccable and he packs punch in his shots. With the confidence he gained after the 120 he made in the second one-day game, the Sri Lankans will find McKenzie hard to keep down. The tour programme is not the best, with the Boxing Day first Test, and the second Test fixed in between the one-day games. It is not easy for players to make the change from one-day cricket to Test cricket, easily, and vica versa, and this will compound the visitors problems further.

RANJIT FERNANDO

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