Sri Lankan press rips home team apart

COLOMBO, MARCH 18. Sri Lankan newspapers on Sunday ripped the National cricket line-up for its defeat to England in the first ever Test series between the two nations.

``Shock and shame,'' reported The Sunday Times, an independent English language newspaper. ``Sri Lanka crash to disgraceful defeat.'' ``Sri Lanka can only blame themselves for another disgraceful and pathetic batting display that has lately become a very familiar sight,'' said sports writer Marlon Fernandopulle.

Sri Lanka held a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with comprehensive win in the opener at Galle, but then slumped to successive losses at Kandy and Colombo. It was Sri Lanka's second consecutive Test series defeat after losing 0-2 to South Africa in January.

Chasing a victory target of 74 after bowling out Sri Lanka for a paltry 81 earlier yesterday, England secured a four- wicket win with two days to spare, clinching the first ever Test series between the two nations.

It was the lowest total recorded in 16 Tests at the Sinhalese Cricket Club and was only a slight improvement on Sri Lanka's lowest ever total of 71 against Pakistan in Kandy seven years ago.

``The host nation never looked like being placed in a winning position,'' the Sunday leader, another independent English language newspaper, ran in its banner headline.

England coach annoyed

England head coach Duncan Fletcher has expressed his displeasure over all-rounder Andrew Flintoff concealing an injury suffered three weeks ago while playing soccer.

``We are very disappointed that nobody informed the England team management of Andrew's injury, especially as it is now three weeks old. Our physiotherapist Dean Conway was only informed of the injury by Andrew the day after he arrived in Colombo,'' Fletcher said. Flintoff has been given two days to prove his fitness, or go home along with injured captain Nasser Hussain and four other players.

Flintoff had strained his ligaments while playing soccer during pre-season training with Lancashire.

Flintoff took an X-ray on Saturday and will continue to get treatment for two days. ``If he fails to improve, we will have no choice but to send him home,'' Fletcher said. Hussain, who strained his thigh in the third Test that England won here on Saturday by four wickets, will fly home on Tuesday, with four other team-mates Michael Atherton, Jason Brown, Paul Nixon and Matthew Hoggard.

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