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Dav Whatmore National Coach
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To lose the Second Test Match in Kandy was obviously disappointing,
particularly so because we had an excellent chance of winning the match, but
we go into the final deciding Test Match in Colombo with our
heads held high. I felt that the team displayed great fighting spirit during
that tension strewn five days and each player gave 100 per cent.
The controversy apart - I do feel that the Sri Lankan team was desperately
unfortunate in Kandy - we failed to win that match because we didn't score
enough runs. Simple as that. In the first innings we built a commanding
position after the loss of four early wickets only to fall shy of a par
score, which was probably 350 plus.
Despite conceding a 90 run lead we were nevertheless in a good position to
press forward and set a useful final innings target. We should have scored
something in the region of 300 runs. That didn't happen because we lost six
wickets in the last session of the third day. That heady hour of pretty
awful batting was the critical moment. Darren Gough bowled well, but we
should have batted better.
We can sit back and feel sorry for ourselves for shouldering the lion's
share of the bad luck, but in the cold light of reality, we realise that the
destiny was in our hands. We didn't just lose that match because things didn
't go our way. We lost because we didn't shape our own destiny. If we had
batted like we should, the controversy would have been irrelevant. As a team
we need to all agree with that before the Final Test Match.
The fight thereafter was really good and that was heartening to see. We
lost the match, but we finished up on a very positive note. Sangakkara
batted beautifully, showing what a tough customer he is, and Kumar
Dharmasena and Chaminda Vaas gave him excellent support. The bowlers tried
their utmost and on another day we could have won.
You have to bear in mind that this is still a young side and compared to
England, who fielded the most experienced side in the history of English
cricket in Kandy, we are inexperienced. The dismissal of Kumar Sangakkara is
a case in point. His dismissal in the second innings, when he just threw it
away, was just pure inexperience. When he becomes a little battle hardened
that one won't happen again. Russel Arnold too betrayed a lack of experience
to get dismissed to the second delivery with the new ball. These are painful
lessons, but you have to learn from it.
One other important feature so far in the series is the way that England are
playing Muralitharan. They are playing to a plan, trying to wear him down by
occupying the crease, and are making him work very hard for his wickets,
primarily by padding him away. I don't think, however, he has been rewarded
at certain times and he should have had more wickets in this series. I can
understand not giving leg-before decisions on the front foot when he is
bowling over the wicket, but what about when the batsmen play back, or when
he comes around the wicket and straightens the ball?
Whilst most of the English batsmen prefer to defend Murali, Hussain in the
first innings and Thorpe in both played positively and did well. But, Murali
is a world-class performer and they can't keep that up all the time. Both
players had their luck. There is no doubt that if they attack him they are a
taking a risk.
Whilst I have been surprised that Murali hasn't taken more wickets, I am
more surprised by suggestions that there is ill feeling between the two
sides. I can honestly say that in all the dressing room banter that goes on,
there has not been one derogatory word against England's players. There is a
healthy respect and strong desire to beat them, but no bad feeling.
Nor do I think that there has been more sledging than a normal international
series. The Sri Lanka side have played it tough and I expect them to play it
that way. I do not believe that they have overstepped the line. The bat pad
catchers have been brave and very aggressive. As for Sangakkara behind the
stumps, I endorse all his actions. There are occasions when you go up
aggressively for an appeal as a reaction, but a second later you realise
that you were wrong. That though is a reaction not an orchestrated attempt
to cheat.
I just hope that all this controversy comes to an end and that the cricket
takes the centre stage in Colombo. It will be titanic struggle and both
sides will feel that they can win it. It will not be easy for us as England
are sure to make us work. The key will be whether we can blunt their fast
bowlers with the new ball. If we can then I believe we will win.