The Sri Lankan pace bowlers toiled hard in the morning
session and failed to break the Bairstow-Woakes stand as they notched up 144
runs in 40 overs for the sixth wicket. It’s quite tough to create an impression
with medium pacers. In Test cricket you need faster bowlers to fetch wickets on
placid tracks. Of course, you need safe hands in the field, as because, one
drop catch can make a lot of difference. Sri Lanka realized it the hard way, through Bairstow’s unbeaten 167 while today, England realized it through Dimuth
Karunaratne’s dropped catch. The villain was Bairstow, but let me forgive him
and advise the English hierarchy to decide whether to play him as a batsman or
batsman/wicketkeeper. In my opinion, he suits better as a batsman. It will be a
mistake if some people start to search Adam Gilchrist in Jonny.
But dropped catches are a part of the game and fortune favours the brave.
Moreover, if lady luck has given you the opportunity then utilize it then, just
go for it. Bairstow utilized it and today Dimuth scored a fifty to stitch a
hundred-run opening partnership. Dimuth’s stay was cut short, but Kaushal Silva
kept on going.
When I first saw Kaushal five years back, he didn’t seem to
me talented enough as a batsman. I still remember how he was outdone by Abdur
Rehman and Junaid Khan on a placid deck at Dubai. He was included in the side
as a wicketkeeper , but you can achieve the best of successes and prove people
wrong via sheer hard work and determination. Kaushal is one of those characters
who has a strong temperament.
Technically, he is not bad as well. His bat comes straight, quick on the front
foot and has learned the method of spending time at the crease. I shall not
praise highly about his 83 as the track was too easy for batting, but some
strokes through the covers were quite high class and hinted big promises for
day 3. Kaushal led the fight well.
James Anderson and Steve Finn hit the length well, but Stuart Broad was a bit
scratchy. Like Sri Lanka, England struggled to pitch the ball further and
bowled too straight at times. I can understand it’s not easy to bowl on such
tracks, but you expect more from the likes of Jimmy and Broad. They should have
bowled more wicket-to-wicket and targeted the top of off stump.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
No comments:
Post a Comment