Sri Lanka’s head coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, expressed disappointment over the team’s 109-run loss to South Africa in the second Test, emphasizing the need for batters to score more runs. He mentioned the importance of converting smaller scores into centuries and acknowledged the missed opportunity for Sri Lanka to qualify for the World Test Championship Final. Looking forward, Sri Lanka will face Australia for two Tests in January 2024.
Sri Lanka’s head coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, recently spoke about his team’s disappointing 109-run defeat to South Africa in the second Test, emphasizing the need for their batters to enhance their scoring capabilities. On the fifth day of the match, South Africa secured a 2-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka, leaving the Asian side unable to level the series. Jayasuriya noted that Sri Lanka was 143 runs away from tying the series with South Africa just five wickets from victory.
Jayasuriya remarked that while the match was competitive, his players must convert smaller scores into hundreds to be successful on tough foreign grounds. “Batsmen have to convert their scores into hundreds – 30s and 40s aren’t enough. It’s tough on these wickets, but at least two batters have to score hundreds on a tour like this. We didn’t get that. All we got were two 80s,” he stated.
The coach acknowledged the missed opportunity for Sri Lanka to qualify for the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s, highlighting that the players should recognize the importance of scoring centuries. He pointed out that the senior players must evaluate their performances critically, noting that individual efforts were insufficient to secure more favorable outcomes.
Moreover, Jayasuriya praised Kamindu Mendis as a vital member of the team. He stated, “Kamindu Mendis is a key player. In every Test match almost he was in the runs, aside from this series. If you saw the way he batted in this series, it was still with a lot of confidence.” He emphasized the realistic expectations from players, recognizing that not every batsman can achieve a hundred in every match.
Looking ahead, Sri Lanka is set to face Australia in a two-Test series scheduled for January next year, providing them another opportunity to improve their performance on the international stage.
The recent Test series between Sri Lanka and South Africa ended with South Africa successfully completing a whitewash, winning both matches convincingly. This highlighted several shortcomings in Sri Lanka’s batting lineup, especially on foreign pitches. Sanath Jayasuriya, serving as the head coach, is utilizing post-match reflections to call for strategic adjustments, notably in batting techniques to enhance scoring capabilities in crucial innings. As Sri Lanka prepares for upcoming series, the need for a more aggressive and effective batting performance has become increasingly evident.
In summary, following their disappointing performance against South Africa, Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has emphasized the necessity for his players to transition their scores into significant ones, specifically hundreds. His observations about the team’s shortcomings point towards a need for introspection among the batters. Looking forward, with a Test series against Australia on the horizon, there exists a potential opportunity for the Sri Lankan players to demonstrate improved resilience and scoring effectiveness in the coming matches.
Original Source: thenewsmill.com
