There were some very bright spots in the 1st Test at Galle on Day 1: Plaudits to Lyon, Swepson, Ramesh Mendis and Dickwella. Most importantly captain Cummins had more attacking fields than in recent memory; dedicatee Shane Warne would have approved of the greater emphasis on attacking tactics. On a surface that does not seem conducive to centuries, the 21st half-century registered by Dickwella was filled with characteristic positive intent and will keep Sri Lanka in the contest. Khawaja will need to disprove the above observation and register a substantial score, as the demise of Smith showed woeful match awareness. It was reminiscent of the infamous Taylor runout in Brisbane, in the first Ashes Test in which Stater left his captain stranded. Warner after having a superlative day in the field started well but had his technique exposed by a good straight delivery from Mendis. Labuschagne was most disappointing: In a reckless dismissal, he persists in playing horizontally instead of straight in a manner that frequently undid Warner in his youth. Swepson and Lyon landed the ball in appropriate areas more than any Sri Lankan spinner; Ramesh Mendis, a relative newcomer gave Australia trouble and will undoubtedly continue to do so as the pitch declines. Lyon, who is three wickets shy of surpassing Kapil Dev will be the Australian talisman as the pitch declines and Swepson looks like he wants to impress. Team Australia are clearly in the ascendancy, but must not become complacent. Khawaja, Lyon and Swepson are most suitably placed to deliver and perhaps Mathews, Dickwella and Ramesh Mendis might spoil the proceedings and prove proverbial “dark horses”.
Day 2 was far brighter for Australia than hosts, Sri Lanka: Khawaja, Green, Carey and a final entertaining flourish from Captain Cummins put Australia deservedly in the lead. The proactivity by the visiting Australians was in stark contrast to the passive tactics employed by Sri Lanka. Only toward the end of proceedings did more close-in catchers appear providing Ramesh Mendis, Da Silva, Vandersay and the seemingly deflated and below average Embuldeniya with much needed support. Their performance and confidence appeared to improve only for inclement weather in the form of fading light to spoil proceedings. Despite impressive performances by all the aforementioned Australian players, there exists an outstanding issue, specifically the deficient manner in which the Australians play spin. There is an excessive reliance on sweep shots, be it the orthodox or the unorthodox reverse. Batting coaches need to encourage diversifying of methods of playing spin. The advantage of having tall players in the team like Green, Cummins and Starc is that if they can be taught and subsequently encouraged to hit through the line and execute shots such as drives of multiple varieties. Never was this more important for players like Khawaja, Green and Head who are specialist batsmen who need to convert good scores into match winning scores with more regularity. Khawaja is presently the closest the current Australian outfit has to a sub-continental specialist; it is necessary to compare eras here as a legendary Australian player of spin like Allan Border mastered using feet and getting to the pitch of the ball for stunning scoring shots, particularly in subcontinental conditions. It is something Khawaja still needs to master as he was dismissed when trying to play across the line and capitulating to the bat-pad fieldsman. Carey was impressively obdurate in acting the anchor for Green in what might prove to be the most vital partnership of the match. Regrettably the Carey innings also capitulated to Australian spin ineptitude when he was beaten in flight and hauled out in the outfield. Carey does deserve credit for attempting to play spin with more than sweep shots, but his technique needs improving. It would be worthwhile if batting coaches teach tall players like Starc and Cummins to get to the pitch and play through the line; just as Steve Waugh taught Glenn McGrath adequate defence and fashioned an unlikely night watchman, if basic technique versus spin were taught to the lower order, specialist batsmen would be forced to lift their game. Australia were superior, but must guard against complacency.
Day 3: The third and final day of the Galle Test match yielded many positives and several criticisms for either team. Lyon embraced the role of senior spinner, looking as confident as he ever has. He deservedly surpassed the records of both Rangana Herath and Kapil Dev. More importantly this positive energy, had a positive effect on Swepson, who looked a bona fide team member, rather than an underconfident over enthusiastic rookie. Equally this had a positive effect on Travis Head who in the role of makeshift spinner supplied a four-wicket cameo that will undoubtedly constitute a future positive for Team Australia. His delivery to the experienced, Chandimal causing the veteran to play down the wrong line, resulted even in his personal acknowledgement of a deserved wicket. This will be beneficial for Head who in his role of specialist batsman, is a touch player and will suffer indifferent form. Subcontinental conditions will potentially yield other fine bowling performances which will put him in good stead. The negatives for both Australia and Sri Lanka centre around a solitary outstanding issue: The global tendency to be technically suspect against spin. Throughout the duration of the Galle Test sweep and reverse sweep were utilised excessively as a scoring option which caused predicaments aplenty, for both sides. Sri Lanka were at times embarrassingly suspect in local conditions; players such as Green, Carey and to a lesser extent, Khawaja all proved that they should not be likened to legendary players of spin, such as Sidhu, Laxman, Sangakkara. Importantly, wicketkeeping technique, which relies on accurate reading of bounce and lateral movement is suffering, which can be attributed to suspect batting technique versus spin. It would be delightful for both Carey and Dickwella to play for an Indian Premier League franchise, such as Rajasthan where Sangakkara would bestow both batting and keeping wisdom to both players. In sum, Sri Lanka will know they are a better team than their performance and a victory was the appropriate result for Australia. The Australians need to be more clinical: they need to convert their starts into scores and the bowlers while wonderful have an opportunity to play leading rather than supporting roles. The Second Test offers the above opportunities, they simply need to materialise.
R.E Melato
Rob's Ramblings 