EXCLUSIVE
Follow UsDespite Sri Lanka’s massive downfall in the talent stature, they were expected to give India some worries during the two-match Test series in India’s own backyard. However, a recurrent theme throughout the series was how the visitors were not consistently applying pressure on the hosts.
In a conversation with Cricket.com, former Sri Lankan all-rounder Russel Arnold explored the reasons behind Sri Lanka’s embarrassing defeat at the hands of Rohit Sharma’s led Indian side. Arnold insisted that the visitors lacked patience and focus, something that cost them big time during the series.
“The learnings for Sri Lanka would be the mistakes that they made, if you look at the team, in certain patches they were very good. But they never sustained the pressure throughout. It is a process, it comes with time, they need to stay more patient and be focused. In certain periods, they showed they can compete but it was very few, which was an issue,” Arnold told Cricket.com in an exclusive conversation.
“Sri Lanka, unfortunately, did not have a say in the Test series, they lacked that, both in Mohali and Bangalore. So whatever India were doing, it was working, Sri Lanka did not push India. If you are able to put good teams under pressure, they will feel it, that is what I expected from the visitors but they never applied too much pressure on the hosts.”
At Mohali, it was Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round display, 175 (228) with the bat and 9/87, which haunted the visitors. In Bangalore, it was the efforts of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant with the bat that caused their downfall alongside Jasprit Bumrah’s efforts with the ball.
While Dimuth Karunaratne responded with elegance in the second innings, where he scored 107, it was too little too late for the Islanders.
“Dimuth Karunaratne’s century came too late in the game, if the hundred had come in the first innings, then it would have been tough for India to set a target. It would have also helped Sri Lanka’s morale, which is why you have to start strong in a tour like this. India did that to Sri Lanka, they made them field for a long time in Mohali and that first innings really set the tone,” Russel added.
Russel explores the reason behind Sri Lankan spinners' struggle
When asked about the reasons behind the struggle for Sri Lankan bowlers, the former Sri Lankan all-rounder pointed out at the pace difference with which both the spin bowling attacks operated. Russel insisted that the visitors bowled too slowly, in comparison to the hosts, which was a grave mistake in conditions that offered help to spinners.
“Ya, believe it or not, there are a lot of differences in how the pitch reacts. In Sri Lanka, the average pace which works for a spinner is lot less. That doesn’t work in India, we had a comparison of Sri Lankan spinners and Indian spinners. Indian spinners were clocking 90kmph but the visitors were bowling slower. So, Sri Lanka didn’t quite adapt quickly to the conditions,” he added.
The former all-rounder also stressed the importance for the Sri Lankan team to adapt themselves to the match situation in the future, having failed to do that in the two-match Test series against India. Russel also applauded the efforts of the Indian batters, who applied pressure on the visiting spinners, putting them under the pump.
“There are little areas where Sri Lanka have to extend the pressure on the opposition, which they did not. No doubt that India are a strong team, India are a strong team even overseas, they have gone to Australia and won. This team has more than skill, they have the ability to win with character, even in alien conditions.”
“They might not be bowling short but the Indian batters were quite adept and quickly put pressure on the bowlers. In response, Sri Lankan spinners could not adjust themselves to the situation, erring in line and length. It is about being more disciplined and sticking to the plans. Sri Lankan spinners should have bowled to the pitch and at a faster pace, something that they missed out,” Russel insisted.
