Pussycats Abroad


By Gaurang
May 20 2011

Sri Lanka look to reverse their woeful Test record abroad as they take on a confident England, coming off a recent Ashes win.

Sri Lanka are about to take on England in a three Test series and the prospects for the Lankans do not look good.  Without Muttiah Muralitharan to bring depth to their spin attack and even more devastatingly without Lasith Malinga, the leading bowler in the IPL by a mile, to bring penetration and bit of fire to their attack, the Lankans look outmatched from the get go.  At one time, mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis would have been a big factor, but he seems to have been sorted out by the world's batsmen thanks to wall to wall coverage and the video analysis techniques now available.

Sri Lanka have never won a Test series in England, though they did win a one-off Test in the 1990s when Muralitharn took 16 wickets at the Oval.  In fact Sri Lanka have never won a Test, let alone a series in Australia, South Africa and India.  So it will be quite a challenge for newbie Captain, Tillakaratne Dilshan and his right hand man, Coach Stuart Law, to avoid another series loss abroad.

In their first tour game the Lankans beat a weak Middlesex team, which except for Captain Andrew Strauss, was mostly rookies and has beens.  The Lankans to their credit managed to win the match quite handily.  But their next match agaisnt a much stronger English Lions team is probably a better indication of the challenges they will face.  In that match the Lions amassed nearly 500 runs before declaring and then dismissing the Lankans for 260 odd in the first innings, setting up a potential follow on situation.  Whether the Lions press home their advantage or choose to give some of their batsmen who missed out in the first innings another chance, remains to be seen, but in either case the Lankans are looking in desperate straits.

In fact Stuart law is so concerned it would seem that while talking about the chances of his team, he called the English side the "Best Current Test Team", never mind that England are a whopping thirteen points behind India in the current ICC Test rankings.  One wonder's what comments Law would have made if his team were taking on India.  In any case one must admire Law's desire to set expectations at approrpiate levels afterall who can blame him if the team he coaches loses to the "Best Current Test Team"

  

Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged)
Date: 20/05/2011 21:07

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Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 21/05/2011 19:15

Good article. Whatever little success Sri Lanka has had in overseas Test matches over the years, it has been almost entirely due to Murali. Now with him retired, it's going to be even more difficult for them. Still let's hope that the Lankans manage to rattle England, which will be good for India who tour England later.

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 22/05/2011 09:16

Yeah anything Lankans can do to soften up the Poms the better...but I fear it may actually be good practice for them and they will be stronger against India...

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 22/05/2011 19:20

Looks like the Lankans are ready to FIGHT...

They win by 38 runs against England Lions after following on...

Good job Lanka!

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 24/05/2011 12:52

Yes that's a promising start to the England tour for the Lankans. Though I still think their team is weak overall. A lot will depend on the starts given by Dilshan, and then of course the batting of the classy Sangakkara. In bowling they will hope that the English batsmen will be bamboozled by Mendis...like India were when they first played him. Though the pitches will not help him much.

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 24/05/2011 16:47

Stuart Law meanwhile keeps talking up the English team...

Calls playing them "The Toughest Deal On the Planet".... which planet is he living on?....smiling smiley

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 30/05/2011 15:48

Not looking too meanacing especially with the ball are the Lankans...

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 30/05/2011 18:27

English Lions MAULED the Pussycats...

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 31/05/2011 01:36

Quote:
Max
Good article. Whatever little success Sri Lanka has had in overseas Test matches over the years, it has been almost entirely due to Murali. Now with him retired, it's going to be even more difficult for them. Still let's hope that the Lankans manage to rattle England, which will be good for India who tour England later.

Murali had 8 five wicket hauls versus England the next best Sri Lankan has ONE... and looking at this attack can't see them getting one this series...

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 31/05/2011 08:46

True Birbal. And btw, I noticed that the 3rd umpire was very quick to give the benefit of the doubt to England in some of the referrals. So even with all the supposed technology, it seems umpiring is not 100% free from bias. Maybe the BCCI are right to oppose the UDRS.

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: choor (IP Logged)
Date: 31/05/2011 12:08

what bias are you referring to? KP's was a close decision but correctly given out, as was Sangakarra's in the first innings.

The UDRS has been a very good system thus far and is certainly improved the quality of the decision making where it has been used.

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 31/05/2011 18:48

The UDRS system didn't make much difference here... Lanka just bottled it...

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Spirit of Cricket (IP Logged)
Date: 31/05/2011 23:07

Quote:
Max
True Birbal. And btw, I noticed that the 3rd umpire was very quick to give the benefit of the doubt to England in some of the referrals. So even with all the supposed technology, it seems umpiring is not 100% free from bias. Maybe the BCCI are right to oppose the UDRS.

Bias is bias.

If the field umpire's decision can be appealed, the third umpire may be biased.

Who can appeal the third umpire?

Even when video shows what may be obvious, we've seen the third umpire go the other way.

Even if the Lankans lost it in a big way, they deserve to have their appeals fairly evaluated. Otherwise UDRS is a charade.

The BCCI is right, but for the wrong reasons. They should insist on what Dhoni was commenting on - the overruling of technology by third umpires/

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 07/06/2011 18:42

Except for the madness of the post tea session at Cardiff...the Test series has been BORING... so far...

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 16/06/2011 18:04

Sangakkara now averaging 25 in England in 9 Tests...

true Pussycat abroad...?

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 16/06/2011 18:22

Now Mahela goes... too...meow?

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: shilpa (IP Logged)
Date: 16/06/2011 19:10

the real standing of a team's performance is known only when the second team bats
we will see if rearguard can somehow get Lanka past 200...and what SL seamers get on this pitch

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: fwdshortleg (IP Logged)
Date: 16/06/2011 21:25

Its cold. the english invite them as warm up team at the start of the season - when its cold bitter rain and the pitches fresh.

No team wants that. If they played later in the summer when pitches would be drier more sun higher temps they might just give the english team a better fight.

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: shilpa (IP Logged)
Date: 17/06/2011 18:24

Fernando etal have wagged and gottent to 177-9.

If they touch 200 it might just be a par score.

never undertsand why lankans play only 5 specialist batsmen



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:17:18:30:35 by shilpa.

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Spirit of Cricket (IP Logged)
Date: 17/06/2011 21:15

Chris Tremlett is killing Lanka.

What might Malinga have done on this pitch?

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 17/06/2011 23:10

And old Vaasy is cleaning up in the County games...

If the two of them were included...this side could have been competitive...

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: shilpa (IP Logged)
Date: 18/06/2011 06:48

Quote:
Birbal
And old Vaasy is cleaning up in the County games...
If the two of them were included...this side could have been competitive...

this side may still by the look of things go back with a drawn series

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 18/06/2011 16:07

You must be joking.... If Sri Lanka win the 3rd Test... I will be shocked... and call for ACU investigation...smiling smiley

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: shilpa (IP Logged)
Date: 18/06/2011 21:04

Quote:
Birbal
You must be joking.... If Sri Lanka win the 3rd Test... I will be shocked... and call for ACU investigation...smiling smiley

I was speaking before the 3rd day play started...with a lot of optimism and support for the underdog

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: shilpa (IP Logged)
Date: 20/06/2011 15:26

Lankans are looking good for a draw as I write.
But for one bad session where they collapsed for 80odd....they would have walked away with honors even.

I don't think Eng would gain a LOT of ranking points out of a 1-0 win.

However if we end up 1-0 scoreline against WI...we might lose ICC points also.

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 20/06/2011 17:32

Actually Lanka is ranked higher than England in Tests...so they should gain a few pon

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: shilpa (IP Logged)
Date: 20/06/2011 17:59

Quote:
Birbal
Actually Lanka is ranked higher than England in Tests...so they should gain a few pon

from what I saw just on Ten sports....Eng is 3rd with 116 points ahead of SL with only 107

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 20/06/2011 17:59

Oh... maybe I was thinking of ODIs...

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 21/06/2011 08:55

Sri Lanka should be happy overall with the result...losing only 1-0. England were definitely the better team by some distance though.

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 21/06/2011 19:01

Lanka are missing Murali, Vaas and Malinga BIG time...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:21:19:01:41 by Birbal.

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: brockley (IP Logged)
Date: 22/06/2011 09:25

Srilanka in tests will struggle to bowl sides out anywhere.

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 15/12/2011 23:17

Since the departure of Murali...

Lanka have regressed amazingly...

And Flat Track Bullies in batting are getting their butts handed to them...

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 28/12/2012 17:39

was written about England series...but is even truer about the current tour to Australia...

What a SHELLACKING...

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: audioman (IP Logged)
Date: 28/12/2012 19:17

Against a second-string attack too. This has to be the worst SL batting performance EVER! What a mammoth failure.

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Martian (IP Logged)
Date: 28/12/2012 23:42

After 8-0 abroad and losing the series at home, can we really afford to comment on SL ??? :-(..

It could really be us in our next Aussie tour :-(

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 30/12/2012 01:57

What has 0-8 performance of India got to do with commenting on Lankans they SUCK overseas... and that is the TRUTH...

Only player who has done well in Australia, Sangakarra has had his hand broken by Johnson... and is out of the tour..

I fear it is only going to get worse.

Re: Pussycats Abroad
Posted by: Martian (IP Logged)
Date: 30/12/2012 17:16

Quote:
Birbal
What has 0-8 performance of India got to do with commenting on Lankans they SUCK overseas... and that is the TRUTH...

That was a sarcastic comment. but it did not come out well on the internet...

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