Sri Lanka Lose Big….All Blacks Win Big

I love these weekends. Where so much happens that I don’t even have time to cover all of it properly on Monday’s edition of The Score. Also, the Club rugby season is back, which is going to take a bit of watching.

In Cuttack Sri Lanka were swept aside by to centuries from Ajinkya Rahane and the belligerent Shikhar Dhawan. It is clear that India are off a lot of cricket while Sri Lanka are rusty. Comparing the two teams currently would be like comparing apples to oranges in terms of preparation. It shouldn’t be done. Batting first on a superb track India capitalised on the amount of T20 cricket their play with an attacking extravaganza of strokes. The thing about T20 cricket is that it has made the younger generation of Indian players brave. Very brave. They will take anyone on at any point. Whether the even younger players – with the exceptions of talents like Kohli – will have the technique to match this bravery only time will tell. But for now, India are boasting a wonderful hybrid of players with traditional skill and modern explosiveness who are also on the right side of 30 years old.

In the absence of Lasith Malinga and the experience Nuwan Kulasekera, Prasad and Gamage were put to the sword. ODI cricket is more about bowling smart rather than bowling aggressively. If you find the right mix, that’s fantastic, but if you don’t, then smart is better. The bowlers didn’t do that. They didn’t bowl to the batsmen, and instead just bowled. This is also probably because there has been very little time to study the opposition to the extent that captain and bowlers are able to discuss fields and containment strategies. Left to their own devices, Angelo was not able to adjust quickly enough on the field. This is totally excusable given the circumstances of the tour.

Much has been made of Sangakkara’s two dropped chances against the two centurions. It was unfortunate that both chances should go down off Sanga, but the fact remains that this is more an indication of Sri Lanka’s status as a fielding unit, than any individual failings. For a while now this has been a problem that I have been predicting. Maybe even for as long as the last 18 months or more. Sri Lanka have Kushal Janith, Dinesh Chandimal, Dickwella and Sangakkara of whom only one can keep. The others who are essentially wicket keepers are not fabulous – nor can they be expected to be – in the outfield. Dilshan, at nearly 38 is still one of, if not our best, fielder in the absence of Sachithra Senanayake. Malinga is unlikely, especially after his injury to save boundaries in the outfield. Suraj Randiv is a good fielder but may not be a long term option. Thisara Perera is injured and Angelo Mathews has lost a little bit of his youthful athleticism.

Upul Tharanga is not going to tear up the field and neither is Lahiru Thirimanne. Both are safe, but not guys that will turn a game with a run out or a blinder. Jayawardena is good in the ring, but also gets pushed out to the outfield for lack of choice. Where then, are the personnel for this increasingly important discipline? If you don’t have fielders, your eleven needs to be guys who are at the top of their game in their area of expertise. We don’t have that either barring a few players. Witness what New Zealand do as a fielding unit when we play them. They’ll bowl to a field, within their limitations and field their socks off. Until a boundary that Jacob Oram dived over in 2011 that semi final was in the balance. Mainly because they are an anaconda like fielding unit that will strangle you slowly. Sri Lanka does not have that. Neither do India, but instead they have batsmen that can destroy you.

Is it enough of a concern for Sanath Jayasuriya to fast track Senanayake back into the side? Is it enough of a concern for Jeevan Mendis to be considered, or Kapugedera or Mubarak? All exceptional fielders. Time will tell.

Sangakkara’s glove work will improve. If anything is known about the man at all, then it will be obvious that he has worked on nothing else in the past two days. He carries his own cross, and keeping is also an aspect of the game that you cannot take to like riding a bike, after a long break. It is of no cause for concern.

What is a cause for concern is Malinga’s absence. He maybe past his best, but he’s the best we’ve got. With Mathews being expensive and the spinners going for runs as well, it is important that Chaminda Vaas works on bowling plans with his skipper and opening bowlers. India will continue to attack, and that’s okay, just as long as our bowlers show some adaptability and control.

All in all, the batting effort was as expected. Mathews blamed the batsmen for a lack of ‘intent’ and I think he’s right. Except that everyone showed intent except the opening partnership. Tharanga and Dilshan both know that they are not shoo ins to the side. Dilshan has aged and needs to play a different role from the dasher he used to be. Upul seems confused as to what he is supposed to do. Whether he’s to bat through or go for it. That confusion resulted in very runs off the first few overs which set the chase back. Required rates are terrible things and increase almost exponentially, so if the hard ball and field restrictions are not put to best use, then you are putting tremendous pressure on your middle order. I think Kusal Janith and Mahela are the answer to the opening pair question. Thirimanne, Dickwella or Chandimal can battle for a place in the middle. Or perhaps even drop Dilshan down to where he started off, that way we retain his fielding and an extra bowling option. There are several options, but for the moment, both Dilshan and Upul need to be told how to go about a chase or a first innings. They look confused and insipid, which is why Angelo was justified in questioning intent when his openers have a combined strike rate of 67.

That problem will get fixed. We have the personnel. But can we fix the problem in the field where we have conceded four centuries in two games? That is the burning question.

AB v Eagles

The marketing gimmick game between the US Eagles and the en route All Blacks was played before a capacity crowd at football’s Soldier Field in Chicago. It goes without saying that rugby’s profile in North America was raised significantly and awareness was created more than it was in the last decade by this one game. Many Americans were left open – mouthed at the intensity and lack of extraneous drama that the game of rugby offers. I’m sure there’ll be a few converts.

The 74 – 6 scoreline doesn’t tell you how bravely the US fought though. They tackled manfully, but just didn’t have what it took to withstand the awesome offloading ability of the Blacks and the support runners that give the ball carrier so many options and the defender very little. It was an awesome show of running rugby by a virtual B team.

What would have impressed Steve Hansen though was the midfield pairing of SBW and Ryan Crotty. They both played unselfishly and created several opportunities for other players to score. SBW had a hat trick and looks awesome on his return. Their defence was barely tested and this game was not enough to benchmark the third row combination of Cane – who played a good physical game – Vito and captain Read.

Among the disappointments in the AB performance was one-trick pony Israel Dagg whom organised defences will figure out easily. The other disappointment was the return of Daniel Carter. There were a few passes that went to no one and a few rehearsed moves that saw the ball grounded as well. His kicking remains impeccable and his running lines are still good while they are not being hit at the same pace. A few more half hour games on this tour, and if he comes through it Carter will be back at least on the bench. Aaron Cruden had a good game till he was replaced and maestro Carter will hopefully taken the mantle that fate hopefully decrees for him in good time. It’s great to see him back though. May the force be with him.