This year has been a rollercoaster for Sri Lankan cricket — marked by dizzying highs and sobering lows. The team has made remarkable strides across all three formats, stringing together a series of memorable achievements. Beating India in an ODI series after a 27-year drought, claiming a Test win in England after a decade, and securing a Test series victory against New Zealand after 14 long years are just a few feathers in their cap. To top it off, Sri Lanka have also punched above their weight, toppling higher-ranked teams in limited-overs cricket.
At the heart of this revival is none other than Sanath Jayasuriya who agreed to sit down for an interview with Telecom Asia Sport. The former maestro has infused the team with a fresh culture by backing young talents to shine.
However, their campaign in South Africa has been a bitter pill to swallow. Arriving with a golden opportunity to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final, Sri Lanka stumbled, losing both Tests and surrendering their fate to the hands of others.
It has been a good turnaround, yes, but this series was a disappointment. We had our moments, but couldn’t stay in the game long enough to challenge South Africa. We’ll address the grey areas when we return home.
A glaring shortcoming in the series was the absence of a single Sri Lankan century. The batsmen seemed lost in the wilderness, unable to grind it out against South Africa’s quicks.
Only five Sri Lankans have scored Test hundreds in South Africa — this isn’t an easy place to bat. You need patience and the ability to dig in. Back home, you might get away with a few flashy shots, but here, it’s all about grit. Dinesh Chandimal and Pathum Nissanka had chances, but both threw their wickets away.
Adding insult to injury was Sri Lanka’s inability to shut down opposition tailenders. In England, Gus Atkinson bludgeoned a hundred at Lord’s from No. 8. In South Africa, the pattern repeated, with the Proteas’ lower order turning the tables.
We should have restricted them to 300 in the second innings, but we let the tail wag. It’s a recurring problem. Either we get our tactics wrong, or we relax after removing the top order. We were aware of it but couldn’t fix it.
In stark contrast, Sri Lanka’s own tail resembled a damp squib. Their numbers 8 to 11 all boast single-digit Test averages — a statistic that speaks volumes.
We’ve given them enough time in the nets, but miracles don’t happen overnight. We considered bringing in Milan Ratnayake to bolster the batting at No. 8, but prioritised variety in the bowling. It’s something we need to address seriously.
Veterans Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne had a series to forget. Mathews failed to cross fifty in four innings, while Karunaratne scraped together just 27 runs. Their underwhelming performances have raised questions about their futures.
We’ve had frank discussions with all the seniors. I know they put in the effort, but by their own admission, it wasn’t up to scratch. If they’d stepped up, this could have been a different story.
Kamindu Mendis, the rising star who burst onto the scene by equaling Sir Don Bradman’s record as the third-fastest to 1,000 Test runs, also endured a lean series. Despite not managing a fifty, Jayasuriya remains upbeat about his potential.
I’m not worried about Kamindu. That’s Test cricket — you’ll hit rough patches. The South Africans had done their homework on him and gave him plenty of chirp, but it’s all part of the learning curve. He’ll bounce back stronger.
Amid the gloom, Lahiru Kumara’s fiery bowling was a silver lining. Often sidelined by injuries, the paceman has been a revelation this year, claiming 30 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 23 — well below his career average of 35.
Lahiru has been phenomenal. He’s always had pace, but this year he’s added consistency to his game. He made life difficult for every South African batter. His accuracy has been the key.
Kumara’s venom left a trail of casualties, with Wiaan Mulder suffering a fractured finger and Ryan Rickelton nursing a bruised hand. Kagiso Rabada required a concussion test after taking a blow to the helmet.
With the South African tour in the rearview mirror, Sri Lanka now turn their attention to a white-ball series in New Zealand. Jayasuriya, never one to rest on his laurels, hinted at new strategies for the upcoming challenge.
We’ve got a different group for limited-overs cricket, and this series is vital. Whoever wins will climb to number five in the ODI rankings. We’ve done well in white-ball cricket recently and have a few tricks up our sleeve. It’s going to be an exciting contest.
As Sri Lanka look to pick up the pieces, Jayasuriya remains steadfast in his belief that this team can rise from the ashes. After all, cricket, like life, is a game of glorious uncertainties — and Sri Lanka is no stranger to scripting fairy tales.
