Published: Dec 24, 2014, 07:10 AM (IST)
Edited: Dec 24, 2014, 07:51 AM (IST)
Sri Lanka is gearing up for the upcoming two-Test series in New Zealand. Their bowling attack is faced with a challenge of a strong New Zealand Test batting line-up — one that is less likely to collapse, one that has won New Zealand Tests even overseas. Does the Sri Lankan bowling attack possess the venom to overcome this rejuvenated New Zealand batting line up in their backyard, Rishad D’souza explores.
The last time Sri Lanka toured New Zealand they managed a satisfactory 1-1 series result. A lot has changed ever since. The last series, after all, had taken place in 2006 when New Zealand batting boasted of names like Nathan Astle and Jacob Oram under the astute leadership of Stephen Fleming.
Having said that, it was an inconsistent side. The Sri Lankan attack was well equipped to exploit this inconsistency. The likes of Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan were good enough to demolish the strongest of batting line ups.
The problem for Sri Lanka is that their seamers have some very ordinary numbers to their names. Dhammika Prasad averages 48.36, Suranga Lakmal 48.83, Angelo Mathews 61.78 and Nuwan Pradeep a pathetic 72.78. Only Shaminda Eranga, with 34.24, looks remotely close to threatening. However, only someone very ignorant and foolish would claim that the Sri Lankan attack lacks potential. It is this very attack that recently won Sri Lanka their first ever Test series in England.
Rangana Herath has attained near-legendary status and some would argue that he is the best left-spinner in contemporary cricket. However, Sri Lanka will have to bear in mind that it is rare that New Zealand tracks offer assistance to spinners; Herath may be blunted as a result.
In the England series Eranga, Matthews, Prasad and Herath were all among the wickets. Prasad took a crucial five-wicket haul at Lord’s Test that eventually resulted in a historic series win for Sri Lanka on English soil.
This means that Sri Lankan seamers will have to step up and take the onus upon themselves to pierce the formidable and confident New Zealand batting. It will be interesting to see if Mathews, along with his seamers, will be able to take the fight to New Zealand to win a Test.
Whether they have it in them to pull this off is uncertain. What is certain is that if they do, they will put themselves on the road to greatness.
(Rishad D’Souza, a reporter with CricketCountry, gave up hopes of playing Test cricket after a poor gully-cricket career. He now reports on the sport. You can follow @RishadDsouza on Twitter)
