Defeat doesn't bother the Lankans

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting

The Sri Lankan cricketers did not seem to be dejected after their defeat against Queensland when they came to the dinner dance, but it sure must be hurting inside.

When the Lankans fronted up to the Queensland 'Bulls' in a three-day warm up game, they were expected to make use of this exercise to get things right, what with the First of Two Tests against Australia only a few days away.

What was surprising in this game is that it was the bowlers who had to not only do the bowling, but the batting as well.

Batting first on a wicket that had a fair amount of grass on it, the Lankan frontline batsmen fell without offering any resistance.

While they negotiated left arm paceman Mitchell Johnson who they will definitely have to face in the Test, quite comfortably, they were clueless against the lively pace, bounce and movement of Ashley Noffke, who is unlucky not to be in the Australian squad and surrendered like lambs.

In the first innings the Lankans lost their first six batsmen for 81 and in the second essay 6 for 82. That collapse was unacceptable and with such sorry batting there was no way that the Sri Lankans could have expected to be in the picture.

If the Lankan top men are unable to cope with Noffke, it shudders to think how they will counter the express pace of Brett Lee inspired by Johnson, Stuart Clarke and the possible inclusion of Ben Hilfenaus another pace ace, at the lively Gabba pitch.

If the frontline batsmen enact the same play in the Test, like the game against Queensland which ended in only three days, it might not go the full distance and who knows might end well inside four days.

While the batsmen, other than for wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardena who showed his class with the bat and behind the wickets as well, grabbing some amazing catches, gets marks, the others receive minus marks.

Full marks to the bowlers who turned batsmen too to take this game to the end of the third when at one time it looked as though the Lankans would be in the hotel for lunch.

Had it not been for the majestic knock of 84 by Chaminda Vaas who fearlessly stood up to both, pace and spin and clouted the bowlers all over the field and over it as well, the Lankans would have suffered a morale denting defeat.

Chaminda Vaas, Ferveez Mahroof and Lasith Malinga all bowled well. Mahroof with this excellent effort should come into the frame when the selectors-Trevor Bayliss, Mahela Jayawardena and Ranjith Madurasinghe sit to pick the Test eleven.

One hopes that the double failures of the frontliners are just hiccups and that they will come good in the Test and make it competitive.

The success of Vaas, Mahroof and Malinga is sure to have a worrying affect on the Aussie batsmen.

The Aussie Test squad gathered in Brisbane yesterday and had a net at the Gabba in the morning.

Brisbane, Queensland, Monday