Sri Lanka bowling coach stresses on execution

KOLKATA: Sri Lanka bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake revealed that his team has prepared elaborate strategies for the upcoming three-test series against India but said it would be all about executing those plans on the field.

“We have done all that we could have to counter attack. Whatever we would expect in the Test series. I hope our strategies will work,” Ratnayake told reporters after Sri Lanka drew the two-day tour game against the Board President’s XI here.

“We can only plan but it’s about executing them on the field. It’s a huge challenge. It’s not only skipper Virat Kohli but we have come with specific plans for each Indian player. We always go with plans but can we execute the plans, at what stage and at what point. Hopefully that works to our benefit,” he added.

Sri Lanka suffered a 0-9 humiliation at home across the three formats earlier this year.

The Islanders will play their first Test in India since 2009-10 when they take the field on November 16 at the Eden Gardens here. They have a lopsided record in the country as they are yet to win from 16 appearances, having lost 10 and drawn six in their headto-head record spanning from 1982 to 2017.

“Even though the immediate past has not been good we are looking for a new leaf to start with,” Ratnayake said.

Terming it a “friendly rivalry” with India, the former pacer said: “It’s unfortunate we have not won a Test here.

It’s still a healthy rivalry. We have gained a lot from India, we are thankful for that. It would be interesting to win a Test here. We are taking it as a challenge.”

The 53-year-old said rainy condition in Sri Lanka had hampered their preparation.

“We are very privilege to have a match like this. We have new players but they have been in the circuit for a while. India is new for them as we are touring for a Test series after eight years.”

Sri Lanka’s reply to India’s chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav is Lakshan Sandakan and the coach said: “They are quite similar, having learnt from Brad Hogg. But I would still say they are similarly different.

“Also, Sandakan needs to work on his control, needs to improve on a little bit. It’s a confidence thing. Once he gets the confidence he will be fine.”

Ratnayake, however, is unsure whether the Lankans would pick Sandakan for the first Test.

“It depends whether we will play him or not. We will decide to have that extra spinner just a day before the match. Eden has been a good track any way in the past. It seamed in the past. We will see it tomorrow and hope to know what’s on offer,” he said.

Angelo Mathews will be back in action after recovering from a calf injury, which forced him out of the Pakistan tour last month, and Ratnayake said he would be used as a batsman.

“Angelo comes in as a batsman. We have Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva and Roshan Silva to fill in the allrounder’s role. He has not bowled in a Test for a while. I don’t think he will bowl. We take him as a white ball bowler we will be looking him to bowl in only ODIS.”

Ratnayake said his bowlers have worked on the reverse swing with the SG ball.

“Reverse swing is one of the things which we have worked on. It’s got the feel of the Duke ball, it’s different and we are getting used to that.” KOLKATA: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today advised the under-fire World Cup winning skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to approach the Twenty20 Internationals “differently”.

A few former India cricketers, including Ajit Agarkar and VVS Laxman, recently raised questions about Dhoni’s T20 future, creating a storm in the country’s cricketing circles.

“His record in T20I is not that good compared to ODIS.

Hope Kohli and team management will speak to him separately.

He has immense ability. If he approaches T20IS differently, then he will be successful,” said Ganguly.

Chasing 197 in second T20 versus New Zealand in Rajkot, India were struggling at 97 for four when Dhoni joined skipper Virat Kohli and found it difficult to get it going. Eventually India lost the match.

Ganguly however feels Dhoni has a lot of cricket left in him, especially in the One-dayers.

“Definitely not for Onedayers. I think he should keep playing One-day cricket, but he has to play differently in T20IS. He has to play T20IS freely. It depends on the selectors and how they would like to play him,” Ganguly said here on the sidelines of a TV shoot.

Ganguly expressed surprise at India opting to rest allrounder Hardik Pandya for the upcoming Test series.

“I’m surprised. I don’t know if he’s injured. He has played only three Tests... This is the age to play. I don’t know the exact reason. Hope he’s fit. India won’t play with three spinners, definitely not at the Eden Gardens as the pitch here is different. They will play with two spinners and now since they don’t have Hardik Pandya they may have a different combination for the all- rounders slot.”

Ganguly hoped Sri Lanka would give India fight after their confidence-boosting 2-0 win over Pakistan in the Test series last month.

“Of course India are the favourites. They are a much better side than Sri Lanka. Recently they won in Sri Lanka across all formats. I hope it won’t be a one-sided series. The recent (limited overs) series against New Zealand was competitive. Hope Sri Lanka will play well,” he said. HI names 33 players for junior men’s coaching camp