Dumb Cricket

Rex Clementine in Dallas

There have been many surprises this World Cup. Sri Lanka are facing elimination without progressing to the second round, but far worse is the situation of some of the pre-tournament favourites such as Pakistan, who lost to USA and New Zealand, who were embarrassed by Afghanistan.

Sri Lankan fans on Friday were stunned to silence as the batters committed hara-kiri. From 100 for three with six overs remaining, even if they had scored run a ball, they would have got to the 140 mark which would have taken them over the line.

Pity that experienced batters failed to read conditions. Worse, they didn’t learn after the South African embarrassment, where Sri Lanka were bowled out for their lowest total ever.

America like big things. Their cars are big, their houses are enormous and even their food portions are gigantic. The same goes with their grounds. These are massive playing fields. But the pitches are two paced and the outfield is slow. There aren’t going to be any high scoring games here. It’s going to be a slow grind.

Yet, so many Sri Lankan batters perished playing big shots. When field restrictions are on, that’s fine. But trying to do the same after the first six overs is suicidal. Big hitting is not the cup of tea for say someone like Charith Asalanka. Yet, he got out trying to be Vivian Richards in both games. In New York, he took on of all people Anrich Nortje. In Dallas he not only tried to hit against spin but against wind too. And you thought Asalanka is a smart cricketer than that. Milking the bowling would have been the order of the day.

Bangladesh ran a few threes. They ran several twos. Sri Lanka were content with singles. It’s not a question of lack of fitness. It’s a case of lack of cricket awareness. Gone are the days of Davenlle Fredrick Whatmore when he used to teach that there was a run for the throw when the ball went deep. His mantra was that you had to put pressure on the fielder.

Qualification now for Sri Lanka is not in their hands. They’ve got to expect that Bangladesh lose two more games, South Africa win all and they beat Netherlands and Nepal with a good net run rate. It could well happen. But there’s no point in playing cricket like that.

It’s been a sorry campaign. The scheduling, yes, it has been tough. But as professionals you are expected to rise to these demands.

T-20 World Cups are cutthroat tournaments. Margin for error is zero. Sri Lanka have learned a bitter lesson.