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Poor form of Mahela and Sanga surprises Marvan
Sri Lanka’s batting coach Marvan Atapattu was surprised by the form of heavyweights Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, who are yet to score a half-century in the three match Test series against England.
Both batsmen have had five innings so far in the series, but are yet to post a half-century and their form is a major reason for Sri Lanka’s poor show in the Test series. The tourists lost the first Test in Cardiff by an innings and 14 runs after being bowled out for 82 runs in the second innings and drew the second Test thanks largely to a swashbuckling 193 by captain Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Both batsmen failed in the first innings here as well managing scores of two and four.
"It comes as a bit of surprise," Atapattu said. "Sangakkara will be pretty unhappy seeing the replay of the shot he played. Everybody at home would like to see Sanga and Mahela getting runs," Atapattu added.
Sri Lanka were 81 for four on a rain curtailed day one and then reached 177 for nine on day two as rain allowed only 62 overs in the two days.
"We were a bit unlucky losing a couple of our top-order batsmen in those short sessions just before and just after lunch. Tharanga lost it half-way down the track; the debutant got a good ball and Mahela got a beauty".
Despite knowing that Sri Lanka’s tour of England starts in May, both Jayawardene and Sangakkara signed up with the IPL to a good portion of the season ruling out their presence in England from day one of the tour. Both players arrived in England late and missed a three day warm up game as well.
"When you’re in England the first thing that should happen is the adjustment," Atapattu said. "People coming from 50-over and then 20-over versions don’t really help. It takes a bit of time and you’re in a country where your technique is going to be tested. It doesn’t happen overnight and you need some time."
"This is why players need to get to a place like England, play a few practice games, get runs and get into Test level - because that’s where you get the best of the bowlers."
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