The Sri Lankans made a disastrous start to their tour of Australia by losing to Australia 'A' by eight wickets in their first of three practice game at the WACA ground, yesterday.
The game ended in a no contest with Sri Lanka all out for 89 in just 25.1 overs and the home team knocking off the runs in just 18 overs.
The Sri Lankans were not expected to entertain. What they had to do in this game was to use it as a practice and accustom themselves to the more gruelling games ahead. But they lacked imagination in everything they did and it was a big disappointment to the organisers and the large turn out of spectators.
True it was not the real thing. But yet the Sri Lankans who are the world champions should not have allowed the Aussie 'A' bowlers Nicholson, and Lee to toy with them.
The wicket as usual carried a lot of pace and bounce and other than for Romesh Kaluwitharne and Arjuna Ranatunga none of the other batsmen could come to terms with the pace and the bounce.
Sanath Jayasuriya started the rot after the Lankans were put into to bat. He nicked a delivery to keeper Campbell and thereafter what one saw was batsmen coming and going in quick succession. Jayasuriya has still not learnt to play straight, often going for his favourite cut shot.
Avishaka Gunewardena played on to Adam Dale. Marvan Atapattu ran himself out, Roshan Mahanama was LBW as usual, Hashan Tillekeratne went fishing and w as caught behind, Upul Chandana lofted to mid off and the three placemen Pramodaya Wickremasinghe, Nuwan Zoysa and Ruchira Perera all went for ducks. They all had their stumps knocked back.
Kaluwitharane played well for his 21 before he pulled too early and was caught at mid wicket. Ranatunga played carefully and was unbeaten on 21 in 43 deliveries.
Mathew Nicholson fresh after making his debut for Australia against English in the fourth Test which the Australians lost to England, extracted a lot of pace and so did Lee. Nicholson had 2 for 22 in 7 and Lee had the best figures of 4 for 11 in 7 overs.
When Australia 'A' batted, they knocked off the runs with no difficulty whatsoever. Greg Blewett the in form batsman in Australia with 34 and Damien Martyn with 24, both unbeaten, waited till victory was achieved.
The Sri Lankans were also very slack on the field.
Incidentally Daryl Foster, who coached Western Australia for 17 years and English country Kent for 6 years and who was also Aravinda de Silva's coach at Kent has been signed on by the Lankans as a consultant. He will plan strategy for the Lankans.
Foster was also one of who worked on Muthiah Muralitharan when he was under a cloud and helped to clear him.
The game which began at 1.45 Perth time ended at 5.26 and the organisers urged the teams to play another practice game of 25 overs each purely for the benefit of the spectators.
Although the first game was to be played under lights, it was not so s the game finished very early.
The Sri Lankans play Australia 'A' in Adelaide in the next game on Wednesday.