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Sri Lanka's under-19 cricketers lagged behind in strength and speed which put them behind other countries of their age group, was the opinion expressed by coach Carlton Bernadus after the team had completed a short tour of India.

Resultwise, the tour was not a good one for the Sri Lankan boys who drew the one-off four-day Test and lost the four-match one-day series 4-0 to India. However, according to Bernadus, the tour proved to be an ideal eye-opener to where Sri Lanka's cricket future lay.

``The talent and skill is there. But unless we concentrate on improving in the areas of strength and speed, we will not have the ability to sustain ourselves and make ourselves more competitive,'' said Bernadus on his return home.

A comparison of the two sides revealed the Indian counteparts were much fitter and stronger and were able to last over three days of cricket. They play most of their school zonal matches over three days and many of them had represented the states in the Ranji trophy tournament.

``Sri Lanka were outplayed not because they lacked in talent or skill, but for lack of strength and speed,'' said Bernadus.

Some of the salient points to emerge out of the tour were that the bowlers didn't know what a stock ball was and they didn't bowl to one side of the wicket or to a particular field set for them.

The batsmen lacked the patience to play the waiting game. No sooner they had reached 20 or 30 runs they tended to hit out. ``The batting let us down in the one-day matches,'' said Bernadus.

If there was a plus point, it was the fielding. ``The fielders returned with bruised shins and skins because they threw themselves all over the field to stop the ball,'' said Bernadus.

He strongly urged the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) to conduct an under 19 tournament which would bring the talented players into the open, and having identified the future prospects, concentrate on improving their skills and strengths.

``If we are to be a competitive side when we host the under 19 World Cup next year, we should get started right now,'' said Bernadus.

Apart from these shortcomings, other minor incidents that affected the tour were the illness to fast bowler Sujeeva Silva, who was unable to play in the 'Test' after the first day, and had to be replaced by Sathpath Kelum, and the injuries to skipper Upekha Fernando (fractured toe) and leg-spinner Malinga Bandara (damaged finger) in the third one-day international.

Bernadus said that Fernando would be out for at least three weeks. He was full of praise for his Indian counterpart Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who made the unique gesture of allowing a team to replace a player after the side had been declared. This happened in the case of Sujeeva Silva, who could not continue in the match after taking ill at the end of the first day.

Bernadus rated the Indian fielding as 'fantastic' and said the tour gave a clear insight to how India played their cricket.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Prasanna Jayawardene, he said ``showed a lot of maturity and batted beautifully'' and Duminda Perera, he rated ``as a very good one-day all-rounder''. Batsman Chamara Silva and fast bowlers Prabath Nishantha and Kelum, he said had the potential to develop into good cricketers.