SL spinners on learning curve
Coach Bayliss cautions against judging his spinners on SSC show
The second Test offered a sneak peek into life for Sri Lanka in the post-Murali era, though it will be harsh to judge debutant Suraj Randiv and Ajantha Mendis on the back of their performances on a most placid strip at the SSC grounds.
It is perhaps the lot of the two off-spinners that they will forever be judged against the demanding benchmark set by the now-retired Muttiah Muralitharan. The 800-wicket man can never be replaced, but Randiv and Mendis showed enough signs during long stints against India’s determined batsmen that in time to come, they will carve a niche for themselves.
Mendis has fallen some way from the heady days of 2008 when, on debut, he bamboozled India with 26 wickets in three Tests. His confidence having taken a beating, he has been only sporadically a part of the Lankan scheme of things, though he will have a more permanent role to play now in Muralitharan’s absence. Randiv was a slightly surprisingly and very brave choice from Sri Lanka’s selectors, who backed his attacking instincts and his ability to extract bounce ahead of Rangana Herath’s persevering but limited left-arm spin.
Randiv didn’t let them down, figures of two for 222 from 73 overs not telling the entire tale. Mendis had better numbers – four for 172 from 63 overs, but neither man threatened to do serious damage except for a brief spell on the third morning on a track that would, according to coach Trevor Bayliss, have tested Murali himself.
“Obviously, nobody is going to come overnight and get 800 wickets,” Sachin Tendulkar said in defence of Sri Lanka’s young spinners. “Even for Murali to become what he did, it took him 18 years of hard work. And Murali himself will admit that the learning process never stops. He has worked hard; other guys playing for Sri Lanka will have to do that. It’s tough to achieve what Murali has achieved, and if we are always going to compare the bowlers to Murali, it’s a wrong comparison.
“You have got to respect the individual for what he has contributed to Sri Lankan cricket, and also respect the other individuals who have their own identity.
“They need not bowl like Murali because they have all their own styles, their own ways of taking wickets. Who knows, in time to come, one of these guys might end up getting 400-500 wickets. That’s when we will start appreciating them. Obviously, they have to start somewhere; the potential and talent is there.”
Bayliss cautioned against judging Randiv and Mendis harshly because of what transpired at the SSC. “It’s a bit hard to judge the bowlers from a wicket point of view,” the Australian said. “Even the great Murali has struggled to take wickets here. Sri Lanka won’t take as many wickets in a hurry like they have done in the past. We’ve got two young bowlers who got to bowl extremely well, with two and four wickets, which is a good performance when it comes to spinners in the match.”
