We bowled short, says coach Photas

Sri Lanka coach Nic Photas felt his bowlers were a bit short on the opening day’s SCC wicket where India ended the first day of the second Test at a dominant 344 for three.

“We were probably a fraction short on that wicket,” he assessed after day’s play. “The wicket is very slow and once the ball becomes soft you don’t have many weapons as compared to harder ball. We were a bit short. We don’t have to watch video and say that. We know Pujara scores on the leg-side.

“That’s what he has done all through his career and we were a little bit guilty in not getting the ball into other areas instead of bowling to his strengths. But as I said that’s Test match cricket and that’s why he is a quality cricketer,” he explained.

The South African, however, wasn’t too disappointed with his bowling unit. “I am never disappointed in my team. This is a young team and we take lot of positives. We are a young team and we are playing the number one ranked team in the world. It’s how you execute and keep coming back in the next few months and next few years and that’s what is going to make this team even better.”

Sri Lanka went in with three specialist spinners and just one pacer in Nuwan Pradeep who trudged out after tightness in his muscle towards the end of day’s play. The coach said he was not sure of his return to action on the second day.

“I am always confident about whatever team we get,” he said when asked if he was comfortable with just one paceman in the side. “We discuss as a group and then we discuss with the manager, then the selectors. There’s a huge amount of discussion going on. All I would say is that all the options we take are positive options. The decisions we make, we try and be positive,” he offered.