While Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are seen as the major threats during a Test in India, newly-appointed Sri Lanka batting coach Thilan Samaraweera has cautioned the players to be aware of India’s formidable pace attack during the upcoming three-Test series.
During the last home season, India’s pace attack consisting Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar had caused all sorts of problems for the opposition batsmen on unfriendly wickets. The pacers not only troubled the batsmen with the swing but also did not shy away from bouncing them out with the pace.
And Sri Lanka would have got a taste of India’s pace attack during the three-Test series a few months ago at home which Virat Kohli & Co. won comprehensively. On pitches which were favourable for spinners, Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami took 16 wickets between them.
“Everyone is worried about India’s spin, but do not forget about their pace. Their fast bowlers have done a fine job in recent times. They need to be given the equal amount of respect,” Samaraweera told Cricbuzz.
At the same time, the former Sri Lanka batsman admitted Ashwin and Jadeja would be the key for the hosts. The duo had a very productive outing in the last home season where they picked up more than 150 wickets together in only 13 Tests, helping India to a series wins over New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia.
The duo also was instrumental in India’s 3-0 win over the Islanders a few months ago, as they shared 30 wickets between them.
“Obviously Ashwin and Jadeja will be the key. Their world rankings suggest that. As for Ashwin, he has a lot of variations. With Jadeja, the problem is the pace with which he bowls. I am sure we will get good wickets. Playing Ashwin and Jadeja on the fourth or fifth day will be a tough task. You have to find out ways and start countering them,” Samaraweera said.
Samaraweera, who is gearing up for his first major coaching assignment, does not have very fond memories of India. During his career which spanned a little over a decade, the Islanders had visited India twice and had returned home empty-handed. Sri Lanka is yet to win a Test in India in 17 attempts, and Dinesh Chandimal & Co. will be desperate to break that duck.
Recalling the visits, he said:
“I remember my first tour to India in 2005. I went there thinking that I was a very good player of spin bowling. Then Anil Kumble was all over me. He exposed my deficiencies of playing spin badly.”
“You need to take 20 wickets. If you don’t take 20 wickets, you don’t have a chance. I remember the Ahmedabad Test match in 2009. We had them 32 for four in the first innings. Then Rahul Dravid made a superb 177. We bowled them out for 426 and still had a lead of over 300 runs. But in the second innings, we failed to take wickets, and the match was drawn,” he added.
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