Ford is hoping Sri Lanka can pull off a win in Sydney
After having been battered in the first and second Test by the Australians, Sri Lanka head coach Graham Ford has admitted that the national team were not completely prepared for how hard and fast the baggy greens were going to strike.
Ford attributed a majority of Sri Lanka’s failures to their poor preparation and the national team’s recent 1-1 draw against New Zealand.
“I was hoping that we would have a very good Test series against New Zealand which would be a fantastic way of preparing for the Australia series particularly as they have a useful seam outfit,” Ford said. “If we could pass the test against this seam bowling we would know we were in quite a good position to take on Australia. Unfortunately we didn’t really pass the test with flying colours although there were quite a few batsmen that showed some decent form.
“I was hoping for a lot better than that but there were signs that we were starting to find our feet against pace, but what we are really gaining out of it (we had a chat about it as well) was that we now realise that we are not quite ready for the Australians. Once we get there the work that we do is going to be very intense. We are going to have to practise outside our comfort zone so that we are ready for what they are going to throw at us.”
Ford also noted that ODI and Twenty20 cricket was to blame for the Sri Lankan batsmen constantly putting up poor performances.
“We just slipped off our Test match process when it comes to batting,” Ford added. “It is part of international cricket these days having to switch from one format to the other we just had such a lot of instant cricket that Test match batting has been a long way away from their minds. In a very short space of time they had to try and switch that on and they didn’t switch it on as well as we had hoped to.
“Quite a number of our batsmen, although we got a few Test match specialists, have played a huge amount of T20 and ODI cricket in recent times and the Test match process hasn’t really been in their minds.
“Even though we talk about it, the nervous energy takes over and suddenly the body reverts back to the one-day processes. Also this last Test having had long hours on the field, the mind sometimes plays a few tricks and you are not quite as mentally tough as you should be for Test match cricket. Hopefully we were able to learn from all of that and really start to gear ourselves for much bigger scores.”
Sri Lanka opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan struggled during the New Zealand series after sustaining a back injury, but has come back with a vengeance, scoring an outstanding century against the Australians in the first Test at Hobart.
“Dilshan had this injury and came back with not a lot of practice,” Ford said. “I am hoping that he is going to be back at his best. He knows the Australian conditions well, he knows the players and has such a great temperament. What I see from Dilshan is, the bigger the moment, the better he plays.”
Ford noted that Sri Lanka were going to sorely miss not having Kumar Sangakkara for the next couple of weeks and added that he was the anchor of the batting lineup.
“Sanga didn’t get a start which doesn’t happen too often,” Ford said. “Each time he misses out he is closer to a really big score. He got out in a freakish way in the second innings coming off the thigh pad and when he is playing well Sri Lanka tends to get big scores. You can build an innings around him.”
With the third Test set to begin on January 3, Ford hoped that the national team would bounce back from their poor performance during the first two Tests.
“The best of teams do have some bad outings and the boys in the dressing room were very open and honest in saying that they know they are capable of a much better performance than they put in in the second Test,” Ford added. “That’s important that they accept that they can be better and need to do better. They know they can do better which is a sign of confidence, if we can put that all in place once we get there.”
Sri Lanka have still yet to win a Test in Australia, but Ford believes that the team will be able to turn their fortunes around during the third Test at Sydney.
“The one thing that we have chatted a bit about it is winning a Test in Australia,” Ford said. “It’s an enormous challenge and it’s an exciting challenge. The focus of all the cricketing fans in the world is going to be on those Test matches, so it’s a huge opportunity. That will serve us as a lot of motivation as well.
“Traditionally Sydney is the one that the spinners have played a big part. With spin being one of our strengths that’s an opportunity. But our seam bowlers have worked very hard recently and are really trying to get their skills going. If there is a little bit of sideways movement on the surface at Hobart our seam bowlers could really have an impact on the game. History tells you that Sydney is the ground that we most likely would get a win.
“Coming off a loss to New Zealand at home where the seam bowlers caused problems it makes it look as if we are quite a long way away. Cricket is a funny game and if the boys are really up for the fight and they are able to tighten up a little bit in terms of a few aspects we know we have to work on, who knows what can be achieved.
“Australia are playing really good cricket, very dominant at the moment they have put up good performances in their home conditions. I hope our boys really get their teeth into it and make some history.”