World cricket needs a competitive Sri Lankan team

The Sri Lankans ran into rampant South African lineup that had all the aces right from the outset. It was a victory of such a magnitude that the question has to asked: can they recover during this tour, and what implications will it have on their World Cup campaign if they don't?

Smith and Dippenaar ensured a platform for the Kallis onslaught that will long be remembered for the awesome power and placement of the shots played. Quite simply it was as devastating an innings as any cricket watcher could experience.

Skipper Jayasuria was really the only man capable of pulling off something sensational-and he tried his level best. While he was firing, no one in the house moved. However, once Hall bowled him, the rate climbed dramatically and the rest of the lineup never looked the part.

Once again the issue of having no banker to bowl as a backup to the front-line bowlers was glaringly obvious. In these conditions it is a pre-requisite to success. A team of any substance will always exploit the hole.

As far as batting is concerned, Aravinda looks well past his prime and as great a player he was, some of the shots just weren't there anymore. His back foot play was always his strength away from home and it stood him apart from the rest. Attapattu does not attack of the back foot when the ball is straight at him and the South Africans peppered him. Because Jayawardene and Sangakkara can pull and hook, the will always be able to firstly rotate the strike and secondly, make bowlers change their length. They have to bat at three and four.

The tail at the moment is far too long with Chandana totally in the dark when it comes to playing short, fast bowling.

With the next match in just two days time, the momentum lies with the South Africans and to turn that around will be a miracle. Damage control could be a better option from now on. Remember the Sri Lankans go from South Africa to Australia and if the current trend continues, their World Cup race could possibly have ended before coming back to South Africa.

I really hope it works out in some way -- world cricket needs a competitive Sri Lankan team at the 2003 World Cup.