" We had a really good match, it was just some little moments that we could've done much", says New Zealand mind coach Gary Stead
You win the shove, you bat. When it comes to playing a Examine in Galle, that is not so much as received knowledge as it as an inscribed in marble tenth commandment. This may appear to be a strategy to get the best of the bat circumstances, but in reality, it's more about not wanting to get the worst.
Sri Lanka won the toss and evidently batted in the first Test, but despite the notable change on day one being a raging smith from the beginning, they still managed to run up 305 in the first pitches, even accounting for losing their final four wickets for only 24 runs.
And after that, it was in truth New Zealand's batters that got to employ the most flour welcoming of conditions across the Test- on moment two, when the change had slowed along and Sri Lanka's spinners struggled for control. But their wickets, also, was hampered by a soon crumble, going from a very powerful 269 for 5 to 340 all out.
However, as the Test progressed, especially on the fourth and fifth days, bowling became the game's signature sport, with 14 innings falling on moment four and two innings falling within 15 minutes at evening five.
" The pitch is change very fast and we saw that", New Zealand mind coach Gary Stead noted on the day of the following Test. " From being fairly great off the right areas, to finally spinning, quite a bit on that third day. The conditions may change quite quickly.
" So I think every work you get in the first pitches is very important. And making sure you can publish a because huge a full as possible, as that means it's only less runs you have to score in the next innings."
Sri Lanka batting coach Thilina Kandamby shared Stead's sentiment, which included the importance of setting the tone early, whether using the bat or the ball.
" Setting the tone is key in Test cricket, even with the ball. In Manchester also, if you remember, we had a really bad day starting with the bowling. Then we really recovered. That's the positive part of it, whether it comes to bowling or batting our recovery is really good. But setting the tone is really important, and all the players know that."
Both teams are also acutely aware of the areas in which they need to improve, primarily in pressing home hard-fought advantages. With five wickets in hand, 50 runs adrift of Sri Lanka's first innings total, and a set pair of Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips at the crease at the start of day three, New Zealand might have been eyeing a hefty first-innings lead- particularly taking into account the confidence with which they had approached their batting the previous day.
As it turned out, they would lose their remaining five wickets for 86 runs on the third morning, and in the process relinquish the grip they had on the game. With 63 runs the final margin of defeat it's pivotal passages such as these, that Stead knows proved the difference in the end.
" I actually believe our test match was really good, with very evenly contested matches," he continued. I thought that it was just some small moments that we could have done better, "he explained". In those first innings, and given the position in which we were playing, we probably should have scored more runs.
" And then the second session, I think it was of the third day, where we did n't take a wicket. ]Dinesh ] Chandimal and]Dimuth ] Karunaratne batted very well, but we maybe were just a little bit slow to adjust and adapt to that situation".
Kandamby's side and his own issues were similar. Before a century from Kamindu Mendis and a Kusal Mendis fifty revived their innings, Sri Lanka lost five of their top six batters ( including Angelo Mathews, who retired hurt ). In the second innings, having got to 153 for the loss of just one wicket, Sri Lanka stumbled to 178 for 4. And then again went from 286 for 6 to 309 all out.
" Mindset will be the same]going into the game], but we have discussed where we went wrong, especially in the batting", revealed Kandamby. We experienced a collapse in the third or fourth day, which had already occurred a few days earlier. The senior players need to take the responsibility because they have played a lot of cricket in Galle. The wicket was a necessity for spinners, we all knew.
" When we see the stats, I think they swept more than us, which is a concern. You ca n't always trust the defense on a wicket like this, despite the fact that we also made some good sweep shots. So you're better always to be in a positive mindset to score runs."
The tail's contribution to Sri Lanka has raised another point of concern. In terms of batting contributions from those batting at 9, 10 and 11, Sri Lanka know they could be doing better. Across both innings they contributed a total of 13 runs, while Ramesh Mendis batting at eight offered not much more.
In addition to Lahiru Kumara, Sri Lanka brought in Milan Rathnayake after his impressive debut with the bat in England, but according to Kandamby, this was something they were actively looking to improve.
" Yes we're looking for runs from them]the tail], but more than that it's about supporting the batter at the other end. We only begin to consider how to put pressure on the bowlers and score some runs after the recognized batter leaves. So honestly if they can get about 30-40 runs, that would be good. Because if you look at it compared the rest of the Test playing nations, our batters at 9, 10, 11, are quite low down.
" Whenever we have practice, batting is compulsory for them. And when we're not playing in a series, they will work the coaches at the HPC ( high performance centre ) to work on their technical errors".
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