Sports FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017 Lanka transition grinds to halt at India roadblock COLOMBO: Two years have passed otherwise completely outclassed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to explain why you know how many players have since Sri Lanka bid farewell to the last the tourists in one of the most lop- the side performed so poorly, while been injured in the last 14 months?” of their batting greats yet the South sided series of recent times. “Since I’ve former captain Aravinda de Silva Asela Gunaratne missed a majority Asian side appears no nearer to ending been in this team, this is the worst believes the board lacks vision. of the series after fracturing his hand what has been a difficult period of series loss I’ve experienced,” test skip- “We are going through a rebuilding on the first day of the opening test and transition. When the brilliant Kumar per Dinesh Chandimal said after his process but you can’t be saying that paceman Nuwan Pradeep was side- Sangakkara followed the equally prolif- team lost three matches in 11 days forever,” de Silva, hero of Sri Lanka’s lined after picking up a hamstring ic Mahela Jayawardene into retirement against their neighbours. 1996 World Cup triumph, told the injury in the second test. Rangana in 2015, even the most optimistic Sri The debacle followed their first ever Hindu newspaper last week. “Short- Herath, who has helped Sri Lanka over- Lankan fans acknowledged the void one-day series loss to Zimbabwe in term process is good for a few months, come the loss of retired spin great they left was simply too big to be filled July, which prompted a frustrated one or two series, but not for the Muttiah Muralitharan, missed the final overnight. Angelo Mathews to relinquish the cap- future. “So we need to seriously look at test with a stiff back. What they probably did not antici- taincy of both the test and one-day the team in the long-term and not Sri Lanka were twice subjected to pate was that two years down the line, sides. Mathews appeared to have keep chopping and changing,” said de being made to follow-on and a lack of the team would still be hopelessly in sparked a revival last year when they Silva, who quit as head of the board’s balance was evident as they failed to the throes of a seemingly interminable whitewashed Australia but the 3-0 cricket committee in May. stretch any of the three tests to a full era of regeneration. Once admired, home win proved little more than a five days. Jayasuriya sought to explain even envied, for their steady supply of false dawn. String of Injuries the lack of competitiveness. “For freak bowlers with bizarre actions and Sri Lanka were subsequently His former team mate and chief instance, Mathews is not bowling after a near-invincible record at home, Sri thrashed in both tests and one-dayers selector Sanath Jayasuriya pointed to a his hamstring injury,” the former cap- Lanka’s recent humiliating 3-0 white- in South Africa, lost a home test string of injuries as one reason for the tain said of the all-rounder. “He used to wash at the hands of India made for a against Bangladesh and then failed to side’s struggles and dismissed allega- bowl at least 15 overs in a test innings particularly painful watch. progress beyond the group stage at tions of leading a trigger-happy panel. earlier but now plays purely as a bats- Only Kusal Mendis and Dimuth this year’s Champions Trophy. The “Why should we change a squad of man. So it’s very difficult to get the Karunaratne offered fleeting glimpses India whitewash has led the country’s players if they are performing well and right balance when your key all- of batting prowess but Sri Lanka were sports ministry to call for a report from are injury free?” he told reporters. “Do rounder is not bowling.” —Reuters PREVIEW Wembley factor hanging All Blacks eye rebound against Wallabies over Spurs’ title hopes SYDNEY: The All Blacks will be out to reassert their domi- TOTTENHAM: The season hadn’t even nance as the wounded Wallabies look to the return of Kurtley finished when diggers and cranes Beale to trigger an upset in Saturday’s Rugby Championship arrived at White Hart Lane in the middle opener in Sydney. The world champions have been reviewing of May, beginning the long job of what went wrong in their unexpected series draw with the demolishing a stadium that Tottenham British and Irish Lions at home last month and are hell-bent on had turned into a Premier League rebounding against the Australians in Sydney. The Lions fortress. It will be another year before defied the odds to down the All Blacks 24-21 in Wellington to the team returns to the site of its famous take their series to a decider only for the final Auckland match old ground to take up residence in a to end in a 15-15 stalemate. new 61,000-seat arena, built with the That inability to put away the Lions raised doubts whether aim of giving the club a better chance of the All Blacks’ era of dominance was on the wane after they competing with Europe’s elite. But can were shocked by Ireland 40-29 in Chicago last November. The they even remain in England’s elite in All Blacks have dominated the Wallabies - losing only three of the intervening 12 months? their last 29 trans-Tasman encounters - and are expected to For this season, Tottenham will play do it again as Australian rugby looks to emerge from a woeful its “home” games in the Premier League season. Sonny Bill Williams returns for the New Zealanders and in European competition at after serving his four-match suspension, while Jerome Kaino Wembley Stadium, English soccer’s has been dropped for the Olympic stadium Test. 90,000-capacity national stadium locat- In a revamped line-up with six changes from the last Test ed about 19 km across north London. side against the Lions, only halves Beauden Barrett and Aaron Chelsea, the defending league champi- on, is the first visitor on Sunday. To say Smith remain from the starting backline, while Damian LONDON: This Aug 9, 2017 photo shows the Wembley Stadium. — AP Tottenham has a poor record at McKenzie gets his chance at fullback. Double World Cup winner title) again, but the other thing is try to change your mindset and be ready, Wembley would be an understatement. make Wembley our home,” Tottenham when you are so comfortable at White Williams has not played for seven weeks since being suspended In 10 matches since reopening in manager Mauricio Pochettino said days Hart Lane,” Pochettino said at the end of for a dangerous shoulder charge and a straight red card in the 2007, Tottenham has lost six times and before the start of the season. “That’s a last season. Playing regularly at second Test against the Lions. “We reviewed that (Lions) series won only twice. Last season, the team comprehensively, and the management have done a lot on it as big challenge for us - similar to winning Wembley should help Tottenham’s played its Champions League games at cause, but it is unlikely to feel like home. well,” All Blacks skipper Kieran Read said. “Hopefully, it will Wembley and lost to both Monaco and a title. To make Wembley home and show in this championship what we’ve learned.” change the fans’ perception and feel, in The team will undoubtedly be at a dis- Bayer Leverkusen in the group stage, advantage compared to its title rivals. “It contributing to an early exit from the the end, that Wembley can help us to be Pressure on Cheika better and achieve our dream.” is up to us,” Tottenham captain Hugo competition. Spurs then played Chelsea Lloris said. “We are actors and have to At stake against the Wallabies are not only points in the in the FA Cup semifinals and lost 4-2. Sunday’s match will be a test case to Rugby Championship, which also includes South Africa and see whether the temporary tenants can put intensity into our performances, in Contrast that with Tottenham’s record our running and in our movement. We Argentina, but also the Bledisloe Cup, the symbol of trans- adjust their style. Tottenham’s disap- at White Hart Lane last season: Played have to create something at Wembley.” Tasman rugby supremacy. It has been firmly in New Zealand 23, won 21, drawn two. pointing record could be because Wembley (105x69 m) has a bigger play- There are historical parallels to Led by players like Harry Kane, Dele hands since 2003 and over the past 14 years the All Blacks and ing surface than the cramped White Tottenham’s travails at Wembley, and Wallabies have played each other 42 times with New Zealand Alli and Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham Hart Lane (100x67 m), which was among they are found close to home. North winning 33, drawing two and losing seven. “This Test will give has its best team in a generation - it fin- the smallest in the Premier League. London rival Arsenal played its us a great opportunity to gauge where we are at when comes ished third and second in the Premier Under Pochettino, Tottenham has a dis- Champions League games at the old to things we have been working on since the Lions tour,” League the last two seasons - and has tinct pressing game, with the team Wembley for two seasons (1998-2000) coach Steve Hansen said.