Thursday 15th December, 2011 Proteas ponder all pace attack Guarded Smith refuses to call current Sri Lankan Green top awaits attack weakest “I also know that in South African Sri Lankans at Centurion conditions, a REX CLEMENTINE but after Sangakkara accumulated seamer with reporting from Centurion over 500 runs in the recent series a limited against Pakistan, he regained that Struggling Sri Lanka will have no position. record can breathing space whatsoever in the Of the Sri Lankans, only Hashan turn into a first Test against South Africa that Tillakaratne has scored a Test hun- gets underway today as the hosts dred in South Africa. Incidentally, seamer with have left whole lot of grass on the that hundred was scored at pitch here at Centurion. There’s so Centurion in 2002. a very good much grass on the wicket that it’s Former captain Mahela record,” says difficult to differentiate the outfield Jayawardene requires 46 more runs from the pitch. If Sri Lankan sup- to become the ninth player in the his- Graeme porters think that the ploy is to tory and first Sri Lankan to score unsettle the tourists psychologically 10,000 Test runs. Smith and that the grass would come off Sri Lanka’s bowling attack looks before the game gets underway today, weak and will be spearheaded by Graeme Smith the fact that South African captain Dilhara Fernando, who has previous Graeme Smith was quite keen to experience of playing here. Left- Smith, who has played four armer Chanaka Welagedara, who REX CLEMENTINE keep the grass and the hosts may reporting from Centurion Tests and 18 ODIs against Sri even opt to go with an all pace attack bowled exceptionally well against Lanka, said perseverance was were hardly the news the under-fire Pakistan will share the new ball with the opposition’s biggest plus him. It doesn’t require knowl- Sri Lankans wanted. edge of rocket science to call point although their Sri Lanka have not won a Test Middle-order batsman Thilan resources remained limited. Samaraweera, a late addition to the the current Sri Lankan attack Match in South Africa and in fact the weakest in 20 years. “They are a team that I have gone on to lose six of the seven squad, will play at number five. always have respected. They If South Africa opt for the all-pace During Sri Lanka’s previous games they have played here. three tours to South Africa, in always find a way. They are a Currently, of course, the team has attack, Marchant de Lange will make very crafty team. We have his debut. 1998, 2000 and 2002, both gone through struggle since the Muttiah Muralitharan and played them a lot in Sri retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan Chaminda Vaas were key Lanka in recent times and in August last year having gone members of the touring party. they are a team that plays through 14 Test Matches without Currently the Sri Lankans well as a team. They have winning one. have just one bowler who has some players who had been The last time the South Africans taken over 100 Test wickets, there for a while and they are were in Sri Lanka in 2006, they lost but South African captain the key players for them and the Test series 2-0 and at SSC saw Graeme Smith refrained from how we play against them is Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar making comments on their going to be crucial in the Sangakkara piled up a World Record opposition’s attack. series,” Smith added. 624 runs partnership. After being Teams – The South African captain Sri Lanka (from): Responding to a question heavily beaten in that Test series, the from ‘The Island’ whether reminded his bowlers the South Africans were quick to leave Tillakaratne Dilshan (Captain), need not to get carried away Tharanga Paranavithana, Kumar this was the weakest Sri Colombo following a bomb attack at Lankan attack he had ever with the greenish nature of Colpetty which targeted the Pakistan Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, the wicket but to focus on Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo seen, Smith was guarded in High Commissioner. Assurance by his response. “I am not going doing the basics right. the then IGP Chandra Fernando and Mathews, Kaushal Silva (Wicket- “Whenever a sub-continent keeper), Rangana Herath, Chanaka to get dragged into saying Sports Minister Jeevan Kumartunga that,” Smith said yesterday. team comes to South Africa, that high security that is provided to Welagedara, Dilhara Fernando, the talk is on the greenish Thisara Perera and Ajantha Mendis. “There’s a lot of hype around Heads of States from visiting coun- the series on that. But it’s nature of the wicket. tries will be given to the South South Africa (from): Whenever we go to the sub- Graeme Smith (Captain), A.B. de very crucial for us to play Sri African cricket team, the Proteas Many have seen that the sub-plot in the series will be the contest continent all the talk is on Villiers, Hashim Amla, Mark Lanka as well as we can.” were hell bent on returning home between world’s number one ranked batsman Kumar Sangakkara and spin. That’s the reality the Sri Boucher (Wicket-keeper), Marchant “I have played enough without playing the ODIs. number one ranked bowler Dale Steyn. South Africa is one place cricket to know if we don’t Lankans face. Our fast Strangely, this is Sri Lanka’s first Sangakkara has not scored a hundred and on a personal note he will be de Lange, Imran Tahir, Jacques bowlers want to exploit it, but Kallis, Morne Morkel, Alviro give things the right amount Test series in South Africa in almost watching to fulfill that dream too. In this Dec 7, 2011 file picture Kumar of mental focus, things can they need to make sure that Sangakkara bats during their net training at Willowmoore Park in Benoni Petersen, Vernon Philander, Ashwell ten years. The last time the Sri slip away from us. We have they don’t get too emotional Lankans toured here was way back near Johannesburg, South Africa. Prince, Jacques Rudolph and Dale and the attitude is going to be Steyn. got a lot of respect for players in 2002. not scored a hundred and, on a per- hand while fielding during the three- very important. It’s a differ- Umpires: Steve Davis (Aus) and whom they have brought out Many have seen that the sub-plot sonal note, he will be eager to fulfill day practice game at Benoni. ent challenge for our batsmen Rod Tucker (Aus) here. I also know that in in the series will be the contest that dream too after being declared Sangakkara will go head-to-head as well. In the recent series Third Umpire: Richard South African conditions, a between world’s number one ranked fit to play the Test. with Jacques Kallis to retain the we played all bowlers who Kettleborough (Eng) seamer with a limited record batsman Sangakkara and number Sangakkara required two stitches number one rank for batsmen. Kallis were bowling at over 145 plus Match Referee: Stuart Broad can turn into a seamer with a one ranked bowler Dale Steyn. South after splitting the webbing between was number one ranked player in and this is going to be a dif- (Eng). very good record,” Smith Africa is one place Sangakkara has his middle and forefinger in his right the world a couple of months ago, added. ferent sort of challenge.” SSC and NCC enter Premier Life-time ban for L/O Tier ‘A’ final BY ROSHEN STEELMAN the D/L Method, defeated Colts CC by four runs in doping: Aluthgamage Right-arm spinner their semi-final encounter Sachithra Senanayake cap- of the Premier Limited- BY SAMAN INDRAJITH letes, he said. “We con- tured a five-wicket haul to over Tier ‘A’, played at ducted many spot tests. We guide SSC to a six-wicket Moors SC in Colombo yes- The Government has The menace of went to sports festivals victory over Chilaw terday. taken a decision to ban the using banned and did testing. Once these Marians, to secure a berth NCC, batting first, post- sportsmen, who are found examinations were done, in the final of the Premier ed a competitive total of using banned substances, substances had the athletes’ performance Limited-over Tier ‘A’ 263 for nine and, in reply, for life, Sports Minister spread even to level dropped by 60 per Tournament, at NCC, Colts were 220 for six wick- Mahindananda school athletes, cent. We should be disap- Colombo yesterday. ets at the end of their 45th Aluthgamage told pointed that certain per- Chilaw, put in to bat first, over when bad light Parliament yesterday. Aluthgamage sons involved in sports in lost wickets at regular stopped play. However Making the winding up said. “We con- this country are not con- intervals as spinner Colts were just four runs speech of the debate on cerned about this. Some Senanayake and fast bowler behind the target at that the votes of the Sports ducted many athletes were informed Dhammika Prasad captured point, according to the D/L Sachithra Senanayake Ministry during the third spot tests. We when taking doping sub- eight wickets to restrict Method. NCC’s first innings reading stage debate on stances. Sometimes the Chilaw Marians for a paltry total of 160. total were due to two half the budget proposals, the went to sports doctors themselves had Chasing the target, Thilina Kandamby centuries by Demintha Dahanayake and Minister said that over the festivals and did helped.