This was Sri Lanka’s first Check at house in 14 months. Earlier than June, that they had gone a full 12 months and not using a Check of any type.
“It is generally robust when you do not play a lot Check cricket to know how it’s good to play,” Kirsten stated. “That is our third Check within the area of a few months, and I can see already the staff growing. And we’re beginning to construct some form into the staff, however we have to flip it right into a efficiency in some unspecified time in the future.
“You want to have the ability to get 20 wickets constantly, bowl groups out along with your seam, and have the ability to bowl groups out with spin as properly. It is actually essential that we develop that Check match squad.”
Sri Lanka had struggled to take 20 West Indies wickets in Antigua, throughout each Checks, however managed it on a way more bowler-friendly floor at Galle, in opposition to India. Kirsten stated the highest order batting was the place Sri Lanka misplaced the match, with Sri Lanka having been 90 for five within the first innings, then 47 for 4 within the second.
A busier Check schedule over the subsequent eight months, nonetheless, could enable Sri Lanka to construct up momentum, or so Kirsten hoped. Past the second Check in opposition to India on the SSC, Sri Lanka have away excursions to Pakistan and New Zealand earlier than the tip of the 12 months. In addition they host South Africa at house for 2 Checks subsequent February and March.
“I believe the problem for the trendy gamers, particularly in Sri Lanka, is you do not play a lot take a look at cricket. Not less than now we have got one other six to go throughout the subsequent six months or so, so it is nice to get into the Check match recreation just a little bit after which to know learn how to rating runs and bat for lengthy intervals of time and have an affect on a recreation over a protracted time frame.”
On the bowling, Kirsten stated he was largely glad with Sri Lanka’s efforts. They dismissed India for 193 within the second innings, although having established a 178-run first innings lead, they had been batting aggressively to arrange the ultimate innings, and to offer themselves time to bowl Sri Lanka out.
“I believed we did a superb job with the ball yesterday,” Kirsten stated. “We bought 10 wickets in slightly below 50 overs, which is a tremendous effort. Actually, if we had taken one or two catches, we would have been chasing early 300s, which could have modified the complexion of the sport.
“The place we in all probability misplaced the sport was shedding wickets up entrance in each innings. You’ll be able to’t afford that in Check cricket, particularly when the opposition has hit 460-odd. India utilized themselves rather well in that first innings. “
Andrew Fidel Fernando is a senior author at Cricinfo. @afidelf