Sri Lanka bring in unknown batsmen to prepare for NZ

Sri Lanka have enlisted the help of a yet unknown bunch of shoolboys to help them nullify the threatย  the NZ top order pose for their bowlers.

The boys, still playing under-17s cricket for their schools, were rounded up over the weekend and brought to the SLC headquarters.

SL coach Trevor Bayliss and SLC have enlisted the help of Murali in a batting consultant role for the Kiwi tour, which resulted in the hiring of these shoolboys into the set up.

They were apparently picked on their weakness against spin bowling and their lack of batting ability. Spotted by Muttiah Muralidaran, who excelled with the bat in the recent ODI series against Pakistan, the youngsters will offer key insight into how to tackle a top order such as the New Zealanders.

First impressions on the move have been very positive. Bowlers like Nuwan Kulesekara, Thilan Thushara were really taken aback by how crap these players were. ‘I had to adjust my line several times just so they could get bat on ball,ย  going by what I have learnt today, bowling to the kiwis will be tough’- said Nuwan, SL’s rising star.

Even Murali himself had some trouble trying to work over the batsmen and had to resort to some dirty tricks to get them out. ‘I quickly realised that spinning the ball wasn’t going to work for these guys, I had to cut down my spin by 100%, which isnt easy for me. In the end I was just bowling straight balls, if this is what the Kiwis are gonna be like this series will be pretty tough for us. I might only get about 20 or so wickets.’

However, bowlers like Dilhara Fernando still struggled against the players. In the words of Kumar Sangakkara ‘Basically this experiment has proved to me that Dilhara Fernando is indeed the worst bowler in the country’.

(At least they are catching on now I suppose.)

Trevor Bayliss, who was able to spare some time in between his 50th and 60th Chicken pie of the day, was clearly happy with the outcome of the experiement. ‘This is what cricket is all about, trying unconventional things to get the edge over the opposition. Now if you excuse me I have a date with the Colombo Hilton lunch buffet.’

7 Comments

  1. Sujan Rao said:

    LMAO !!!! ๐Ÿ˜€

    Wonderfully written Damith…

    August 15, 2009
    Reply
  2. Chavie said:

    Under-17s? You’d think they’d go for younger cricketers to properly emulate the Kiwis! ๐Ÿ˜€

    lovely post Damith! ๐Ÿ˜€

    August 15, 2009
    Reply
  3. greyblazer said:

    Underestimating the likes of Flynn, Taylor etc may not be the right thing to do.

    Flynn at 3 is no good but if he plays at number 5 he has the patience and the stubbornness to handle the conditions in Lanka.

    August 16, 2009
    Reply
  4. gihan said:

    good one mate!!!

    August 17, 2009
    Reply
  5. damiths said:

    thanks guys!

    August 18, 2009
    Reply
  6. Sujay said:

    Very Very Baze Katha

    August 20, 2009
    Reply

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