Another defeat for Australia on Asian soil. Now it looks like just another day at office. Last seven times they have played here, they have been on losing side on all occasions. 0-4 against India, 0-2 against Pakistan and now 0-1 against modest Sri Lankan side.
Australian cricket has been working so hard to earn wins on Asian soils. They send their players to India, they send them to other parts of the world where the ball turns, they played Australia A series in India last year. They have been trying to conquer this summit for so long and yet they seem so far away from it. Losing to India in their home is not a news to any cricket nation. After all, India were having MS Dhoni, a fully charged Ashwin, and a superstar in making Virat Kohli. Same goes for Pakistan. They ran into the red hot form of two veterans Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq who brutally shut them out. But, this loss in Sri Lanka is going to haunt them for a while. This was against a team, who have not played good test cricket in last 6-8 months. Sri Lanka have been beaten by Pakistan, England and India quite comprehensively. They are a team in making. Mighty Australia got run over by a 21 year old Mendis and a debutant this time. This is different.
Sri Lanka and Australia started playing test cricket against each other in 1983. Sri Lanka never tasted a single win against them until 1999. It took 16 years for Sri Lanka to win against them for the first time. Since then, it was only the second time Sri Lanka managed to win against Australia. They are yet to beat them in Australia.
It is a famous quote in Sports, "Defeat always hurts. The intensity of the pain is directly proportional to the manner in which it is achieved". The game started in which everyone anticipated. Bowling Sri Lanka out for 117. After all, It is Australia. It is what they do. Beating teams. Then, they lost the advantage by gaining a moderate lead of 86 runs, which should have been enough considering the fragile and inexperienced batting lineup of Sri Lanka. They were expecting a moderate target of 100 runs around in fourth innings. That is where things went all wrong. Kusal Mendis arguably played the best test innings of the year. On a pitch, where hardly anyone got a 50, he made a daddy ton. Sri Lanka needed it more than ever. He was the difference between the sides.
Australia have got a lot of work to do. David Warner can be excused for his 0 and 1 due to lack of match practice. Mitchell Marsh showed glimpse of future before making silly errors both times. Steve Smith was solid in second innings. Voges has hardly fired when the team needs from him. First poor Ashes and now two moderate innings in Asia. Though he murdered West Indies and New Zealand, but these are the conditions in which Australia need him most. Khawaja and Burns were outstanding in last 6-7 test matches. Australia also need to figure out their bowling combinations better. When the ball doesn't swing much, their attack lacks bite and penetration. Lyon has been excellent for a while now, but he needs more support from other side. Nevill and SOK almost saved the game from them. But, Australia can't rely on lower order to take them out of trouble. It was third innings which cost them the game.
Sri Lanka celebrated like home-coming warriors. They had earned it. "How the hell did that happen?" This was the question Steve Smith must be asking himself. This is going to take a while to answer. For now, we are ready for Candy.
Australian cricket has been working so hard to earn wins on Asian soils. They send their players to India, they send them to other parts of the world where the ball turns, they played Australia A series in India last year. They have been trying to conquer this summit for so long and yet they seem so far away from it. Losing to India in their home is not a news to any cricket nation. After all, India were having MS Dhoni, a fully charged Ashwin, and a superstar in making Virat Kohli. Same goes for Pakistan. They ran into the red hot form of two veterans Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq who brutally shut them out. But, this loss in Sri Lanka is going to haunt them for a while. This was against a team, who have not played good test cricket in last 6-8 months. Sri Lanka have been beaten by Pakistan, England and India quite comprehensively. They are a team in making. Mighty Australia got run over by a 21 year old Mendis and a debutant this time. This is different.
Sri Lanka and Australia started playing test cricket against each other in 1983. Sri Lanka never tasted a single win against them until 1999. It took 16 years for Sri Lanka to win against them for the first time. Since then, it was only the second time Sri Lanka managed to win against Australia. They are yet to beat them in Australia.
It is a famous quote in Sports, "Defeat always hurts. The intensity of the pain is directly proportional to the manner in which it is achieved". The game started in which everyone anticipated. Bowling Sri Lanka out for 117. After all, It is Australia. It is what they do. Beating teams. Then, they lost the advantage by gaining a moderate lead of 86 runs, which should have been enough considering the fragile and inexperienced batting lineup of Sri Lanka. They were expecting a moderate target of 100 runs around in fourth innings. That is where things went all wrong. Kusal Mendis arguably played the best test innings of the year. On a pitch, where hardly anyone got a 50, he made a daddy ton. Sri Lanka needed it more than ever. He was the difference between the sides.
Australia have got a lot of work to do. David Warner can be excused for his 0 and 1 due to lack of match practice. Mitchell Marsh showed glimpse of future before making silly errors both times. Steve Smith was solid in second innings. Voges has hardly fired when the team needs from him. First poor Ashes and now two moderate innings in Asia. Though he murdered West Indies and New Zealand, but these are the conditions in which Australia need him most. Khawaja and Burns were outstanding in last 6-7 test matches. Australia also need to figure out their bowling combinations better. When the ball doesn't swing much, their attack lacks bite and penetration. Lyon has been excellent for a while now, but he needs more support from other side. Nevill and SOK almost saved the game from them. But, Australia can't rely on lower order to take them out of trouble. It was third innings which cost them the game.
Sri Lanka celebrated like home-coming warriors. They had earned it. "How the hell did that happen?" This was the question Steve Smith must be asking himself. This is going to take a while to answer. For now, we are ready for Candy.
