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Gary Kirsten disappointed

Special Correspondent

‘We have not had a single good session’
‘It was Murali who did all the damage’

Colombo: Gary Kirsten, India’s coach, said the side was disappointed with the position of the first Test after day three, but had no one to blame but itself.

“We have not had a single good session,” said Kirsten. “We have to bat extremely well from here to save the game. At least four of the batsmen got out to shots that were not the greatest.

“We ought to have been better when dealing with two good spinners. They are all batsmen who bat with flair, it looks good when it comes off and we achieve a run rate of 4 or 4.5 in Tests, and when it does not come off it puts us in pressure.”

Kirsten said India’s bowling too was ‘disappointing’. He said the wicket offered assistance, but India’s bowlers weren’t disciplined enough to take advantage.

Over-analysed

Talk returned to India’s batting on the third day. Asked if Ajantha Mendis had been over-analysed, Kirsten said, “I don’t think so, in fact we don’t have enough footage of his bowling. All we have at the moment is some front-on footage but I think we handled him well. Sachin played him extremely well. It was Murali who did all the damage.”

On Dinesh Karthik’s choice of stroke, Kirsten said, “I am sure he would have had a plan in mind when he walked out to bat. I have always said to him that he should go about batting the way he is comfortable.”

Shot selection is about context. Tillakaratne Dilshan, whose adventurous strokes on his way to an unbeaten 125 were mandated, said he couldn’t comment on the Indian batsmen’s choice of stroke. He couldn’t however contain himself about one: “I was only surprised that Dinesh Karthik played that shot at the end of the day.”

Dilshan happy

Dilshan said he was happy reaching his fifth Test century after “missing a couple last year.” What were the captain’s instructions at the start of the day?

“We just wanted to bat the first session till lunch without taking too many chances, and then see,” replied the31-year-old batsman.

The fan in Dilshan came to the fore when asked about Sachin Tendulkar. “He started really well,” said Dilshan.

“Murali bowled a doosra, and he didn’t pick that one. He was looking very, very good at the start.”

How did he see the first Test progressing? “First we want to take the remaining four wickets,” said Dilshan.

“After lunch, there was turn and bounce, and I think Ajantha (Mendis) and Murali bowled really well. It’s not easy to play a stroke, with turn and bounce. Tomorrow is day four, it will start turning. We have a good chance to win this Test.”

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