[Sham]

The wickets that fell yesterday were all typical of the way our batters are getting out these days. Lets look into each one.

Golla was the first to go, playing across the line to a straight delivery and getting a leading edge to mid-off in the 4th over. Once again Golla's poor technique against the new ball (when you ought to be playing as straight as possible) got exposed. Samir wrote in his review of the first Test about Golla's tendency to play with an open stance, and as an opener, he has to be more side-on and play the straight deliveries straight rather than trying to play across the line. His role as an opener needs to be reviewed.

Next to go was Bashar, in true Bashar style. He was going along well and BD was going along well as well. But then he decided to jab at a ball outside the off-stump with no footwork. The result was a pretty straightforward catch to gully. Why he plays these mindless shots we will never know but I've long given up on the hope that Bashar will play responsibly. As fans we will just have to cheer him when he scores and try somehow not to pull all our hair out when he gets out in such stupid fashion.

Hannan was out next, first wicket of the innings for Ashoka De Silva. We have to make provision for atleast two to three wickets in a Test match to fall to Ashoka's incompetent umpiring, and Hannan was the first victim yesterday. The ball pitched outside off-stump and hit the pad in front of leg, the angle surely taking it past leg-stump. However, it was good enough for the umpire who sent Hannan away.

The last wicket to fall was that of Kapali, and this poor guy can't seem to buy too many runs right now. They say that when it rains it pours, and it sure is the case for him. Yesterday he got a lifter first up, a ball that pitched on a good length and bounced and the new batsman had no answer. Kapali should never have had to play that ball. Hannan Sarkar should still have been out there, and had he got the ball that Kapali got, having been set at the wicket, he probably would have negotiated it better. But of course, Ashoka had other plans and the new batsman was left to negotiate a very awkward first delivery, last thing you need when you are already under pressure and looking for a couple of breaks to play yourself back into form. It wasn't to be.

[Edited on 30-10-2003 by Sham]