The Star's Not Out In Galle

Sangakkara made 199*

The rising star of Pakistan seems to have been clouded at Galle, as Sri Lanka took a vice like grip of the first Test. Pakistan haven't played for four months since thrashing the ICC No 1 England in their three Test series in the UAE at the start of the year.

The break doesn't seem to have helped them much, where as Sri Lanka played the same opposition in April and again caused the English to be embarrassed. Sri Lanka have only lost four of the twenty Tests played at Galle in its fifteen year history - twice to Australia - and that record won't be worsened in this match.

Perhaps now, the huge influence of Misbah-ul-haq on this Pakistan side, becomes painfully evident. Normally the skipper and the calmest of cool heads in world cricket, he is missing because of over rates in the last ODI before this Test began. If stats and records are different between the different forms of the game, shouldn't penalties for over rates be likewise? Whilst not wanting to argue the case on over rates as it seems captains should be held responsible, why apply penalties across different forms of the game?

If the first day wasn't bad enough - Sri Lanka made 2-300 - then the second, when Sri Lanka stormed to 472 on the back of only four contributions and took five quick wickets, probably broke Pakistan's back. Tillarkaratne Dilshan, back to opening since Mahela Jaywardene resumed his captaincy, scored an unusually steady century but it was the gloriously languid Kumar Sangakkara who stole the show with a delightful 199 not out. He was so painfully close to equalling Brian Lara with a ninth double century and only Bradman above them. Of the top six, Sangakkara was the only one Saeed Ajmal did get out but too many runs were scored in between.

If Pakistan had been rusty with the ball, they were worse with the bat, losing 5-48 by stumps on the second day. Nuwan Kulasekara, back into the Test side for the first time since late 2010, got Taufeeq and Azhar in consecutive balls in a dynamic opening spell but Rangara Herath and Suraj Randiv were soon among the wickets themselves. The pair are Sri Lanka's potency, having taken 26 of the 38 English wickets which fell in April.

Kulasekara took removed
the openers in both innings

The third day continued Sri Lanka's dominance. Pakistan took thirty overs to add just 52 runs and once Younis and Mohammad Ayub were separated there wasn't anything left in the tail. Ayub, making his debut at 32 years of age, batted sensibly in the circumstance after being moved to seven when another night watchman exercise failed with extreme predictability. Randiv and Herath shared the spoils.

Mahela Jayawardene is not a conventional skipper and his decision to bat again and not invite Pakistan to follow on was an interesting choice. His bowlers couldn't have been tired, having bowled only 55 overs and those evenly spread either side of a night's sleep. With rain threatening on the final two days, his bowlers fresh and a lead of 372, surely Sri Lanka should have stayed in the field? In the interim, Sri Lanka lost wickets as needless runs were obtained quickly at the start but wickets from Junaid Khan and Ajmal closed a fairly useless part of the game.

In fifteen overs until stumps, facing the ludicrous target of 510, Pakistan again fell apart at the top of the innings with both openers going in Kulasekara's opening spell and Azhar out to a sharp catch by Thilan Samaraweera in the gully off Herath. The matter will be decided between heavy showers of rain over the next two days but its hard to see Pakistan finding the skill or the spirit to win.

By no means a side issue, the umpiring has been inconsistent and the judgment of both umpires has been poor. Does this point to a decline in the standard of umpires occupying the top roles? The more likely scenario is the influence of the DRS. Where technology is in play, there is less pressure on umpires to get it right first time because technology will cover mistakes. Its very possible this is leading to less concentration and less "work pressure" for umpires who previously had sole responsibility, more pressure and therefore, more finely honed skills. We may end up with better decisions but worse umpiring. However that plays out, the decision making in Galle has been poor.

The ICC can suspend a captain for failing to do his job but seems incapable of doing theirs but with no redress. Perhaps Indian business men who run the game could have their earnings sequestered by an ICC tax to put DRS systems on all major grounds of all Test playing nations or at least offer to go dollar for dollar with host nations. Why not hand the job to private companies and put a toll on using DRS grounds to patrons, users and TV networks? It works on freeways ...

... or why not get of your pontificating backsides and act like the leaders you are supposed to be! It took years to get action on corruption in the game and now the DRS issue is haemorrhaging umpires blood over frustrated players. The ICC is slower than Inzammam-ul-haq running a second.