Kirsten Calls for Balanced Pitches to Empower Sri Lanka Seamers
<p>Over the past 15 years, Sri Lanka have occasionally prepared dustbowls at home, prompting head coach Gary Kirsten to call for pitches more akin to those used in the recent Test series against India.</p>
<p>Seam bowlers took 24 of the 67 wickets in the series, accounting for roughly 36% of total wickets. Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka’s leading wicket‑taker and second overall, finishing with ten dismissals at an average of 20. The surfaces were also favourable for batting, with each side scoring three centuries – three for Sonal Dinusha, two for Devdutt Padikkal, and one for Dhruv Jurel. Both Tests extended into a fifth day, unlike earlier Sri Lankan series that often ended quickly due to spin dominance on dusty tracks.</p>
<p>Kirsten argued that “hard‑working” pitches nurture “hard‑working” cricketers, developing the skills and patience required for success in this format.</p>
<p>“I’m a strong advocate of preparing wickets that enable our seamers to win games. That is how a cricket team matures – by performing in all conditions. The two wickets we prepared for the Test series were hard‑working, not immediately decisive,” he said.</p>
<p>He added that the side wants batters to be able to bat, while spinners must work hard and seamers stay involved. “In the second innings at Galle, our seamers took seven of the ten wickets. I’m encouraged by their involvement and want to develop this aspect further.”</p>
<p>Kirsten heaped praise on Asitha Fernando, the long‑standing frontline seamer, noting that at 29 he still has plenty of cricket ahead. However, they need more seam‑bowling support; Lahiru Kumara, Sri Lanka’s only other genuine quick, managed only three wickets at an average of 57.33 in the series.</p>
<p><amp-img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==" alt="Asitha Fernando celebrates Shubman Gill's wicket, Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd Test, Day 1, Colombo, August 23, 2026" class="ds-rounded-xl amp-wp-unknown-size amp-wp-unknown-width amp-wp-unknown-height amp-wp-enforced-sizes i-amphtml-layout-intrinsic i-amphtml-layout-size-defined" width="1220" height="400" layout="intrinsic" i-amphtml-layout="intrinsic"><i-amphtml-sizer slot="i-amphtml-svc" class="i-amphtml-sizer"><img alt="" aria-hidden="true" class="i-amphtml-intrinsic-sizer" role="presentation" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyBoZWlnaHQ9IjQwMCIgd2lkdGg9IjEyMjAiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIi8+"></i-amphtml-sizer><noscript><img decoding="async" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==" alt="Asitha Fernando celebrates Shubman Gill's wicket, Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd Test, Day 1, Colombo, August 23, 2026" fetchpriority="auto" width="1220" height="400"></noscript></amp-img></p>
<p class="ds-text-compact-s"><span class="ds-text-typo">Asitha Fernando was the top wicket-taker for Sri Lanka with ten dismissals</span>• AFP/Getty Images</p>
<p>“He’s a world‑class bowler and has been delivering consistently this series,” Kirsten said. “He’s been on top of his game, but we need more assistance for him – we can’t rely on him alone. Our focus will be on figuring out how to take 20 wickets without depending solely on spin.”</p>
<p>Sri Lanka’s breakout star of the series was Sonal Dinusha. Kirsten described his fifth‑day rearguard hundred at the SSC as one of the finest innings in Sri Lankan Test history.</p>
<p>“His performance on days four and five would be recorded as one of the great saves in Sri Lankan Test cricket. Not only did he score a hundred in the first innings, but his follow‑on innings under pressure was a masterclass for cricketers nationwide, showing how to counter a strong bowling attack after being asked to follow on.”</p>
<p>He added that batting at number six is challenging due to pressure, but he was impressed by the player’s temperament in the West Indies. “He thrives in tough situations, approaches Test cricket thoughtfully, plays to his strengths, and is a smart cricketer who reads bowlers’ plans and uses his skill set to neutralise them.”</p>
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