By Saj
August 2 2004

Sri Lanka deservedly took the Asia Cup after defeating India in a low scoring final. They were the most consistent team throughout the tournament as both India and Pakistan struggled at times. Sri Lanka deservedly took the honours in Asia Cup 2004. A well balanced and well organised team which boosted an experienced and varied batting lineup consisting of Jayasuriya, Gunawardene, Sangakkara, Attapatu, Jayawardene and Dilshan, together with the lower order batting abilities of Chandan and Vaas made Sri Lanka a formidable outfit.

Their bowling was well suited to their home conditions with the accuracy of Chaminda Vaas and Murali evident throughout the tournament. The backup bowlers also performed adequately with the recalled Zoysa impressive at times and the resurgent Chandana a handful for most batsman.

Sri Lanka in Asian conditions are an impressive and tough team to beat. It is not difficult to assess what makes them different and better than their illustrious neighbours India and Pakistan. First thing that catches the eye about the Sri Lankan team is their obvious higher standard of ground fielding and catching ability. Their sharpness, speed and willingness to attack the ball puts doubts in any batsmans mind whether he is trying to pinch a quick single in the covers or trying to turn a leg side flick from one run to two. They have quality slip fielders in Jayawardene and Dilshan who back up their bowling attack well, by holding on to sharp catches.

The other thing that strikes me about the Sri Lankan team is that they play according to a plan and every player is reading from the same script. Accuracy and variation at the start of the opposition innings from the highly experienced Vaas, together with the rejuvenated Zoysa, who at times during his career has looked ordinary, but has come back to the international fold with a bang. Murali needs no introductions and was his usual miserly self throughout, with the exception of the final. Chandana also had a good tourney with the ball, predominantly used as a defensive bowler over the years, he seems these days to have added more variety and looks a much more confident bowler. Jayasuriya and Dilshan provided the main bowlers with excellent support too.

The Lankan batting admittedly revolves around Jayasuriya providing them with a solid and free flowing start and the first 15 overs are usually when Jayasuriya provides the fireworks. The remaining batsman who are class players in their own right therefore know that they can work the ball around and rely on Jayasuriya to dominate the bowling, but it must also be mentioned that any one of the Sri Lankan top order is good enough to win a game in their own right. It was a gameplan that worked well at home, but the Sri Lankans tend to come unstuck when the pitch dictates a reliance on seam and swing bowling, something that I am sure they are working on.

India flattered to deceive throughout the tournament and were below their best. They scraped into the final and their batsmen with the exception of Tendulkar were badly out of form. Sehwag was probably their biggest disappointment as time and again he was out cheaply, thus denying the Indians the devastating run rate he gives them. The Indian fielding was unusually below par especially in the match against Pakistan, as even their best fielders Yuvraj and Kaif made a number of errors. They were uncertain about whether to stick with the tried and tested seven batsman approach or play an extra bowler. Balaji had a nightmare of a tournament, whilst Zaheer struggled with injuries, Nehra remains inconsistent, whilst Kumble and Harbajhan were not at their best despite helpful conditions.

Plenty of work for John Wright to do after this tournament, and perhaps it is back to the drawing board as far as the team composition and selection policy is concerned. With the likes of Dinesh Mongia in excellent form for Lancashire, perhaps one can expect a couple of new faces to represent India in the Amsterdam tournament.

Pakistan did not reach the final, however with the exception of the Sri Lankan debacle, can generally be satisfied with their overall performance. The batting of Shoaib Malik at the problem position of 3 was the major pluspoint for Pakistan. The opening position for Pakistan was unsettled as Imran Farhat managed to injured his ankle and replacement Imran Nazir had a torrid time.

The middle order of Younis Khan, Inzamam, Yousuf Youhana and Abdul Razzaq remains settled and of course herein lies the section of the team where the bulk of the runs are generally scored. Younis Khan despite his first one day ton, still remains unconvincing to a number of Pak fans. Younis in my opinion is a support player to the big hitters, he cannot be expected to hit 30 ball fifties, he is a player who is good at rotating the strike and is a good foil for the big hitters.

Pakistans bowling still remains an enigma, big names, big egos, big County salaries, but still a lack of consistency and thought. Extras, a lack of discipline in line and length, and the inability to reverse swing the ball on a consistent basis must already be giving Bob Woolmer a few sleepless nights. It was interesting to note that Shabbir Ahmed was probably Pakistans best seamer in the tournament, something that hardly any Pakistani fans would have predicted before the tournament started.

The balance of the Pakistani team in my opinion is still a cause for concern. The current teams lack of a top order batsman who can bowl is undoubtedly a problem. Going into a match with Imran Farhat as your 6th bowler is a huge gamble and bizarre to say the least. Whilst Farhat may eventually become good enough to bowl a few fill in overs on a regular basis, currently he is not an international standard 6th bowler in my opinion. Shahid Afridi and Mohamed Hafeez both were not flavour of the month, but both were more than capable of bowling 10 overs fairly accurately if the need arose. A top order player who can hold his own with the ball is a necessity in my opinion.

This of course was Bob Woolmers first tournament in charge of Pakistan and he has already seen what Pakisan fans have been seeing for a number of years, the inconsistency in performance from one day to the next, i.e. the Sri Lanka performance to the India performance. Whilst Bob will not be overjoyed at some of the performances he witnessed in Sri Lanka, he will have seen enough for him to work on who has a future in the team and who is simply not good enough. He will already have enough material for him to work with before the next tournament in Amsterdam.

Sri Lanka boosted by their Asia Cup victory now host South Africa in what promises to be a tough and close battle, in which the match referee may be a busy man. India and Pakistan both have plenty of work to put in before they head over to Europe in the triangular series in Amsterdam against the mighty Aussies, later this month.