SL Coach Jayasuriya Expresses Disappointment With His Team’s Shot Selection After Loss To Australia

February 2, 2025: After Sri Lanka’s heavy defeat against Australia in the first Test at Galle, coach Sanath Jayasuriya expressed his disappointment with his team’s performance, particularly their shot selection and inability to capitalize on promising starts. Australia dominated the match with a strong all-round display, and Sri Lanka was beaten by an innings and 242 runs, giving Australia a 1-0 lead in the series and retaining the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy.

Jayasuriya criticized the team’s failure to handle challenging situations, particularly among the experienced players. He emphasized that the players needed to show more maturity and composure in such circumstances. The coach pointed out that the team has played enough cricket and should know how to adapt and perform in various conditions. He also stated that the wicket, which behaved well on days three and four, could not be blamed for their poor performance, describing it as a good pitch that hadn’t been seen in Galle for a long time.

A key concern raised by Jayasuriya was the failure of Sri Lankan batsmen to convert their starts into big scores. He noted that while several Australian players, like Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, and Josh Inglis, managed to turn solid starts into big hundreds, Sri Lankan batsmen were unable to do the same. In both innings, players such as Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, and Kusal Mendis got starts but couldn’t build on them. Jayasuriya called for more consistency in converting these starts into significant contributions, stressing the importance of making the most of home conditions.

The coach concluded by highlighting the need for greater consistency and maturity in the team’s batting approach, particularly in converting starts into substantial innings.