Zimbabwean captain Stuart Carlisle tried to look on the bright side after his team crashed to an innings defeat against Sri Lanka in the opening Janashakthi National Test on Monday but admitted that they needed to think long and hard at how to counter Muttiah Muralitharan in the second Test.
Zimabwe lost by an innings and 166 runs in four days as Sri Lanka extended a winning run to six consecutive Test matches – a record for a sub-continental team.
"There were stages where we showed a bit of fight today but on the whole it was a disappointing Test match," Carlisle said afterwards during a post match downpour that came twenty minutes late for the tourists.
"But we still had some positives. The batsmen got 20s and 30s and did all the hard work. Its just that they didn't go on to make the big scores, which we have to do if we are going to save games."
He added: "I wouldn't say the morale is so down. Every one knows that we were unlucky and that certain things went against us. I don't want to make excuses but if decisions don't go your way, the game can change.
"There are still two Tests and there is plenty of scope for improvement. The guys have got to sit down and have a look at their games."
Muralitharan took eight wickets on a pitch that offered him little assistance. In Kandy, where the next match starts on Friday, the master off-spinner will be looking forward to greater bounce and pace in the wicket.
"We have got to have a re-think on how to play him. He is obviously a world-class bowler and very difficult to score off. We played him pretty well in stages, especially Travis Friend today.
"From a team point to view we will have another game plan and then each and every individual has to work out how to best play him. Travis (Friend) showed that the trick is to relax at the wicket, use your pad, be patient and work him for ones and twos."
Sri Lankan captain praised the all-round efforts of his side and hoped on a personal note that he would soon covert a half-century into a big hundred.
"Credit to should go to all the members of the team," he said. "It has been a terrific team performance starting against India in August.
"It was difficult to get them out today because the wicket was so good for batting. The bowlers had to work really hard."
Special praise for Muralitharan, once again: "Even Murali found it hard to get wickets on this pitch. But he works so hard - every time you give him the ball he tries his best. His attitude makes me really happy."
And for Kumar Sangakkara, the man of the match: " It is not an easy job to keep wicket and bat in the top order. As a batsman he has been really patient and occupied the crease well. We only hope he can continue to perform like that for the country.
"Personally, I am disappointed with myself for getting out in the 80s and 90s all the time. When you get set you must go on and get a big one.
He now hopes that the team can win the next two matches too: "We are trying our best to get a clean sweep, but to do so we have to continue performing at this high level."
© CricInfo
| Teams | Sri Lanka. |
| Players/Umpires | Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Stuart Carlisle, Kumar Sangakkara, Travis Friend. |
| Tours | Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka |
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