Ireland’ s spin bowling coach Nathan Hauritz threw a challenge to Sri Lanka saying that it would be a different story if his team could bowl second in the second and final cricket Test starting at the Galle stadium on Monday.
Ireland bowled first in the first Test after losing the toss and conceded a total 591 to Sri Lanka only to lose by making totals of 143 and 168 in both innings.
“If we get the opportunity to bat first and put a good score on the board I’ll back our spinners to create problems and it will be interesting to see how their (Sri Lanka) batters play against us. But bowling first in these conditions is the hardest thing you can ever do as a spinner,” said Hauritz.
But Hauritz also said his spinners were not up to the mark and conceded too many boundary-conceding balls to Sri Lanka on the first two days of the first Test at the same venue.
“We bowled too many short balls, we have to get them (Sri Lanka batters) onto the front foot and put the pressure. We have to be patient and disciplined and land the ball in the right areas,” said Hauritz.
Sri Lankan left arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya captured a match bag of 10 wickets in the first Test to be adjudged the player of the match.