NAGPUR: Traditionally, Sri Lanka are one of the best players of spin bowling. The likes of Aravinda De Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawerdene have scored runs against some of the best spinners in the world.
Sri Lanka's batting coach
Thilan Samaraweera also comes in that list. The current lot, however, is struggling against the quality spinners.
Ravichandran Ashwin has tormented them in the last two series in their own backyard.
Ravindra Jadeja isn't too far behind.
Samaraweera conceded that his team has a problem of playing against quality spin bowling. The visitors folded up for 205 in decent batting conditions with Ashwin and Jadeja sharing seven wickets between them.
"It's disappointing that we won the toss on a superb pitch where there was no seam movement and no turn but couldn't bat well. We had so many soft dismissals," Samaraweera said. "This group in the last two years haven't batted well against spin. I have observed that and lot of work for us to do in the future," he stressed.
"Not playing spin well is a major concern for me. Traditionally we have been good players of spin bowling, but in the last two years, we have struggled against spin and that's one thing that I have observed," he stated.
"In 2005, I struggled with Anil (Kumble) and Harbhajan (Singh) and before that I had thought that I was a good player of spin," said Samaraweera, who averaged 48.76 from 81 Tests for Sri Lanka. "But I worked hard from thereon; 2006 onwards, I improved a lot," said the 41-year-old.
Sri Lanka have stroke players like Sadeera Samarawickrama and Niroshan Dickwella. However, both had soft dismissals and Samaraweera said he will be cautious working with young players.
"Sadeera I have to handle very carefully. He is only 22. He has played only three Tests. I have to keep the balance going. He needs to have a mixture of attack and defense. At the moment, I am having chats with him as I am new to this role. Dickwella took too many risks. He will get to realize that," he said.
Samaraweera said Sri Lanka could take a few lessons from India batsmen. It was fascinating to watch how M Vijay and
Cheteshwar Pujara built their innings and then went after the spinners. Off spinner Dilruwan Perera came in for particular punishment, going for 117 in 21 overs.
"When the field is up they will attack and when the field is spread they will grind. That's the way to play spin bowling. They batted really well. Good Test cricket batting. They still managed to score over three runs an over and we can learn a lot," he said.
India are already ahead by 107 runs and with eight wickets in hand, Samaraweera knows his side has big challenge lies ahead.
"Big challenge over the next three days for us with rough and uneven bounce coming to play. When you are behind against world's two quality bowlers you have to play your A game," he said.