A horrendous batting display by the visitors saw India thrash Sri Lanka by an innings and 239 runs in the second Test at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka batting fell like a pack of cards in the first session on Day 4, losing 7 wickets in no time. Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja did most of the damage while Ishant Sharma also bowled well as the visitors were bundled out for 166 runs in the second innings. Sri Lanka were all out for 205 in their first innings while India declared on 610 for six in their first innings, taking a 405-run lead.
After the heaviest defeat for Sri Lanka in terms of runs, in their history, former India player and now a renowned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar addressed the real reason of neighbors downfall in recent times.
“SriLanka is half the size of Tamil Nadu & it has 23 first class teams. Right there you see the problem with Sri Lankan cricket & where the solution lies to their problems.
#INDvSLِ” Manjrekar wrote on his Twitter handle.
Manjrekar, though, is not the only person to pointed out towards the issue. Legendary Mahela Jayawardene expressed his view many times in the ever growing numbers of clubs in Sri Lanka domestic cricket. During the home series against India in August, Sri Lanka test opener Dimuth Karunaratne also expressed the same view, by stating that this is one of the main reason why Sri Lanka domestic cricket not being considered as competitive.
Though, it’s unlikely to think that this can be changed. Reason, The first-class clubs in Sri Lanka hold voting power in SLC elections. So system is unlikely to change any time soon, particularly as long as Thilanga Sumathipala remains in the power!
