Sri Lanka to handle Australian pace attack better than India
By Gavin Van Hoff | February 3, 2012
After a testing tour of South Africa, Sri Lanka's batsmen will fare better in Australian conditions than their neighbours India have, when the Commonwealth Bank Tri Series starts on February 5, says Geoff Marsh.
Marsh was the Sri Lankan head coach on their tour of South Africa before being replaced by Graham Ford after just three-month into his two-year stint.
The former Sri Lankan coach warned that unlike India's batsmen, who struggled to come to terms with the pace and bounce in Australia, Sri Lanka should have no trouble adjusting.
"I think one thing these guys have done over the last couple of months is play a lot of cricket in South Africa," Marsh said speaking to SEN SportsSENtral on Wednesday.
"It's not like coming from Sri Lanka into Australia, where you come from slow, turning wickets on to Australia's pacier wickets. I think they're more acclimatised to it. I think they'll be more ready for the tour."
"They're a very good side. They were World Cup runners-up six months ago," he added.
"They've toured South Africa. You only have to talk to the Australian players about how tough it is to win over there and these boys managed to win a Test match and won the last two one-dayers chasing 300 on both occasions. So, there is a lot of talent in the Sri Lankan side and I think it will be an exciting series."
India have won just one T20 match in their ongoing tour of Australia. The World Cup champions suffered an embarrassing 4-0 whitewash in the Test series and have managed to level the two-match T20 series 1-1.
The first match of the Tri Series will start on Sunday with Australia taking on India at Melbourne.
© Island Cricket
Comments
10 July 2011
4 weeks 1 day
What a great person this Marsh is? Even after what Sri Lanka did to him he hasn't had a bad word to say! Compare our rotten politicians who were behind his sacking to this honourable man!
7 December 2008
14 weeks 5 days
bold statement marshy... you saw how badly they batted in SA so why would you say this? 43 all out remember???
4 July 2011
9 hours 16 min
Geoff Marsh is more than a gentleman, his words after being sacked as coach, speaks out I still remember how he clinched his fits with joy and relief when SL chase down 314 against South Africa.Shame on the SLCB to lose a man like him to Graham Ford, which we don't know what he will give to the team, Marsh as coach in Aussie would be a much more valuable option. SLC is going AWOL..
hats off 4 u geoff
disagree, India and Australia will flog us both. Were s**t a batting unit apart from Upul, Sanga and Chandimal, fielding is as crap as ever and bowlers don t even know where to bowl, lucky to even win 1 game here.
beating SA was on thier flatter wickets, and the odis were won without amla, kallis and steyn so we may have been a touch lucky.
i dont think underestimaing india is a good thing. they might come back strongly against SL, especially when we dont have good bowlers (except malinga).
Hats off Mr.Geoff Marsh...We as fans, knew that you're a person of this caliber, but unfortunately some people don't have brains and we can't blame them for not having brains as well...Sri Lankan fans always have our respect for you, so as Sri Lankan players. Still believe you're the right person for the job (not because of these kind words) and feel sorry for our players for missing you as their coach.
Lanka will lose all games down under. Mahela is useless as captain now he dont bat well. Better to have Dilshan even if he make mistakes he will learn.
16 April 2009
8 weeks 4 days
hmmm i hv a strange feeling abt this. this is way too good by Marsh. but i respect him ..true gentleman. Hats off!
BUT y v underestimate India. v played 3 Tests 5 ODIs in South Africa.
AND India Played 4 Tests 5 ODIs 2 T20 matches in Australia.
So their not coming from india as well.
Better take that to mind as well
OUR BEST X1
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01 U THARANGA
02 TM DILSHAN
03 K SANGAKKARA
04 D CHANDIMAL / L THIREMANNA
05 M JAYAWARDANE
06 A MATHEWS
07 F MAHAROOF / N KULASDKERA
08 T PERERA
09 L MALINGA / D PRASAD
10 R HEARTH / S SENANAYAKE
11 C WELAGEDARA
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