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Cape Town - Former Sri Lanka batsman Sanath Jayasuriya was disappointed with the way the Sri Lankans batsmen have played against the Proteas bowling attack during the current Test series.
Jayasuriya, who is now Sri Lanka's chief selector, spoke about the islanders poor performance in South Africa and said that the batmen should learn from their mistakes and bounce back in the third Test starting on Thursday.
"We selected a side which is a blend of youth and experience," Jayasuriya told the Sri Lankan Sunday Times.
"Maybe we can excuse misreading the game... as for most of the players it was their first time out in South Africa, but I can't understand why they failed in the same manner in the second Test also."
Jayasuriya was commenting on the Proteas resounding 282-run win in the second Test at Newlands, where Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander tore through the islanders batting lineup - bowling them out for 110 and 224 respectively.
The Proteas defeated the tourists by 206 runs in the first Test in Port Elizabeth.
"I feel that at least one batsman should have risen to occasion and held onto it, but sadly that did not happen," said Jayasuriya, who went onto play 110 Tests for Sri Lanka and score 6973 runs with an average of 40.07.
"In the final Test, it is up to the Lankan batters to come up with the much anticipated satisfactory performance."
Jayasuriya praised the Sri Lankan bowling attack - led by Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara - on their superb performance with the ball.
"The same cannot be said about the bowlers," said the former Sri Lankan legend. "They have bowled with a lot of purpose and never let the totals rise up to unmanageable levels, but when it came to the batsmen they have let the side down."
The Sri Lankans will take on the Proteas in the third and final Test match at the Wanderers on Thursday, January 12.
