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Cape Town – A shortage of genuine, wicket-taking bowlers among the touring Sri Lankans will mean South Africa’s batsmen cashing in during the three-Test series, says ever-opinionated pundit Geoffrey Boycott.
The former England opening batsman, now resident in the Western Cape, said on his regular “Bowl at Boycs” audio feature on the Cricinfo website that the Lankans “will face an uphill battle” against the Proteas.
“I said months ago: without Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) and (Lasith) Malinga – they were two wicket-taking bowlers – Sri Lankan cricket will struggle.
“Bowlers win Test matches; wicket-taking bowlers. They were two of the best. They haven’t got magic wicket-taking bowlers (now) ... sorry, that’s a fact.
“And if you can’t bowl the so-and-so’s (opponents) out, you’re not going to win.”
But the SAB English XI rebel tourist of 1982 did offer sympathy to the Lankan players over their much-publicised, unpaid salaries from the Sri Lankan board.
“The best way to create a good atmosphere, or a working environment, is to pay the players. Every penny they are owed, get them paid.
“If Sri Lankan cricket wants to move forward, positively, and in harmony with the players, then you’ve got to make sure players are paid ... on the dot.
“No more playing for love of the country and empty promises. The players have families (to provide for) ... it’s a sorry state of affairs.”
The first Test starts at Centurion next Thursday.
