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Ripping apart already bruised and battered Indian team for their below-par show in the first Test, Sri Lankan media said the visitors did not look a side fit to play Test cricket."They did not look a side fit to play at this level of the game.
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The Indian batsmen looked feetless wonders as they stayed manacled to the crease and refused to attack the spin. Had the Indian top order done that, such a disgraceful defeat would not have been slapped on them," the state-run newspaper 'Daily News' said of India's disgraceful defeat.
It would require a cricketing miracle for the visitors to show their resolve and resilience to come good and pocket the series in the next two Tests, the paper said.Indian batsmen were handed an innings and 239-run defeat by Sri Lankans with a day to spare in the first Test, thanks to the spin duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis.The report wondered how the Indians who taught the world how to play spin could be so disgraceful and "spin-shelled and shocked".
"For the Indians, who taught the world to win matches with spin, this batting display was an utter disgrace. No one expected the Indians to capitulate in this poor fashion."In name they had some of the best batsmen going in the game.
But the meek manner in which they surrendered was a shame and brought their game down to the depths," it said.The paper felt spin wonder Mendis deserved the man-of-the-match award for his scintillating 8/132 on debut ahead of his senior Muralitharan.
"No one would have faulted the Test adjudicator had he awarded the man-of-the match award to spin sensation Ajantha Mendis," the paper was quoted as saying."Muralitharan (who was declared the man-of-the-match) had won this award several times before.
Mendis was making his debut. His figures for a debutant were sensational," added the report.Possibly no other debutant, in Sri Lanka or any other Test playing country, made such a "telling" debut that also earned his side a massive victory, it said in a back page spread article.
