Following a tightly contested opening day of the second Test in Colombo, Sri Lanka bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk lauded the performance of right-arm pacer Asitha Fernando. Despite the sweltering heat, the 29-year-old bowler remained a constant threat, claiming three of the five Indian wickets that fell throughout the day.
Reflecting on Fernando’s work rate, Niekerk likened the pacer to a diesel engine, noting that his effectiveness increases the longer he bowls. The coach emphasized that the key to unlocking Fernando’s potential lies in providing him with extended spells, as his skill and accuracy improve with sustained activity on the field. Fernando’s workload was carefully managed, with his 16 overs split into five distinct bursts, including an opening four-over spell followed by several three-over stints.
The management of the seamers has been a focal point for captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who has utilized his bowlers strategically to navigate the challenging conditions. Niekerk highlighted the captain’s experience and his ability to maintain a strong rapport with the pacers, drawing parallels to how legendary captains like Graeme Smith managed strike bowlers such as Dale Steyn. This tactical approach allowed Fernando to remain impactful even during his final spell in the concluding session of the day.
Fernando’s journey to this performance involved overcoming recent fitness hurdles, including a knee injury sustained in the West Indies. Limited match time in a rain-affected one-day series had previously hindered his rhythm, but he has since found his form through consistent bowling in the ongoing Test series. His effort on Sunday was statistically significant; of his 90 deliveries, 31 were short balls, while he secured all three of his wickets from 36 deliveries pitched in the 6-8 meter zone, conceding only six runs in that area.
The pacer’s contribution included the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal, which sparked a brief confrontation, and the crucial breakthrough of Shubman Gill, ending a 120-run partnership just before Tea. In the final session, he successfully trapped Ravindra Jadeja with a delivery that seamed back to hit the off-stump. Fernando concluded the day with impressive figures of 15-5-46-3.
Looking ahead to the second day, the team remains optimistic about maintaining the pressure. With the ball only five overs old, Niekerk expects both Fernando and Lahiru Kumara to lead the attack early on. The goal is to secure further breakthroughs quickly, capitalizing on the momentum built during a hard-fought first day where neither side managed to establish complete dominance. The report also notes that the better he gets and the longer he goes, the more he goes. The report also notes that he’s got an incredible skill set and amazing accuracy when he bowls. The report also notes that that’s the key to his success that I’ve seen in my time with him, if we can get him bowling for long periods of time. The report also notes that split into five separate short bursts: he started with four overs on the trot and then came back for three-over spells, fernando bowled 16 of the 85 overs bowled on the day. The report also notes that niekerk reckoned it was important to find the balance between unleashing him and holding him back at the right times to take care of his workloads. The report also notes that and Test cricket requires a big build-up, he was sitting in a space where he hadn’t bowled a lot.
