Asalanka Challenges Brook’s ‘Worst Pitch’ Claim Post-Second ODI

Sri Lanka’s captain Charith Asalanka has responded to criticism from England players regarding the pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium, where the second ODI took place. Despite England’s concerns, Asalanka emphasized that a total of 440 runs were scored during the match, countering Harry Brook’s claim that it was the “worst pitch” he had ever played on.

Pitch Controversy: Brook vs. Asalanka

After the second ODI, which ended in a 5-wicket victory for England, Harry Brook expressed his disappointment about the pitch. He stated, “I don’t think it was a great wicket for ODI cricket.” Joe Root, who contributed significantly with a 75 off 90 balls, echoed Brook’s sentiments. England successfully chased down a target of 220 with 22 balls remaining.

Asalanka, however, offered a different view in response to Brook’s remarks. “That was his opinion—mine might be a bit different,” he remarked. “If he says this is the worst pitch he’s seen, that’s something he feels. But between the two teams, we hit 440 runs.”

Comparing Past Matches

To further support his argument, Asalanka referenced a previous encounter between Sri Lanka and England during the 2023 World Cup held in Bengaluru. In that match, England was bowled out for a mere 156 runs in just 34 overs, while Sri Lanka won by eight wickets. Asalanka pointed out, “If you looked at the 2023 World Cup—they’d only got 156 in that game, and no one said anything about the pitch.”

He expressed confusion over Brook’s recent comments, questioning the rationale behind them. “I don’t know why he’s saying this now,” he said, indicating that he would wait to see the responses following the third ODI.

Asalanka’s Expectations for Pitch Conditions

While Asalanka defended the pitch to some extent, he acknowledged its shortcomings. He had hoped for a more conducive batting surface, as the pitch did not meet his expectations. “I didn’t expect the pitch for the second match would be like that. We had got 270-280 in the first match and no one likes to get fewer runs than that,” he stated.

Asalanka aimed for a target of 250 to 260 runs in the second match but noted that it was not suitable for achieving those figures. He expressed hope that conditions for the third ODI would resemble those of the first match.

Team Adjustments Ahead of the Third ODI

• Sri Lanka is likely to include allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga, who was rested for the series opener.
• England’s Zak Crawley may miss the third ODI due to a knee injury, despite participating in net practice.

With the series tied at 1-1, both teams are preparing for a crucial third ODI, where pitch conditions will once again be under scrutiny. The outcome may hinge not only on players’ performances but also on the surface they play on.