Media roast ‘amateurish’ Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - Stunned local media slammed "amateurish" Sri Lanka Thursday after they slumped to their first home series defeat to England since joining cricket's elite in 1982.







Sri Lanka, who became a Test nation in 1982, are due to travel to Australia for two Test matches starting on November 8.



Paul Collingwood's tourists took an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series late on Wednesday for their first limited-overs win on the subcontinent, barring Bangladesh, in 20 years.

It was a surprising blow for Mahela Jayawardene's World Cup finalists, and media did not hide their disappointment.

"Star-studded Sri Lanka see dark side of history," read the Daily Mirror headline.

"Sri Lanka's amateurish showing was such that by the time England posted the win only a handful of spectators remained in the seats," the paper said, summing up the mood among fans.

The Island newspaper said Sri Lankan arrogance, poor selection, over-confidence and bad form contributed to the loss.

"Sri Lanka's indifferent form is inexplicable and soul-searching has to be done as to why the invincible record at home was finally broken," the paper said.

Sri Lanka had lost only