Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten has urged his team to turn the progress they have made through more Test cricket into actual results after India handed them a 165-run defeat in the first Test in Galle.

The loss means Sri Lanka are still waiting for their first Test win since Kirsten took charge. They have lost two of their three Tests under the former South Africa batter, including a defeat against the West Indies in Antigua in June.

Kirsten said a lack of regular Test cricket had made it difficult for his players to adapt to the demands of the format.

"It's sometimes tough when you don't play much Test cricket to understand how you need to play," Kirsten said after the loss.

Sri Lanka need to build a stronger Test side

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 206 while chasing 372 in the final innings, with India's young spinner Manav Suthar taking six wickets for 55 runs and finishing with 10 wickets in the match.

Kirsten said Sri Lanka needed a bowling attack capable of regularly taking 20 wickets if they wanted to compete consistently in Tests.

"You need to be able to get 20 wickets consistently, bowl teams out with your seam, and be able to bowl teams out with spin as well.

It's really important that we develop that Test match squad," he said.

Despite the defeat, Kirsten was encouraged by the team's progress and welcomed a busier Test schedule. Sri Lanka are set to play six more Tests over the next six months.

"I think the challenge for the modern players, especially in Sri Lanka, is you don't play much Test cricket," Kirsten said.

"At least now we've got another six to go within the next six months or so, so it's great to get into the Test match game a little bit and then to understand how to score runs and bat for long periods of time and have an influence on a game over a long period of time," he added.

Source: TOI

--Agencies