Runs galore

No doubt Younis Khan has been dreaming of breaking the world record for runs scored in one innings, and he will never have a better opportunity than the current Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in which there have been two double centuries and now a triple. When the two best spinners in the world can't take wickets on day 4, you know that the wicket is "a belter".

What I found interesting was that Jayawardene bowled joke bowlers in the 3rd session of day 4. While I can completely understand his frustration, and appreciating that a draw was the only possible result, I don't think an England captain would ever get away with that approach. Hopefully we'll never find out as England will never play on a wicket like the one in Karachi! Despite the fact that Jayawardene actually took a wicket (and no doubt turned around to Mendis and Murali to tell them that's how it's done), I still don't think I can advocate the use of joke bowlers in anything but the last session of a Test.

We're not really close enough to the goings-on in Sri Lanka to understand the reasons that Jayawardene has announced that he will step down as captain at the end of this Pakistan series, but it seems a great shame. He has been critical to Sri Lanka coming through as genuine challengers to any opposition and a dip in ODI form shouldn't have been a reason for him to stop I don't think. In Tests he's still scoring stacks of runs and the team have gelled around him.

It would be interesting to know the real reasons, rather than the published reasons, for his resignation. I can completely understand if he's burnt out, but I also find it hard to believe that he doesn't think he can captain in the 2011 World Cup - he's only 31! Perhaps bowling joke bowlers on the 4th day of a Test demonstrates to everyone that he's had enough....