Sanath Jayasuriya: Chasing Big Totals on Flat Pitches Is Good for Cricket

Former Sri Lankan batting great and ex-chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya has made a strong statement about modern cricket, saying that chasing big totals on flat pitches is good for the game. He said that such contests fill spectators with excitement and help boost the sport's popularity. Jayasuriya's remark comes at a time when Sri Lanka have successfully chased down a mammoth 429-run target against England in the ongoing tri-series in Pakistan, which is the second-highest successful chase in ODI history. This historic match was played at the Rawalpindi ground on October 22. England, batting first, posted a massive total and set Sri Lanka a target of 429 runs. Normally, achieving such a huge target is considered almost impossible, but the Sri Lankan batsmen adopted an aggressive strategy and ultimately succeeded in chasing it down. In ODI history, the record for the highest successful chase belongs to South Africa, who chased down 438 against Australia in 2026. Sri Lanka's 429-run chase now sits second on the list. Jayasuriya, himself one of the most aggressive openers of his era and a key figure in Sri Lanka's 2026 World Cup triumph, said that such contests are a good sign for the future of the game. He believes that when teams succeed in chasing big targets, it adds drama and excitement to the match, drawing spectators to the stadium. He also said that several new rules and regulations have been introduced in modern cricket, which are proving beneficial. According to him, changes in rules have made the game more dynamic and engaging, giving batsmen a better chance to showcase their abilities. However, there is another side to Jayasuriya's statement that cricket experts are pondering. Critics argue that an excess of batting on flat pitches creates an unbalanced contest and upsets the balance of the game. When bowlers get no help from the pitch, the match turns into a one-sided batting display, reducing the role of fast bowlers and spinners. This debate has intensified over recent years, especially as scores in ODI and T20 cricket keep rising. Several former fast bowlers have expressed concern over this trend and called for maintaining balance in pitches. Meanwhile, another big news item has emerged from Indian cricket. Young batsman Abhishek Sharma produced an explosive batting display in the third T20 international against New Zealand at Wellington, scoring 113 off just 38 balls. During this, he completed his century off just 35 balls, among the fastest innings of his career. Thanks to Abhishek's entertaining knock, India won the match by 6 wickets. His innings once again proved that the Indian team has a deep bench strength of explosive batsmen in the shorter format. Abhishek Sharma's innings is being discussed across the cricket world. Scoring 113 off 38 balls and completing a century off 35 balls shows how well young Indian batsmen understand the demands of modern T20 cricket. His batting displayed aggression along with restraint, as he kept his wicket intact despite taking risky shots. Scoring such an innings on foreign soil, on a Wellington pitch, becomes even more significant because it reveals both a player's technique and mental strength. Jayasuriya also lavished praise on India's limited-overs team. He said that the Indian white-ball team is currently one of the strongest in world cricket and has quality players in every department. India's batting depth, bowling variety and fielding intensity all make it a complete team. Jayasuriya said that the performances of India's young players on the international stage are a matter of pride not only for Indian cricket but also for Asian cricket. As for Sri Lanka, they have won two of the four matches played so far in this tri-series and have qualified for the final against Pakistan on Saturday. The team's performance shows that Sri Lankan cricket is gradually regaining its lost rhythm. Expressing satisfaction over the team's show, Jayasuriya said that the confidence of young players is growing and the team is performing better collectively. He said the final against Pakistan will be a tough contest, but the Lankan team is full of confidence and will take the field with the intent to win. This tri-series is being played in Pakistan, with three teams including England and Sri Lanka taking part. Hosting the series in Pakistan has strengthened the return of international cricket there. In recent years, Pakistan has resumed hosting international matches, and this series is an important step in that direction. The Rawalpindi ground is known for its batting-friendly pitches, and the Sri Lanka-England match reinforced that reputation. Looking at the upcoming schedule, Sri Lanka will tour India in December for a white-ball series. This tour will be important for both Asian teams, as playing on Indian soil is always challenging. For the Sri Lankan team, this tour will be a big chance to prove its capabilities, especially using its experience of batting on flat pitches in Indian conditions. On the other hand, India will tour New Zealand, where it will play both ODI and Test series. The Test tour of New Zealand is considered particularly important for India, as it is seen as challenging. Notably, India's recent form in the limited-overs format has been excellent. In the T20 series against New Zealand, Abhishek Sharma's explosive batting and the team's six-wicket win further boosted the Indian team's confidence. With this win, Team India has proved that it has depth in batting and that young players can perform brilliantly under pressure. The biggest feature of Abhishek's knock was that he put pressure on the bowlers from the early overs and pushed the team forward rapidly. Scoring 113 off 38 balls means he scored nearly three runs per ball, which is exceptional in T20 cricket. Jayasuriya further said in his statement that batsmen have more opportunities in modern cricket and can better showcase their talent. He said that when flat pitches are available, batsmen get the freedom to play their shots, and such contests are more exciting for spectators. He also acknowledged that bowlers face challenges too, but this challenge makes the game more competitive and interesting. According to him, the real joy of the game comes when there is a balanced contest between bat and ball, but chasing big targets successfully is a positive sign for the game. According to experts, Jayasuriya's statement sparks a broad debate. On one hand, big scores and thrilling chases help increase viewership, while on the other, maintaining bowling quality and pitch diversity is also essential. The ICC and local cricket boards must seriously consider this balance so that the essence of the game remains intact. Many believe that if every pitch is favourable for batting, the role of bowlers in ODI and Test cricket could weaken, which could affect the sport's appeal in the long run. On the other hand, given the rapidly growing popularity of T20 cricket, it is clear that spectators love big innings and thrilling contests. Explosive batting by young players like Abhishek Sharma is a result of this demand. Modern T20 cricket has encouraged batsmen to be even more aggressive, and teams are now working on strategies not only to post big scores but to chase them consistently. Sri Lanka's 429-run chase is an example of this thinking, where the team adopted an aggressive approach from the start and ultimately succeeded. Jayasuriya also shared his views on the future of Sri Lankan cricket. He said young players need international experience and there are many talented players in the current team. He said the Sri Lankan team must achieve consistency and perform better under pressure on big occasions. He believes the team's performance in the tri-series is a positive start, but there is still room for improvement, especially in bowling and fielding. Discussing India's tour of New Zealand, cricket experts said the Test series will be a big test for the Indian team. New Zealand conditions favour fast bowlers and Indian batsmen will need to be technically strong there. However, the Indian team has improved its overseas performances over recent years and is capable of competing well in New Zealand. In the ODI series, the Indian team must maintain its strong side, while in Tests the role of fast bowling could prove decisive. Overall, Sanath Jayasuriya's statement presents an important perspective on the changing nature of modern cricket and the challenges before it. On one hand, chasing big targets and explosive batting make the game thrilling, while on the other, maintaining the balance of the game is also essential. Sri Lanka's 429-run chase and Abhishek Sharma's 113 off 38 balls are both proof that batting quality and aggression in modern cricket are constantly rising. It will now be interesting to see how the role of bowlers unfolds in upcoming matches and whether any new policy on pitches is formulated. Sri Lanka's final against Pakistan, India's tour of Sri Lanka and India's tour of New Zealand will remain major attractions for cricket fans in the times to come.