No let-up for Sri Lanka's struggling batsmen

There will likely be no let-up for Sri Lankas under-fire batting lineup in next weeks second Test, with rain in Durban on Friday hinting at another field day for South Africas buoyant fast bowlers.Having been bowled out for 180 and 150 to lose the first test by an innings, Sri Lankas misfiring batters look set to face another green-tinged, seamer-friendly surface at Kingsmead from Monday as they aim to fight their way back into the three-test contest and avoid a fourth straight series defeat.Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan said his teams underperforming top order experienced as it is was responsible for the poor recent run. The skipper conceded the group was now suffering from a lack of confidence as well as runs, leading to the tourists swapping training for team-bonding sessions this week.The Sri Lankans have not won in 15 Tests after falling to a heavy defeat in Centurion under an onslaught from the Proteas quicks to start their first long format tour of South Africa in nine years in familiar fashion: the tourists have never won a Test here and are now 0-7 with one draw in South Africa.Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene all failed in the series opener with more expected, especially, of No. 1 Test batsman Sangakkara and former captain Jayawardene. Recalled veteran Thilan Samaraweera and all-rounder Angelo Mathews fared slightly better.There was no excuse for the poor performances, Sri Lanka batting coach and former player Marvan Atapattu said after Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn ripped through the visitors lineup twice inside three days not even a long-running saga over Sri Lankas players not being paid salaries for nine months.There have been more than a couple of batting failures in the last six months or so, Atapattu said. Obviously we have had various issues but as of now there are no excuses. This is the best, or let me put it this way, this is the most experienced six batsmen we can have from Sri Lanka in test match cricket.