Sports
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ails Sri Lanka cricket ? When countries like England, Australia and South Africa get their best coaches and managers to groom their A teams, Sri Lanka were toying for years with a coach who was not among the best in the trade. For some reason or another when he was removed it was expected that a high calibre local or a renowned foreigner would take over the reins to nurture the island’s future generation of cricketers and provide the back-up support for the senior team. But it was not the case. From out of the blues an unknown personality who is not known to Sri Lanka cricket or World Cricket takes over. If this is the manner in which important appointments are made how do you expect Sri Lanka A to compete competitively with the rest of the world? And more importantly from where do we find the back-up players to replace the ageing Jayasuriyas, Atapattus, Vaases and Muralitharans? Sri Lanka need not look far, but at England itself. Rod Marsh was doing a brilliant job with the Australian Academy. Marsh, during his stint with the Australian Academy ensured that Cricket Australia is fed with the necessary back up players for their main team. Today Australia not only remains as the number one team in the world but, is overflowing with a host of talented players who are knocking on the door and ready for the big league. The England and Wales Cricket Board was quick to spot March’s talents and entrusted him with grooming the young Englishman soon after his stint with the Australian Academy. The results are already showing and England are on their way to becoming not only a top team but also having a host of talented players who are capable of making it to the top. In Sri Lanka there are talented players at the school and club level. But unfortunately the authorities concerned make no effort or little effort to improve and harness these talented players. As a result it becomes extremely difficult for these players to take the big step into the big league. Although given the opportunity to play at that level, the players are not geared both physically and mentally. This leaves us with a bunch of cricketers who are masters at the club level, but failures when it comes to the big league. This does not augur well for Sri Lanka Cricket. The manner in which Sri Lanka A folded against England A is ample testimony. Playing on wickets tailor made for us and conditions best suited for us, Sri Lanka A put up a feeble, lack lustie performance to go down to the Englishman. Skipper Jehan Mubarak admitted that his team did not play as expected. "I think our bowlers did not bowl more often at the right spots while all our top order batsmen failed to get big scores in both innings. In a four-day game you need to get a total in excess of 300 -325 runs in the first innings and keep your opponents for at least three sessions on the field. This is where we failed ". Looking forward at today's game Mubarak is optimistic that his team will come out with a better performance. "There are a few things we have learned from the last game. Hopefully we will not make the same mistakes again. We need to bat and bowl much better". Sri Lanka may look at including in form Shantha Kalawitigoda in today's line up. If Kalawitigoda gets the nod from the selectors it is very likely that Anushka Polonowita will have to make way. In the bowling department Nandika Ranjith, Thilina Thushara and Gayan Wijekoon should hold their places while Malinga Bandara will once again be the lone spinner in the side. England A who had a highly satisfactory performance will be looking at giving Vikram Solanki a place in the team after the batsman missed out in the first. |
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