Selectors are a group of people who are generally the least appreciated. They are always wrong and will be part of a team that fights a losing battle!
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In fairness have we ever heard either the Media or the Players or even the General Public applauding the selectors of any sporting body after a tough selection? Never! That’s how tough the job is! Let’s spare some thoughts for them.
But having said that, the question that may go unanswered is -- have some of the Selectors themselves contributed to this? My humble opinion of the matter is that as much the selector himself has been a part of the problem the decision making body when it comes to appointing them is also responsible as they need to ascertain to themselves as to whether the person selected has enough time on his side to do the job! That is why I think it is a combination of both without an iota of doubt.
We should when discussing selection and selectors, first address its importance in relation to the respective player whatever sport it may be, though here our focus is fully on cricket.
Last week our topic of discussion was the value a proper Domestic Tournament could bring to the game. Whilst we all agree that Domestic Cricket is important and it is the launching pad to higher things, I tend to wonder whether it will be of any use if the Domestic game is not followed and watched by the people who matter. The Selectors!
A closer look at the other major cricket playing countries will naturally tell us the Selectors’ alone are incapable of doing this job. There are many support personnel advising, watching and even reporting to a central authority which is the Cricket Board on what they see, feel and even envisage with regards to a player. Of course these are countries which are vast and involve a lot of travelling! Sri Lanka doesn’t belong to that category as the major cricket in this country is still in Colombo and will be that way for some time to come at least. True the school cricket and cricket at junior levels are spread out and is being watched by both District Coaches and Provincial Coaches who report to the authorities and attempt to bring players under the SLC from a very young age. But that is different as it will only bear fruit after careful nurturing.
But what about our senior Club and Provincial Cricket? Is that been watched enough? This needs a lot of discussing and streamlining if we want to reduce the possible mistakes involved in selections (which may appear to be bias at times) by a great percentage. Firstly we must accept the fact that players need to be watched. Cricket need to be watched. Otherwise we just can’t do justice to what one does. Selectors can never select off statistics or match reports. Because it will never tell you the entire picture. The quality of an innings or a bowling spell can never be determined purely by the runs and wickets alone. It has much more to it. The conditions, the quality of the opposition, the situation faced by players are factors which are generally believed only if seen! As such it is obvious and supports the theory of having to watch players you are supposed to select.
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| The provincial T-20 cricket tournament just ended - Pic by Ranjith Perera |
But the problem for a selector is the fact that, they are fighting against time to balance their act. After all they are not full time professional selectors unlike shall we say the players, the umpires or even scorers for that matter! You will now see that the problems or the challenges faced by selectors are tough one’s and needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. So how do we overcome these issues?
How do we get selectors to watch more games in Sri Lanka? To the first question I would say make the selectors job Professional? To the second one I will be tempted to say that due to the first question not been tackled in the manner it should be, it is not happening always. What does this mean? Who will suffer? It is the game and the players and nobody else! Selectors will come and Selectors will go but the game of cricket has to go on. That has to be understood all the time.
So how do we remedy this? Simple solution is make the selectors professional and of course with it accountable. When the entire game is evolving to a higher level with every little area been made professional which includes the scoring, even the baggage part of it, why do we ignore one of the most important aspects of the game which is selection? We all know that some of our selectors are senior Executives in both the Public and Private sectors and how do you think they balance their respective work and the role of selection?
It is very tough and extremely demanding. Isn’t it reasonable then for the Ministry of Sport to contract these selectors say for a minimum two years and offer them a good package which will include a vehicle and fuel with it, and make them watch the game be involved with it more and also accountable for what they do? I am sure a minimum two year tenure will help the selection panel to also look at streamlining strategy with regards to selection itself. And in addition it will give them the much needed financial stability and a good reason to carry on doing the task.
This way they could be requested to present a proposal in keeping with the thinking of the SLC, to both the Board and the Ministry of Sports at the beginning of their term on the lines they intend to work and then move to implement it. This would also to a very great extent help over come confusion and frustration with regards to selection and the policy governing it. As it will be clear to all that matter with regards to the basis the selectors intend to operate. It will prevent absurd selections such as seasoned and senior cricketers of the caliber of Nuwan Soyza and Indika De Saram amongst many other seniors been once included in a development squad when such squads should be for the younger one’s! It will make the life of the player much easier and even enjoyable as they would know what to expect. It would prevent cricketers with all their hard work and performance been ignored or players despite their mediocre performance still be considered due to they being simply part of a squad of some sort.
I believe above all it will do justice to the players and not the other way around. It will also mean a more professional approach and an outlook to the job of a selector which will benefit everybody that matter.
Having said that it will not reduce the criticism leveled at selectors come what may. And as long as a selector does his job to the best of his ability following the laid down criteria of watching cricket, he shouldn’t be too bothered about it either. But at least when you are hands on in what you do, despite whatever criticism directed at you, one can hold his head high when he knows the decisions were made on first hand information and not purely based on a third parties thinking. It will be then done to the best of one’s ability with the decision made on the respective person’s judgment.
I am sure it will be a good feeling when that happens and the life of a selector though never easy will be more satisfying than in the past. Fingers crossed in anticipation.
- Roshan Abeysinghe is a leading cricket promoter and an international cricket commentator
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