‘A’ Team’s Caribbean tour: Mock preparation and selection muck
View(s):By S.R. Pathiravithana
There is a certain school of thought in cricketing circles that feels that actions of the present selection committee and the reactions of Sri Lanka Cricket are faulty and diverse.
It is rather surprising that the Present Selection Committee which includes two players who captained the country in the modern era and another player who also played the game in the same period – Sanath Jayasuriya, Hashan Tillekeratne and Pramodya Wickremasinghe – are making these faux pas.
The Sri Lanka ‘A’ team which consists of next-in-line players for the national caps is on the verge of embarking on a month-long tour of the West Indies. They will play two four-day unofficial Test matches, three one-day internationals and two T20 matches between June 1 and June 28. They are scheduled to leave the country in the last week of May.
Insiders point out that in spite of the cricketers coming through the three-day Premier League Tournament, the Selection Committee which comprises two full time members came up with an initial list of 34 names.
The national ‘A’ team cricketers seen during a practice match at the Premadasa Stadium on Friday. - Pic Amila Gamage
Strangely in the original list former Test player Kaushal Silva who played a heroic role in the Premier League final and won the game for SSC was missing. In ten matches and 13 innings Kaushal scored 1073 runs at average of 89.41 with five centuries and three fifties.
Then again former Royalist Ramith Rambukwella who is yet to prove his worth at that level had caught the eye of the selectors early and was in the original list. Sadly the budding all-rounder is not even in the first 50 in either bowling or batting in the Premier League averages. This type of selection criteria leads to other suggestions such as personal/political favours.
Subsequently to the list of 34 names another seven were added. Now the selectors are in an elimination effort with the lot of 41 players. For elimination purposes, three two-day games have been listed at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Insiders ask why the selectors should have elimination matches at the tail end of a live competitive three-day tournament, where the cricketers were in real match conditions. May be the best of a players may not come at an artificially staged atmosphere.
However the dressing room vibes say that most of the players are disillusioned and are going through the motions at the practice matches alleging that the touring party is already under wraps.
It is also learned paceman Saliya Saman who was subsequently drafted into the second seven had already left for England to play league cricket. On learning that he had been drafted into the ‘A’ team squad he had inquired if he should return. However he had received a rude shock when he was informed that he needn’t bother to return. Saman who turns out for Badureliya SC bagged 37 wickets in 9 matches at an average 17.59 with a best of 8 for 53 against the ultimate winners of the Premier League SSC. He also has a Premier league century nine 50s with a career batting average of 26.40.
The SLC should have guided the selectors and have had some stipulations, the insiders say. They should have had a solid squad during this timeframe and kept the month of May for proper preparations.
Despite the fact that cricketers are scheduled to play two unofficial Tests, there are no preparatory matches as a team of the longer duration. Had they been prepared the squad could have played a few games against an invitation side instead of the spurious one-day games that have been listed next month.
They say Sri Lanka Cricket should have made these recommendations and have proper checks and balances and bring more meaning to their efforts that cost them mints of money.
Sri Lanka “A” Team tour of West Indies 2013
The Original list: Ashen Silva, Udara Jayasundara, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Perera, Kithruwan Vithanage, Ashan Priyanjan, Yashoda Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Madushanka, Lahiru Gamage, Madura Lakmal, Imran Khan, Vishwa Fernando, Madawa Warnapura, Ishan Jayaratne, Vimukthi Perera, Lahiru Jayaratne, Pabasara Waduge, Niroshan Dickwella, Gayan Manishan, P.H.T. Kaushal, Sohan Boralessa, Seekkuge Prasanna, Milinda Siriwardane, Chathuranga de Silva, Gayan Sirisoma, Malinga Pushpakumara, Ramith Rambukwella, Akila Dhananjaya, Dulanjana Mendis, Roshen Silva, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Sachith Pathirana.
The National Selectors added seven more players to the earlier nominated 34 member squad: They are: Kaushal Silva, Sachithra Serasinghe, Gihan Rupasinghe, Saliya Saman, Dilshan Munaweera, Janaka Gunaratne and Buddhika Sanjeewa.
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