A deputy skipper of a cricket team
View(s):I wish to write about being deputy skipper of a cricket team since I was deputy in the Sinhalese Sports Club P. Saravanamuttu Trophy Team at the age of 23. The task of captaining came on my shoulders at the time since the captain was injured very early in the
Young Dinesh Chandimal led Sri Lanka in two ODI wins against the touring Proteas
tournament, and I had to lead the side for the rest of the matches with the Sri Lanka captain C.I. Gunasekera playing under me.
I took up this challenge although I had played only two years for the S.S.C. in the P. Sara Trophy but our team ended up winning the final against the N.C.C. becoming champions in the P. Saravanamuttu Trophy tournament.
Once a person is appointed deputy skipper, he has to be prepared to lead the side when the skipper is not available. This is why Chandimal should have been at once selected to captain the Sri Lanka Team, in the current matches against South Africa due to the absence of Angelo Mathews. It is difficult to understand once the Sri Lanka Cricket administrators had appointed a deputy skipper, why it was necessary to consider his appointment again.
Cricketers playing in a team should not have their favourites in a side and differentiate between seniors and juniors. It is the duty of the members of the team selected by a capable selection committee to play as a unit and perform unselfishly for the team.
Also when a new skipper or acting skipper is leading the side, all members of the team should give their full co-operation during the matches and if the team is on a tour, off the field as well.
Sometimes I wonder when our National Team does not perform well at times, whether it is due to a lack of team spirit.
I hope that coaches, principals of schools and masters-in-charge of cricket, inculcate this characteristic or trait in cricketers at school level. I am sure this will help them when playing for the national team.
Lasantha Rodrigo
Moratuwa
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