A well balanced allround combination
Sri Lanka junior cricket coach Roger Wijesuriya, who is in charge of the National Under-17 side on tour to England, is of the view that at least two series per year should put the budding youngsters in the correct path on their way to the national grid.
Wijesuriya, who is responsible for brushing up the skills of young cricketers of Under-15 and Under-17 age categories at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), pointed out these views at a practice session prior to Sri Lanka’s Under-17 cricket tour to England.
Sri Lankan junior cricketers at the nets. - Pix by Athula Devapriya
“It’s essential that youngsters of Under-15 and Under-17 age groups get at least two tours per year, so that they will get real exposure before reaching the Under-19, Under-23 and the national level. It’s not necessarily an obligation that all players who represent the respective age groups should reach the national team. But then again if we could produce the perfect replacements at national level, that’s what we are looking for. So it’s important that these youngsters get the exposure regularly, to keep their heads alive. This tour will be a head-start for them,” Wijesuriya stressed.
Sri Lanka will feature a balanced squad under the leadership of Chamika Karunaratne, a triple national sportsman from Royal College Colombo. The side will include a selection of talent from all parts of Sri Lanka which according to Wijesuriya, is a healthy development for the future of cricket in the country.
“The squad represents the best of cricketers of that age category in the country. But it has to be mentioned that there are hundreds more knocking at the door, waiting for their opportunity. It’s a challenge for those in the squad and for us as officials to keep them, especially the potential ones, buoyant,” Wijesuriya stated.
Assisting Wijesuriya in the coaching staff is Dharshana Gamage, the former Sri Lanka One Day International fast bowler. The duo will be eager to see the youngsters perform well in England during their 16-day tour where they are slotted to play a two-day game, a three-day game and three 50-overs games. To deputize Royalist Karunaratne, Madawa Nimesh of Royal College Panadura has been appointed.
According to Wijesuriya’s assessment the entire squad itself is a plethora of talent. It will include three cricketers from the present Sri
Roger Wijesuriya
Lanka Under-19 viz. Karunaratne, Nimesh and Sithara Gimhana, an allrounder from Richmond College Galle. Karunaratne, Nimesh, Nisal Francisco, Avishka Fernando, Kavin Bandara, Sahan Arachchige are some of the batsmen who can strengthen Sri Lanka’s batting while the side includes a variety of fast bowlers and spinners. Besides the final squad, the SLC selectors have named five others as stand bys. The Sri Lanka Under-17s squad will leave for England in the early hours of August 8 and will return on August 26.
Sri Lanka Under-17 Squad: Chamika Karunaratne (Capt/Royal College Colombo), Madawa Nimesh (VC/Royal College Panadura), Charith Asalanka (Richmond College Galle), Nisala Francisco (Ananda College Colombo), Lasith Lakshan (St. Thomas’ College Matara), Avishka Fernando (St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa), Sithara Gimhana (Richmond College Galle), Kavin Bandara (D.S. Senanayake College Colombo), Sahan Arachchige (Ananda College Colombo), Keshan Wijeratne (Maliyadeva College Kurunegala), Asitha Madushanka (St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya), D.A.P.L. Somaweera (Maliyadeva Model School Kurunegala), Ryan Seyer (Trinity College Kandy), Thilan Nimesh (Prince of Wales’ Moratuwa), Ravindu Thillakaratne (S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia).
Stand Bys: Shehan Muthaliph (D.S. Senanayake Colombo), Tharindu Hasantha (S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia), Shenal de Silva (Prince of Wales’ College Moratuwa), Duwaraka Seilan (St. Josephs’ College Jaffna), Lakkana Jayasekara (Ananda College Colombo)
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