The Senanayake saga: The reconstruction of a champion spinner
We sat upon our couches staring at the TV screen exasperated on that boxing day of 1995. Sri Lanka were hosted by Australia for a three Test 
series and had already won the first Test in Perth. Here, in this game we were watching the burly Australian Umpire Darrell Hair no-balling the young Lankan off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan on the opening day of the second Test at the MCG.
It caused a huge furore in the cricketing world, but, even after testing Muralitharan’s action it was proved to be an ‘optical illusion’ and there was no remodelling involved. The only remodelling that went through that ‘Murali’ debate was the remodelling of the ICC’s bent arm tolerance level raising it from seven degrees to fifteen degrees as it stands today.
Muralitharan survived that onslaught and in the very next year, played a pivotal part of Sri Lanka winning their “key to the cricketing hierarchy – the ICC World Cup”.
Eighteen years later, a similar obstacle stalled the forward march of Lankan promising off spinner Sachithra Senanayake. Unlike Murali, by the time the lad was called he already was on the ascent. He had already played a leading role in the Lankans completing a miracle double — two major titles in two months. First it was the Asia Cup and then was Sri Lanka’s second capture of an ICC trophy — the T-20 Word Championship — both titles done and dusted on the Bangladeshi soil.
Pre- Test
Then the marauding Lankans charged in to the Heathrow Airport in a bid to subjugate English cricket. Yes, they were successful. There, the Lankans beat England in all three formats of the game. But, everything was not tikitiboo for them. This time off spinner Senanayake was reported by the ICC officials who were on duty during the ODI leg of the tour.
Senanayake had to undergo the customary and dreaded ICC scrutiny and was found guilty.
This is the amazing story of his comeback — remodelled, reconditioned and ready for combat.
The shock wave that struck when ‘Sachithra’ was reported for a suspect bowling action during the England series was a setback to the bowler and Sri Lanka cricket as a whole. He had to undergo testing at an ICC accredited centre for bowling actions at ‘Laughborough’ in Britain within 21 days after he was reported.
The official assessment of the test which was received after a 14 day period indicated that Sachithra’s bowling action was well over the permitted fifteen degrees tolerance level. This was followed by the immediate banning of the bowler. This meant that Sachithra could not represent his country from that point onwards and in this case had to follow the guidelines set by the ICC.
Post- Test
At this point all seemed so gloomy due to the high extension levels found in his bowling action. During the test the bowler averaged a high between 20 and 42 degrees (elbow extension).
By then with the ICC cricket World Cup just eight months away it was a tall order. From where were Sri Lanka Cricket and the Coaching Department going to begin the rectification programme in getting Sachithra back on track? What would be the process and way forward in addressing this issue? These were the thoughts the authorities were occupied with.
Obviously the vehicle was put into the garage – or the banned Sachithra was hauled back to the SLC coaching department. Then it was decided to send the bowler with his consent to the University of Perth in Western Australia where he could obtain the assistance of Daryl Foster (Consultant Coach).
Foster has been involved in the specialised area of work for over 20 years and has helped many bowlers, fast and spin, in rehabilitating their bowling action.
Senanayake had to undergo the customary and dreaded ICC scrutiny
It was also decided that Sachithra would travel to Australia with SLC’s Head of Coaching Jerome Jayaratne for ten days during which they would focus on remodelling his bowling action under the guidance of Foster. Here, Sachithra underwent three 3D Biomechanical Lab Tests of his bowling action in assessing the progress of the work being carried out in Perth. After returning to Sri Lanka the knowledge and intelligence gained during that time were passed onto Piyal Wijetunga (National Spin Bowling Coach) who continued the remediation work with further minute adjustments in making sure they were heading in the right direction.
Sachithra’s work ethics
and patience
The most difficult obstacle confronted in this whole episode was working with the mental aspects of the Sachithra episode. Since he was called in July this year the coaches realised that Sachithra was impatient to get back playing for his country again exactly not knowing the gravity of the situation and how difficult it would be — to be precise, to come out of this predicament, still having the ability or luxury to bowl all four varieties of deliveries that Sachithra usually bowls at International level. However, the coaches also realised that they had managed to break in to his mental thoughts and would have to make the best possible decisions in his interest.
Nevertheless, Sachithra’s commitment was of the highest level by any standard; he was at the National Training Center in Khettarama on a day-to-day basis working with the National Coaching staff on his bowling action, trying to correct every little thing possible and was ready at all times to explore any possible change. National Spin Bowling Coach Piyal Wijetunga’s tireless efforts must be appreciated in this process.
Besides, Sachithra went on his own to the Chennai centre for the second private Test – a thing that was carried out with much secrecy. He flew to India one day and flew back the next day — the whole episode was carried out under a cloak.
Piyal was kept back from being a member of the National support staff from the recent Indian tour to purely help Sachithra in his rehabilitation work as he needed all the assistance he could get, having the 2015 World Cup in mind.
However, the strategy worked. First he was released to play in the Mercantile ‘A’ division Limited Overs tournament and then he was involved in the SLC-conducted Premier League Limited overs tournament.
These two experiments worked as expected. The local umpires were satisfied. Meanwhile, his second ICC action test which was done in India was positive and he was cleared.
His second coming into international cricket was like launching a brand new model. He was very confident with his new side-on action and he still bowls all his varieties. This gave him more impetus.
In the two games that Sachithra played he was impressive, taking early breakthroughs.
Now, as long as he sticks to his remodelled action, there is no cause for any official to be concerned about his flaws. Now it is up to him to make the most out of his international comeback.