Sri Lankan cricket’s journey to the unknown
View(s):The last Test win against Pakistan I consider as one of the most significant wins in the game’s annals as far as Sri Lanka is concerned. The significance in that win could be deciphered in many ways, but I prefer to dwell upon the part where the country is about to move into the unknown and how a workman like win of this nature would take the case of Lankan cricket into the future.
We need infarstructure indeed. However at the same time they also must strive to upgrade the tournaments in the country- Pic by Athula Devapriya
From the beginning of this tour, Pakistanis only spoke about Kumar Sangakkara being half the Lankan side and how they have learned to counter the threat posed by veteran Lankan left arm craftsman Rangana Herath. For them, the others are still of unknown quantity.
For a moment I do not rule out the aura of confidence that a cricketing legend of the calibre of Kumar Sangakkara could bring into a dressing room. His very presence, his contributions during the team meeting while planning things out and the general comments while on the field, add so much more value to the Lankan cause. But, his physical contribution of 34 – very marginal by the high standards that he has laid down by his game and a ‘golden duck’ did not count much at the end of the game. At the same time, Herath’s 1 for 89 off 34 overs (he bowled in only one inning) was also not a match winning factor. Nevertheless, Angelo and his band of cricketing pups moved with purpose and ensured that they would enter the next phase of Lankan Test cricket – playing a Test match without Sanga or Mahela for the first time in fifteen years is done with confidence.
The other day, the Lankan Cricket’s Interim Committee head, Sidath Wettimuny, told journos that they too were expecting ups and downs in Lankan cricket in this transition period, but they must strive to strike a balance and to do that the cricketers also must be beefed up with the necessary facilities.
Coming back to the Lankan team, it is heartening to see, openers Kaushal Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne have raised their hands and agreed that they would work by the wishes of skipper Mathews. Yes, they are gradually making that slot in the Lankan line up their own — an achievement to be proud of.As for Dhammika Prasad, he could be described as the most improved bowler among the Lankan ranks, and is fast becoming someone who could be trusted upon. Pour some that no-injury concoction down his throat and he could be as good as anyone in the world circuit.
However, the redeeming factor in that game was the bowling of the two new finds – off spinner P.H.T. Kaushal and Dushmantha Chameera. Besides the fact that they lack the necessary experience of fighting in the Vegas ring, they bowled with a lot of purpose.
Chameera already has excited a lot of people including Australian commentator Dean Jones who has mentioned so to Sidath Wettimuny during a conversation. As for Kaushal, he must remember even Muralitharan and Shane Warne found that wickets were hard to come by in their initial outings and it is experience and willingness to learn about International requirements that helped the two great spinners to master their respective arts. Kaushal still has all the time in the world to learn his trade, but, like Arjuna Ranatunga kept faith in Murali, Angelo also must learn to trust his talented soldiers. Then they broaden their horizon. At the same time, the role of the selectors also should be mentioned. They took over from a group of successful selectors that had already seen and picked the talent to win an Asia Cup, a World T-20 title and Sri Lanka’s maiden series win in England. Yet, with the shift of power the former lot was dumped and the new lot under former fast bowler Kapila Wijegunewardena was brought in with halos. This was their first major assignment.
Prior to that they sat through a rather successful ‘A’ series against Pakistan where explosive Kusal Janith Perera batted with new found confidence and came up with a series of impressive innings. Certainly his performances stood above that of Kithruwan Vithanage.
Then in the same vein Kapila’s men recalled ageless allrounder Jehan Mubarak after an eight-year international hibernation which I thought was fair enough. Though he did not come up to expectations when provided with the opportunity, he always lived in the shadows, because the insiders knew his value and the in-depth knowledge of the game that he carries with him. At thirty four if he could fit into the playing XI it would have been felt that he could be of help to Angelo who otherwise would miss the timely contributions of Mahela and Sanga. But, it is with a sigh of relief that we see that Mubarak in the playing XI ready to work along with skipper Mathews towards the impending short term challenges.
All this points out that the selectors are good enough to make decisions, and, are bold enough to put those decisions into action. They must remember this is only the beginning. From this point the forward march is not going to be easy. Mathews seemingly is the only world class cricketer that Sri Lanka possess to engage in all three forms of the game. Then the cricket think-tank of this country also should provide the Lankan skipper with sufficient buoyancy so that he could strengthen his shoulders and carry the burden.
It was only last week that the Lankan fast bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake was lamenting about the dearth of facilities in the local Premier League system for the growth of fast bowling. He said a survey that they had carried out proved that in a general first class Premier league match a fast bowler was used only at an average of 9.1 overs per match. But, in the two Test matches two fast bowlers and Mathews have bowled 144.2 overs. Fifty three overs in the first Test and a staggering 91.2 overs in the second Test.
Under these circumstances no wonder Chameera became the latest victim of an absurd system. Then we move to the subject of facilities for cricketers. On Thursday, Sidath Wettimuny and Co laid the foundation for the new Indoor Nets and the Swimming Pool Complex at the Max Academy at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Yes, it is a crying need. These are facilities that the Lankan cricket desperately needs to swim in the international cricket pool. But, there are other structures that also need the same urgency in tending. As the fast bowling coach Ramanayake pointed out, there are shortcomings in the Premier League where the accent is on spin bowling. Yet, as far as Sri Lanka as a Test playing nation is still searching for a world class spin bowler to take over the reins from Rangana Herath. So, as far as we are concerned the present status quo in local premier league does not help produce either fast bowlers or quality spin bowlers. This means the time has come for the hierarchy to lay another foundation stone at Maitland Place, to arrest this situation.
At the same time the school cricket arena at present is in an unholy mess. A bunch of school teachers who knows zilch about cricket governance or the strategies that could help the Lankan school cricket come back as the proper basics provider are groping in the dark, but are professing to be the Mr. Know-Alls.
Right now the game is on overdrive, but on the reverse where the local game is concerned. Sidath Wettimuny admitted that we are still managing to hang on to our international status. But, living in a bubble gives you no comfort, privacy or a helpful push while you are engaged in a forward march.