Whither Sri Lanka Cricket?
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Sri Lanka cricket is a concern uppermost in the thoughts of all Sri Lankans and those who treasure the country’s brand of cricket. The premature exit of Sri Lanka from the Asia Cup and the humiliating defeats in the shorter formats of the game in the preceding years, left the minds of the Lankans battered, bruised and bewildered. Desires arose to see a resurgence in Sri Lanka’s cricket and restore the lofty heights to achieve this end. A national coach of Sri Lankan origin with enormous experience, and a panel of selectors were appointed. In this context, the forced resignation of a well-meaning captain Angelo Mathews, soon after the debacle in the Asia Cup, and dropping him from the team selected against the touring Englishmen, without citing a reason. However, shortly after the media onslaught, the explanation for his removal on the dubious and disputed ground of physical fitness, testifies to the desperation that has infused the minds of the head coach and his team of selectors.
It is apparent that Angelo Mathews had been singled out for punishment as the scapegoat. Is this castigatory measure judicious or vindictive, needs to be assessed. Has Angelo failed as a leader? Did he? Having played in 203 ODI’s, he has the highest average of over 42 per innings, very much over the rest in the team. The closest is Upul Tharanga with an average of over 32 per innings.
True enough, Sri Lanka has a leadership crisis. As many as 5 Captains have been tried within a space of 6 months, after Angelo resigned from captaincy in all formats, in July 2017. None of these captains viz. Upul Tharanga, Tissara Perera, Chamara Kapugedera, Lasith Malinga and Dinesh Chandimal have ever retained the mantle of leadership for more than a few games. Frequent revolution of captains does not foretell well for a team that is virtually young and inexperienced. Angelo Mathews was the most experienced of all these captains, and his forced removal seems very intriguing.
Angelo Mathews, a product of St. Joseph’s College, is a well mannered, disciplined individual who has led Sri Lanka many times before. He may not have been as successful as the previous skippers had been. But he was able to keep the team together, more than his usefulness as a captain and a batsman. His usefulness in the team as an all-rounder should be understood, until his nagging hamstring injury.
It should be understood that the skipper alone does not play the game. His duty is to get the best out of the team. Make tactical decisions and make sound judgments. More than anything, cricket, like any other game, is the team effort of a balanced team. For a team that lacks prowess, leadership cannot be a substitute.
Sri Lanka was plagued with a problem of stalwarts retiring within a space of 3 years. The selectors and the coaches were well aware of the problem of rebuilding. What effort have those in charge of cricket in Sri Lanka made in identifying talent, harnessing and nurturing them. Have their efforts been adequate? Or, have there been other factors that inhibited their search of new talent and building up a team. Without the provision of a team that is well balanced, with superficial talent,changing the captains after every defeat is like changing the pillow to cure a headache.
Angelo Mathews had Sri Lanka’s cricket at heart. A virtuous all-rounder, he contributed adequately with bat and ball. Until late with the ball. Considering the duty and responsibilities of captaincy is having a heavy toll on him. He voluntarily resigned his leadership position in the best interests of Sri Lanka cricket. It is the present coach who had persuaded him to accept leadership again. Much against his wishes and the wishes of family, close friends and peers, he accepted the mantle of leadership of the shorter formats. Having been responsible for his acceptance of leadership, for the coach to forcefully ask him for his resignation on Angelo’s physical status, does not warrant a place in the team for the England tour will appear very insidious.
Who is the scapegoat here? Angelo for the Asian Cup debacle or the Hathurusinghe team for being so ignorant to the incapacity of the Sri Lanka team to perform.
Sunil Thenabadu…emailsthenabadu@hotmail.com in Brisbane