Is Kusal Janith paying the price in favour of Thirimanne?
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There is a cricketing conundrum doing the rounds recently which presumably only the Selectors seem know the answer.How or why is it that Kusal Janith Perera has been benched in favour of Lahiru Thirimanne? The latter’s Test statistics are in the low 20’s while Kusal Janith’s figures during the same period is almost double that figure! However, our Chief Selector, Ashantha de Mel, seem have the answers at his fingertips – if you want to believe it.
Kusal Janith made his maiden Test century (110) against Zimbabwe when Sri Lanka toured the African nation in 2016. Then can one forget that stunning match-winnings innings by Kusal Janith of an unbeaten 153 against South Africa last year in Durban against a bowling attack comprising, inter alia, Dale Steyn, Kagisa Rabada and Vernon Philander when chasing a target of 304 runs? But five innings later Kusal Janith was benched!
Of course Ashantha de Mel states that Kusal Janith is “a brilliant player” but sadly he is unable to find a place against Zimbabwe. As usual de Mel has the answer. “His (Kusal Janith) style of batting is suited for faster pitches because he cuts and pulls well” the Chief Selector stated before the team left to Harare. Perhaps de Mel does not seem to have observed the searing cover drives and the dainty late cuts Kusal Janith delivers. However, at the time of writing (on the fifth day of the second Test at Harare) there were big scores registered by each side: In the first Test, Sri Lanka totaled 515, while Zimbabwe made 406 in the second Test. Currently, Zimbabwe seem to be holding a winning hand and could well square the series if rain and bad light does not intervene in the final session of play.
The welcome return to form of Angelo Mathews who recorded his first Test double century in the first Test and a half-century in the second Test at Harare augurs well. Those innings have boosted the 32-year old batsman no end and he is now interested in playing in all three formats of the game. Hopefully his fitness will have to remain in order to realize his dreams. Mathews also took a splendid running catch to dismiss the dangerous Sikander Raza.
As coach Hathurusinghe, previously pointed out, Mathews’ running between wickets was to say the least, abominable resulting, on more occasion than one with his partner paying the price: Mathews was involved in more than 64 run outs and on 45 occasions the batsman at the other end paid the price, stated Hathurusinghe. Eventually, Mathews, who was a more than useful swing bowler gave up his career in this regard due to his questionable fitness.
Currently, with the reports reaching Sri Lanka from Harare, Mathews has become more health conscious and is following a strict diet chart.
Hathurusingha and the selectors also contended that Mathews lacked the “cricket fitness” to field for 50 overs.
Not anymore, as his fitness has now come to the fore. To prove the point, Mathews also took a splendid running catch to dismiss the dangerous Sikander Raza at Harare.
With new coach Mickey Arthur at the helm who began his tenure with a win in the first Test, he (Arthur) has a duty to ensure that players are not dropped from the side at the proverbial drop of a hat. Sri Lanka too has to contend with a very weak first-class set-up with 26 so-called first-class clubs. These are matters the coach has to contend with.
Players must be given continuity to ensure that they develop confidence. Chopping and changing players at the first available opportunity does not help. For example left-handed opener Upul Tharanga, who has registered 15 ODI centuries is now a part of history, even after having previously captained the team.
As Aristotle (384 BCE – 322 BCE) stated, ‘one swallow does not a summer make’. Current coach Mickey Arthur started with a win in his first Test at the helm but can he sustain the victory path? Players should be given a suitable time-frame to register their claims for continuity. This is something the authorities must be seriously looking into.
It appears that Kusal Janith is, on occasion, shuttled in the batting order, as if Selectors are playing ‘snakes and ladders’ thus creating more pressure on the player. With many highly paid specialist coaches – be it in batting, spin and fast bowling and fielding – employed by the Cricket Board, surely such issues could be ironed out.