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Aravinda, Hashan and the next Test captain
By S.R. Pathiravithana
Sri Lanka cricket is not a place which has been alien to controversy. Bat of an eyelid ends up in a controversy. Off the field news in cricket had been a very good batting wicket to any scribe, and big wigs in the SLC keeps on adding fuel to the fire. The latest is its Vice President Aravinda de Silva who seems to have jumped the gun in defence of his buddy Hashan Tillekeratne.

There can not be very many people in this country than Aravinda who knows more about dressing room politics and what repercussions it brings, finally even on to the playing field itself. If the Minister has appointed a selection committee to make decisions regarding the composition of the team it should be done in consultation and in consensus and not alone facing a public audience. If the question was posed at him there would have been ways of putting it across more diplomatically.

No one has any arguments about Aravinda's cricketing ability, knowledge, or his contribution to the game. However when you are invited to hold a high office one must learn about the responsibilities and the other nitty-gritties that comes along with it. Then at this juncture they must curtail their exuberance and begin to act more conservatively.

What purpose
At present, Hashan Tillekeratne is 36 years old and his nine month captaincy also not has been greatest since gaining test status and how long more can he command a place in the side and by continuing with him what purpose could be served.

On the other hand is there a move to demoralise the present one-day captain Marvan Atapattu. So far as captain, Marvan has led the country to two series wins against the West Indies and England what are the present selectors trying to accomplish by keeping things in abeyance. For those who know, it must no secret at present that there is dressing room dissension.

Adding to the speculations Chairman of selectors Lalith Kaluperuma has gone on record saying that there are two more contenders in the race to the top post. They are Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara. On a prior occasion Mahela was thrust into the vice-captain position and then removed from that position because it caused him a loss of form. At present Mahela has just come out of that bad patch and is trying put all his focus on to his batting. As far as Sangakkara is concerned he looks that he is good material but, whether he is ready for the job as yet is another question.

The only country
At present Sri Lanka is the only Test playing country to have two captains. In England the two captaincy business failed and they did away with it. Australia groomed Ricky Ponting to take over from Steve Waugh and within 24 hours of Waugh's retirement announcement was made Ponting was named as the next Australian Test captain.

With his experience Hashan in the side can make a contribution. But, as far the captaincy is concerned he is not in the same mould of Steve Waugh. Changing of a captain even at this juncture will not bring in a huge change in the performance in the side if it is the correct one.

The whole country hopes that the correct decision will be made so that the road to the present SLC aim of becoming the best Test playing nation be a clear one. At the same time the selection committee should remember the undisputed world cricket champions Australia will be in the island during the next few days.

The captain's task who ever it is during this tour will turn out to be an unenviable one. If it is a success he will bask in glory, but at the same time things can turn sour for him too.

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