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"We are looking to the future" -- Lawrence Amerasena
By Bernie Wijesekera
"The future of the game is with the youth. They have to be groomed with a well planned infrastructure" said the secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket Lawrence Amerasena, in an interview with the Sunday Times on the topic of the next brigade of Sri Lanka Cricket.

An old Anandian, Lawrence Amerasena played cricket with the likes of former All Ceylon all-rounder Sarath Wimalaratne. He opened batting with A.G. Perera who later turned out for Bloomfield C and AC with success. Later Amerasena did much for Police S.C. He has a storehouse of experience as a cricketer, administrator and even donned the white coat as a qualified umpire.

Amerasena said "Like the other cricketing nations Sri Lanka has to groom youngsters for the future. There is a bunch of young prospects, who are working hard at the Max Academy under Jerome Jayaratne. Playing them in an odd match here and there is not the thing. But there should be continuity. They should be afforded to play on par with their counterparts at international level. It needs strategic planning. At the last ICC meeting - the SLC was represented by Mohan de Silva, Duleep Mendis and myself. I was able to convince our counterparts from England, Pakistan, West Indies, to send their 'A' teams here for a series of test and one-day matches next year ".

"To start off it will be a triangular 'A' team series between England, Pakistan along with the hosts Sri Lanka for a two-week tour starting March 1. Then the West Indies 'A' team will be here for two four-day tests and five ODI's in May. One can't persist on the old brigade all the time at some stage they have to go. This is one reason why the present hierarchy of the SLC is striving to bounce back by giving that much needed exposure to the 'A' team with more 'A' teams drawn from the other cricket playing nations to confront. The South African 'A' and New Zealand 'A' teams will be here jointly to play two test matches each. Later will play a triangular one-day series - Sept-Oct. 05".

"We have appointed Mike Tissera, the former Sri Lanka captain and administrator to manage the 'A' squad. He commands respect and possesses the experience to nurse and nurture them, on and off the field. It will benefit the youngsters immensely. As for the captain we have not still decided. Probably it may be Jehan Mubarak. Unlike in the past we will prepare hard and fast bouncy tracks for the youngsters to adjust themselves unlike the slow turning pitches. This will develop the skills of the batsmen and our young fastmen to revel on them. This has been a great setback to our batsmen when they had to confront them away from home".

Speaking on wickets Amerasena further elaborated "Head curator Anura Polonowita, will be adviced accordingly. The SLC has also recruited two University graduates to be trained as full-time curators. They will be either sent to India or New Zealand for training".

Burly Amerasena reiterated "Take Australia today. They simply are the best team in the world (both tests and the one-dayers). Their cricket is well structured. And the nursery is oozing with talented players who get the exposure to indulge in competitive cricket.

There are many more Michael Clarkes on the wings to take over. The SLC, too is striving to work on a similar programme - the benchmark to reach higher level with an infrastructure for the future”.

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