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Lessons to learn from the tour Down Under
By Ranil Abeynaike
In the end the Sri Lankan team concluded their tour of Australia on a pretty satisfactory note. After the performance in New Zealand and the team from shown during the early games in Australia not many supporters would have had their money on Marvan Atapattu’s men reaching the VB series final, leave alone win the opening game, in the three match final.

That was good. But is good, good enough? Is the cricket community satisfied with some success. There is no purpose in waiting for the next round of failures to get activated again.

To be on the look out for fresh talent must be an ongoing procedure. It must be the first and most important lesson that should have been learnt from this tour and the happenings of the other recent tours.

In the end I reckon the selectors have done a reasonable job with the two teams to tour Bangladesh. Marvan Atapattu and Chaminda Vaas would relish the rest they have been afforded. Jehan Mubarak has lost favor with the selectors. He did get a number of opportunities. He is not a regular opener and to be sent to Australia and be slotted up there is a tough ask. Should he get amongst the runs in domestic cricket, and then he should be given the opportunity – should it arise – to bat at number five or six. What about Russell Arnold? Is he not part of the plans for World Cup 2007? In my opinion there is time before he nears the expiry date. Keep Arnold going for a while longer.
Batting and even bowling on pitches that offer pace and bounce has been discussed since the island attained Test status. The ability to cope has progressed at a snails pace. For one day cricket the pitches are prepared to be batsmen friendly. That made life easier for the Sri Lankans and the experience and confidence boosting.

There are pitches available, both centre and practice capable of producing good pace and bounce. The S.S.C., P.Sara Stadium and C.C.C. are all capable of coming close to a Brisbane Surface, when prepared with intention. An effort must be made to bring the other turf pitches where first class cricket is played to that level. All facilities required must be provided. It is the only way to learn, the only way to prepare.

Sri Lanka cracked-up at crucial stages on a number of occasion throughout the tournament. The second final saw them lose the huge advantage they had created for themselves. Whilst it underlined the Aussie ability to squeeze out of the tightest of situations and capitalize to make them winning situations, the Sri Lankans were incapable of such deeds. When it was all going to plan they were able to come up winners, but the moment the opposition began to strangle, the wheels fell off.

Again, it goes back to preparation. The national players do not play much domestic cricket. For most of them the motivation is not there. Often they participate because it is essential. All of them get a start at that level and go back there time and again.

It is also a subject which has been discussed over and over again – the poor quality and poor organization of domestic cricket. The first class players do not play more than eight or ten games of one day cricket in a season. That is loyally inadequate. They have to get the quota at ‘A’ team level. That also depends on what has been organized for the year.

My view is that this country has a number of naturally talented cricketers. They have to be guided, given all the opportunities to develop and progress. All avenues that cricketers in countries like Australia and England must be made available or come close to that. Make the most of these lessons learnt from the tour of Australia.

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