Talent and law of averages

By the time this publication comes out most of the people concerned in this article would be either 40,000ft above sea level, eastward bound or else at the end of the first day’s play of their first match on their West Indian excursion. However I am sure at least the lone local selector who has made a habit of not making it into any of their meetings would be here in Sri Lanka to make note of the following facts. Then as a result he would think of reconsidering his present stance.

During the past few weeks this column was hinting that leg spinner Bandara was not bound to make it to the final composition of the New Zealand tour and would be with the ‘A’ team players in the West Indies. But, what we did not say is that neither that long forgotten reliable middle order batsman Thilan Samaraweera nor the inform batsman Malinda Warnapura would not be in the NZ squad, but would be together in the Carribean.

At the same time it is also intriguing to make a little comparison on the contributions of Samaraweera and T.M. Dilshan which is somewhat identical on contribution, statistics and experience, however to my mind Samaraweera has more to give in contribution and potential wise than his counterpart in the long run towards the development of the game in the country. But, ironically, it seems that Samaraweera lacks ability of being at the right place at the right time.

Initially Thilan Samaraweera caught the eye of the local selectors as an allrounder with immense potential and at one juncture his name was even bartered as a potential national captain. So much so he broke into the national side as an off spinner after a string of noteworthy performances with the ball. However in his 39 Test-match career so far he has bowled only 214 overs to finish with a haul of 14 wickets with an average of 47.92. Where Thilan made his indelible mark was as a dogged middle order batsman, indeed a rare commodity in Sri Lankan cricket in the present context.

At present Thilan Samaraweera’s record as a batsman reads as Matches –39 innings – 58 runs – 2089, highest score – 142 and Average -- 47.92 – Centuries 5 half centuries 13.

Then the musings just wondered round to sniff as to why the hatchet fell upon this talented batsman. We found out that Thilan had a technical fault where he used to pull his top grip out of bat while batting against the spinners in India and his average of 10.50 in three matches in India shows that he really had a problem. I guess that at the same time the SLC spends mints of money on various kinds of specialists only to guide these cricketers through these minor faults. Then in the very next tour against England in England Thilan failed in two Test matches and has not been considered worthy enough to be a contender for a middle order slot there onwards.

That was in England and in India, and we accept that he failed. But, still he has proved his talents beyond any reasonable doubt. As we all know now we are touring New Zealand and during the last tour of New Zealand Thilan was one of the batsmen who fared well to end up with an average of over fifty runs with scores of 88 and 73 in the two games. Then, Samaraweera’s technique may not have worked in India, but, it certainly has worked in New Zealand.

At present Thilan Samaraweera’s record as a batsman reads as Matches –39 innings – 58 runs – 2089, highest score – 142 and Average -- 47.92 – Centuries 5 half centuries 13. Then the musings just wondered round to sniff as to why the hatchet fell upon this talented batsman. We found out that Thilan had a technical fault where he used to pull his top grip out of bat while batting against the spinners in India and his average of 10.50 in three matches in India shows that he really had a problem. I guess that at the same time the SLC spends mints of money on various kinds of specialists only to guide these cricketers through these minor faults. Then in the very next tour against England in England Thilan failed in two Test matches and has not been considered worthy enough to be a contender for a middle order slot there onwards.

It is common knowledge that playing New Zealand in New Zealand is as difficult as playing against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. They are experts in exploiting their home conditions. Nevertheless there is this thirty year old Thilan Samaraweera who did well in his only visit to that country, left out and not considered. His job qualifications were in vain. Funnily the selectors have opted for twenty-six year old Chamara Silva who is more akin as an ODI specialist and with no Test experience. Then this means that we are we trying to drop him blind folded at the deep end or else we are taking him as another with a tourist visa on a jaunt to a beautiful country.

Then the selectors can speak of current form, if it was current form the cricketer who should have been there in New Zealand should have been young Malinda Warnapura who showed more resolve as a batsman than any other in India by carrying his bat out twice after going in at number three during the recent ‘A’ tour.

Like Chamara Silva thirty year-old T.M. Dilshan also must consider himself as extremely lucky to be still with the seniors. His current form also has not been that impressive with his last five Test scores reading as 8-32-45-4-18 neither had he a good run in the Champions trophy ODI series that Sri Lanka fouled-up in India.

Like Samaraweera, Dilshan who is also thirty years old has the necessary pre-qualifications for the job which reads as Matches 39 Runs 2056 HS 168 Batting Ave 36.71—100’s – 4, 50’s-- 9 Wickets 6 Best Bowling 2/4 Bowling Ave 45.16. may be not as impressive as Samaraweera’s but, good enough. However he also has improved his credentials as a fielder in recent times.

Then the next question is what’s good for the Goose should be good for the Gander too. But, it seems that here in Sri Lanka the law of averages does not work in that manner.

We have seen it happening. So and so does like so and so’s face so this so and so sees to that the other so and so is out of the scene for ever.