Generally a manhole is a surface indication about a network of underground capillaries that run through a city collecting refuse of the populace. Yet on the surface it is only a cover perched on the road that is run over by vehicle tyres morning, noon and night, but yet no one ever takes notice of.
 To be frank, last week I phoned a cricket insider about the wisdom of picking the oft-failing Chamara Silva for the third one-day squad. But he kept on playing in the same grove of low scores like a scratched record. Yet never in my dreams did I expect that the insider or my source would take me through the scary avenue that finally jarred every bone in my body. Still I shudder while looking back at the picture that he drew up while explaining the real situation and the plight of the game of cricket in this country has fallen into.
He drew the first blood by saying the present day game is more demanding and a player cannot survive in the international arena with only one discipline. Definitely besides a player’s bowling or batting, he must be an above-average fielder who could back up his credentials.
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| National coach Rumesh Ratnayake, National Cricket captain T.M. Dilshan, Chairman National Selection Committee Duleep Mendis and National Selector Brendon Kuruppu discussing some finer points in the Lankan strategy for the remainder of the series on Thursday. (Picture by Sanka Vidanagama) |
There have been certain cricketers who came into the international arena, but they could not hold on to their place as a result of indifferent fitness that leads to fielding lapses. No selector in a proper mind would give them a long run knowing that they are going to be a burden to the side when it comes to fielding.
As an example he brought forward the case of Thilina Kandamby. He admitted that the cricketer has not got the proper break akin to his batting prowess. Yet, what lacks in him is his fitness that cascades on to his fielding. As a result he has had a patchy run at the top. Still I find fault with him. The system has chosen him to be a contracted player for his worth. But he cannot hold his own where he is expected to be as a result of a faulty fitness regime. I feel it is up to him to work hard in his minus areas and come good. At 29 he still has the years ahead of him.
He said that for the past 5-6 years the selectors’ biggest problem has been the Lankan middle order. At one point the present captain T.M. Dilshan used to occupy one of the slots almost permanently, but a few hic-ups saw him losing the hold there. As a result he moved up the order and today he is the Sri Lankan opener in all three forms of the game. Yet, his moving up the order only created more headaches for the selectors.
Chamara Silva has been representing the country since 1999 and Chamara Kapugedera has been in the ODIs from 2006. On paper both are very talented players, but they have not been able to translate that ability in the international arena. Kapugedera after 87 ODIs and Silva after 72 ODIs still cannot find a place in the Lankan batting line up in spite of the chances thrown at them.
| Just a little poser, Mr. Selector |
Yes, Dinesh Chandimal – one of Sri Lankas future prospects was dropped after three failures. But, you retained Chamara Silva who has proved over and over again that he does not have the capacity to play at that grade. Chandimal could have been dropped from the playing XI and kept on in the squad without mentally depressing the young cricketer. If he has a technical flaw in his grip it could be addressed with the back-up crews. He scored a Lord’s hundred just about a month ago, unlike Silva.
At the same time who said that Prasanna Jayawardena who is blossoming out to be one of the technically correct frontliners can not play limited overs cricket. But, in the domestic tournaments he not only plays, but was also among the runs. If he plays in the middle more as a batsman maybe he can relieve Sangakkara’s burden somewhat.
These are some points just to ponder. |
In the past one and a half decades, the Lankan authorities looked at Russel Arnold, T. M. Dilshan, Jehan Mubarak, Chamara Kapugedera, Thilina Kandamby and Chamara Silva very closely to work in the middle order but, yet they could not find any one to occupy this area on a permanent basis. The only player who has come somewhat closer is Angelo Mathews, but he is nursing an injury which he has been plagued from his schools days.
This prevents him from bowling at this level. Yet, he knows if he has to survive at this level playing all three versions of the game he will have to become a more than a useful bowler. Maybe as a specialist batsman he may be able to survive at one form or two, but he cannot survive in all three. In the larger picture it is a drawback for him. With him being the all-rounder he may play in the shorter versions. But in the five-day game Sri Lanka has almost permanent fixtures in number 1-6. Then the next five slots go to bowlers. The reason: you need five bowlers at least at an average of 15 over a day per bowler to bowl 90 overs a day. So if Mathews cannot bowl he may not be able to hold to his post in the Test line up.
The present predicament of the Lankan cricket is a direct result of a faulty domestic cricket structure. A decade and a half ago if a player is dropped from the national side he goes down to the club system, scores runs and comes back. The player who gets dropped is still playing cricket in division II and he has match practice. Then when the national player is back in the groove he moves up again. In the same vein if a player in the first class club system has a problem and comes across a bad patch he has some avenue to fall back and still keep playing the game. But in today’s context, the player directly goes to the bench or moves to some obscure setup where you do not get a ground to practice or have a proper coach or a set of senior players who have represented the country to guide him through. This means one bad patch in his career, he becomes cricket history.
The reason being Sri Lanka has quantity in cricket, but there is no quality. The Provincial Cricket is only one structure. Then you find the Premier Division One Tier ‘A’ 10 Clubs. Tier ‘B’ ten clubs. Sara Division One (2 day) 18 clubs. Then you find the Division II, 2 day 28 teams. Under 23 Division One 14 teams. Under 23 Division Two 28 clubs. Under 23 Division Three 34 clubs.
There are so many teams involved in the game, but there is no smooth transfer of talent where there is a gradual process. In the past, players like Roshan Mahanama played lower division cricket for Bloomfield while at school and grew up with the system and when it came for them to leave school they were good enough for division one as well as to represent the country. But, now with clubs having no lower division cricket other than Division Three that former process is broken and there is no smooth transfer of players.
At the same time the Junior ‘A’ level cricket engagements are few and far between, as a result that is also no yardstick.
The culmination of all that is the system will find it more and more difficult to find proper replacements to the national grid in the very near future.
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