Shanaka wants more focus on training
Dasun Shanaka proved his worth in the recent SLC Invitational T20 League
Throwdown specialists with the ability to rachet up speeds in excess of 145kmph with the sidearm could help Sri Lankan batters better prepare to face bowlers with express pace, opines Sri Lanka limited over skipper Dasun Shanaka, ahead of their six-match white-ball series against South Africa.
The sidearm is a piece of cricketing equipment shaped like a long spoon, with its far-end designed to hold and hurl the ball at great speeds. Sri Lanka is up against two of the fastest bowlers in the modern era—Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje—who regularly reached over 145kmph during the series against South Africa, a huge challenge for the inexperienced local batsmen.
“I have requested the services of at least two throwdown specialists who could generate express pace in order for us to counter pace generated by bowlers like Rabada and Nortje,” said Dasun, in an interview with the Sunday Times.
Sri Lanka had one of the best throwdown specialists in Nuwan Seneviratne, popularly known as ‘Bawwa’, but Seneviratne accepted a lucrative deal with the Indian Board three years ago to support Indian cricketers to counter left-arm fast bowlers.
Dasun’s wish has not been granted yet but the limited-over specialist is hoping Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will facilitate it as soon as possible to help players up their game. He leads a young side as Sri Lanka is on a mission to rebuild a team to replicate past glory, having gone through an unending cycle of transitions since the retirement of some its cricketers during the last decade.
“This is a very important series,” Dasun, who turns 30 next month, said.
The islanders have lost nine out of 11 ODIs in the ICC Super League points table and sit at 12th position in the points table. “Preparation is the key. We are so used to batting against medium pacers, who bowl at 120kmph to 140kmph at the domestic level. However, the challenge is quite different at the international level with most of them bowling at an express pace. The only thing we can do is to replicate those situations at training and this is why I have made a request for at least two throwdown coaches. We need to prepare well at training.”
Sri Lanka’s vulnerability against pace and swing was evident during their recent tour to England where seamers picked up 24 wickets in three ODI games. This is not the only concern Dasun has. The lack of power-hitters is another worry. The recent SLC Invitational T20 League tournament exposed this in no uncertain terms with teams managing to go beyond 160 plus runs only four times in 13 games.
“This is another concern for us going forward,” said Dasun, who is the only recognised power-hitter in the Sri Lankan ranks.
The top scorer of the tournament, he made a swashbuckling 48 off 17 balls to help SLC Greys score a match-winning 201 in the final against SLC Reds. He is impressed by hard-hitting Lahiru Madushanka, a bowling allrounder, who made 79 off 59 balls against SLC Blues in the recent tournament.
“We need good power-hitters who can clear the ropes at the death overs,” he maintained.
“So we need to do a specific training like range hitting and reverse sweeping to improve our ability to score runs at the death overs.”
Dasun says he has stressed this to his charges and coaching staff to get their focus on improving on their limitations. The team is currently in training for the South Africa series which begins with the three-match ODI series on Thursday. It includes three T20 internationals, their last international assignment before heading to the UAE for the World T20 qualifiers. “As I said earlier, both series are important to us,” he reiterated.
“We need to start winning ODI matches to put ourselves in a good position in the ODI league in order to earn a direct qualification for the 2023 World Cup. On the other hand, this is our last series before the T20 World Cup and it’s important we head to UAE with a positive mind.”
Commenting on the series, Dasun said Sri Lanka has a slight advantage over South Africa as it is minus some key players like David Miller, Quinton de Kock and Lungi Ngidi for the ODI leg of the series. However, they are expected to join the team to play the T20 series.
Sri Lanka’s 30-man squad includes Dinesh Chandimal, a former captain who had earned a recall to the side after long being left out from the last three series against Bangladesh, England and India.
| Schedule (All matches at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium) 1st ODI: Thursday, September 2, 3.00pm 2nd ODI: Saturday, 4 September 4, 3.00pm 3rd ODI: Tuesday, September 7, 3.00pm 1st T20I: Friday, September 10, 8.00pm 2nd T20I: Sunday, September 12, 8.00pm 3rd T20I: Tuesday, September 14, 8.00pm | |
| SL probable squad for the series:Dasun Shanaka (Capt), Kusal Janith Perera, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Minod Banuka, Dinesh Chandimal, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Akila Dananjaya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Mahesh Theekshana, Pulina Tharanga, Ramesh Mendis. SA squad for ODI series: Temba Bavuma (Capt), Junior Dala, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Janneman Malan, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams SA squad for T20I series: Temba Bavuma (Capt), Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Sisanda Magala, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams. | |