Selectors eye seniors for WC, but who would fit in?
In Sri Lanka’s last five completed ODIs, only once did they bat the full quota of overs. Thrice, they were bowled out in under 33 overs. Batting has been their weakest link. And now that Sri Lanka has been relegated to play qualifiers to earn one of the two remaining slots for this year’s World Cup, the pressure is on the selectors to get the right combination.
Although the problems facing the team are aged-old–from inconsistent selection to players struggling to live up to the billings–the current selectors have a gigantic task to make the best choices and avoid the embarrassment of being thrown out of the World Cup main draw. The 1996 champions were one of the most consistent teams around the globe, having reached the finals twice in 2007 and 2011, before taking a nose dive.
With young guns failing to stamp their mark incisively, it is imperative that Sri Lanka finds a solution to their batting woes, and fast. Having sidelined some of the seniors from the ODI setup, the selectors tried out several young players during the last two years, but they have done little to positively impact the team’s progress.
Four seniors and former skippers are in contention for two slots in the World Cup squad (clockwise) Kusal Janith Perera, Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal
True, these young guns under Dasun Shanaka beat South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Australia in 2021 and 2022. But lack of consistency has hurt them massively. Many are now wondering if it’s time to recall some of the ‘discarded’ seniors to the ODI side, targeting this year’s World Cup.
For instance, Dimuth Karunaratne has been in the best form of his life in Test cricket during the last couple of years and was leading the ODI side before he was axed from the captaincy and from the side in 2021. His last four Test matches fetched him 501 runs at 83.50 and he has the best record as a Sri Lankan opener in the longer format.
Karunaratne’s success in Test cricket could be attributed to his strong technique and temperament. A patient batter, he is willing to spend long periods at the crease, waiting for the right ball to attack. He is also an excellent player of spin–a crucial skill for any batsman playing in the subcontinent. His ability to bat for long periods and anchor the innings has made him an invaluable asset for Sri Lanka in Test cricket.
With the team struggling to bat out the quota of overs, some believe Karunaratne’s steady and reliable batting could be just what Sri Lanka needs to turn things around in ODI cricket.
But others are skeptical and argue that Karunaratne’s lack of experience in the shorter format could be a liability. The 35-year-old has played only 31 games, having made his ODI debut 12 years ago against England in Manchester. They argue that his strike rate is too low to be effective in modern day ODI cricket, where teams regularly score at a rate of above six runs per over.
Kusal Janith Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka and Nuwanidu Fernando have all got better strike rates. But apart from Pathum Nissanka, none of the others have been consistent with the bat.
Gunathilaka is currently fighting a legal battle in Australia, having been accused of sexual harassment during the T20 World Cup last year. His career is in jeopardy. Since hitting his third ODI century against South Africa (118) in 2021, Fernando has had a poor run, scoring just 44 runs in his last five innings before being axed from the recent New Zealand series while Kusal Perera is only returning to the side after a year-long injury break. Perera last played an ODI in July 2021, but given his track record, Perera, might find himself in. Nuwanidu Fernando has just four matches under his belt.
Of course, selecting Karunaratne for the ODI team does come with its set of potential drawbacks. As mentioned, his strike rate could be a concern, especially in the power-play overs. There is also the question of where he fits in the lineup–does he open the innings or bat in the middle order? If he does open, who partners him?
Ultimately, these are questions that the selectors will have to answer. It is up to them to decide whether or not Karunaratne’s current form is enough to warrant a place in the ODI team. If they do decide to include him, it could lead to some reshuffling in the batting order.
One possible combination could be Karunaratne opening with Nissanka, followed by Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanaka. The other option would be to get him to bat one down with Kusal Perera and Nissanka opening the batting.
The selectors have said that two seniors from Angelo Mathews, Kusal Janith Perera, Karunaratne, and Dinesh Chandimal could come into the side. The question is who would fit in. Mathews is almost assured of a place, having returned to the side during the ODI series in New Zealand but who would be the other?