Hilal Suhaib
Sri Lanka exceeded my expectations at the 2019 World Cup — a winless exit was a strong possibility. Dimuth Karunaratne’s men overcame the challenges set by their own camp to end the tournament with three wins.
There is no criticism of this team for not making the semis. Not losing to Afghanistan is a praiseworthy accomplishment today for a nation that once won the ODI world title and were for many years considered strong contenders to enter the final stages of any ICC tourney.
While the top ODI sides of the modern era all target the 400-run mark, Sri Lanka’s batting is so fragile and unreliable that posting 250 in 50 overs has become remarkable.
What challenges from their own camp were they faced with, you ask? The naming of a new selection panel months before the World Cup, and with it the naming of a new skipper who barely featured in the ODI side for years, is a glaring oddity and haphazard preparation for cricket’s showpiece tournament.
While Karunaratne has brought minute stability to the top order through the stemming of early losses of wickets, his unexpected appointment as captain and ODI opener did not take Sri Lanka beyond the round-robin stages of the World Cup.
Karunaratne’s appointment then arguably did not make a big difference. There are other batsmen who could have batted just as circumspect and with caution as Karunaratne did, had they been tasked with that role.
In the four years since the 2015 World Cup, Sri Lanka experimented with umpteen opening batting combinations in the 50-over format, and Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Dilshan Munaweera, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva and Sandun Weerakkody, were never tasked with surviving the new ball in their roles as ODI openers.
These batsmen were instructed to attack and capitalise on the powerplay, and attacking against the new ball is risky and results in low batting averages but high strike-rates.
Getting Sri Lanka off to quick starts was the job required of the many different openers trialled by Sri Lanka in the four years leading up to this tournament, and one can argue a quickfire 39 from an opener is just as valuable as a half-century, which is why valuing a batsman’s contributions and importance in the side based solely on how many half-centuries or 100s they have scored must obviously be avoided.
Numerous factors impact a batsman’s inability to be consistent in limited-overs cricket, but nothing can be more damaging than the fear of failure, which often is needlessly introduced by a rudderless and inept management who experiment with the playing XI after every game and series in the hopes of magically stumbling on a winning team combination.
The vast number of players Sri Lanka have rifled through since the 2015 World Cup has been widely documented. At the 2019 tournament, Sri Lanka made regular changes and failed to play a settled top order batting line-up.
None of this highlights competency from SLC officials and the executive committee who routinely meddle in team selections.
Sri Lanka’s ‘new’ chief selector Ashantha de Mel, who complained to the ICC about pitches and hotels provided to Sri Lanka at this World Cup, served as chairman of selectors for many years, and from 2004-2013 de Mel was sacked and rehired nearly a half-dozen times and has now re-emerged as chief selector and team manager.
Since his return, the outspoken de Mel has made statements to the media disparaging Sri Lankan cricketers whom he dislikes. Some of de Mel’s criticism came while Sri Lanka were in the midst of an overseas tour, and he was unafraid to suggest the sacking of their then captain Dinesh Chandimal while the team was playing a Test in New Zealand late last year.
What good can come out of an SLC official ridiculing and belittling his own team’s cricketers to the media? And what does it say about you when your criticism is not fact-driven and based on subjective analysis? The chief selector must not disparage any cricketer to justify his selections — that is unacceptable.
During the 2019 World Cup, Kumar Sangakkara again touched on the importance of playing a consistent top order and not changing the batting order as often as Sri Lanka has done. Players must be given permanent positions in the batting lineup and they must be allowed the time to develop their roles, Sangakkara called for while on-air as a TV commentator.
Sangakkara’s pleas continue to fall on deaf ears, and there is no inclination the constant changes to the top order of the ODI side will cease unless a coach and captain with a backbone can stand up against illogical selection policies and interference from executive committee members of SLC.
But the days of strong captains and coaches are a thing of the past. Any power or influence senior cricketers once possessed over curbing SLC officials’ meddling in team selections has been squashed by the cricket board — captains now come and go as rapidly as top international coaches are fired, and they are easily disposed of with no public outcry to end the destructive path taken by the immoral and incapable men who continue to plague the administration at SLC.
The Sri Lankan public cheer on the inconsistent selections, as they love seeing new players and they are just as impatient as those who govern SLC.
When SLC, under Nishantha Ranatunga and Upali Dharmadasa, prevented Sangakkara, who was returning from a two-month injury layoff, from playing a practise match against Bangladesh in 2013, after Sangakkara had travelled to Uyanwatte Stadium in Matara, so they could bully senior players to gain leverage during tense negotiations over player contracts, Sri Lankans remained silent.
Today, contracts are signed without any objections from players who are grateful to just not be axed from the side — the chilling effect of SLC executive members’ interference in team selections is apparent.
There were no protests when players’ wages were slashed but no reduction of benefits to SLC members was part of the SLC’s austerity measures. The Sri Lankan mind appears to be conditioned to show no appreciation for activism or protests, and this is perhaps a result of years of being subjected to authoritarian rule.
SLC’s upper management understands there will be no repercussions or public outrage to corruption and gross mismanagement so expect nothing to change.
When the next World Cup comes around, do not be surprised if Sri Lanka would have squandered the four years it now has to prepare for that tournament.
Since the 2015 World Cup, Lasith Malinga missed many opportunities to represent Sri Lanka. For more than a year, he was discarded and yet he was heavily relied on to spearhead the attack in the 2019 edition.
The former SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala and the then sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera berated Malinga in the media and insinuated his time was up. The coach and selectors claimed they could not include the immensely valuable Malinga into a squad for almost two years because the legendary fast bowler did not fit into their plans.
What plans? It’s laughable to think this chaotic chapter in Sri Lankan cricket is a result of any method or plan — SLC has no plans. These are incapable men groping for a solution in the dark.
Sri Lanka will do well to stick to simplicity if they are serious about making it to the semis of another World Cup. More appreciation must be shown for their cricketers by SLC officials — our cricketers are valuable assets and SLC officials are easily dispensable. It is never the other way around.
The remodelling of the side after every series and the dramatic changes to the batting line up has been so damaging that it will take time to remedy, which is why Sri Lanka must quell the childish desire to obsessively tinker with the playing XI going forward.
Sri Lanka must seek stability and play the same top order, match after match, for at least a year. This is, after all, one strategy that has not been a part of their many odd experiments since the 2015 World Cup.
© Island Cricket
All good points but stability is a very alien concept in third world countries like Sri Lanka.
The SL team has a huge mountain to climb over the next four years. Players need to be given longer opportunities to play, even longer for the young players like Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis. This two players have to stay at number 3 and 4 for at least a whole year starting after this world cup. The openening pair is one I feel should remain the same but it will all depend on how Dimuth Karunaratne performs as a batsman and a captain. I hope he stays in the team for the next couple of years and produce runs. Same for Kusal Perera. Our problems for the future XI starts after Mathews at 5. We’ve had number 6 and 7 being Lahiru Thirimanne and DDS. These are very strange positions for to batsman who are meant to be playing in the too order. They may be playing some useful knocks every now and then, but it cant be ignored that there potentials are being pit to waste, especially with DDS. I think if a player like Kusal Perera fails to produce runs at the top for a long time then it will be best to swap his place with DDS and see how that works out. In no circumstance should he be removed from the team, which is the problem SLC has been doing for too long. Our all rounders are a huge concern. Despite Thisara being in the team for a long time, his experience really translates to performance. It may be best seeking out new players after this WC and groom them properly for the position. Hopefully it would be best to find someone under the age of 25 and groom them. No point bringing in a great performing 30 year old and playing the 2023 cup as a 34 year old. I liked asela gunaratne but clearly he will be quite old at the next world cup. Despite being over 25, I think Dasun Shanaka is a good option to go with after this WC and see how he performs for about a year. The biggest problem moving forward is with bowlers. None of the bowlers who played this WC should not play next WC. Malinga is done. Lakmal and pradeep will be old come the next WC. Even Rajitha will be over 30 by then. We need to find some younger players urgently. Definitely Lahiru Kumara should come into the side and a couple other fast bowlers around his age should be given opportunities. Lakmal or Pradeep, one of the two shoild stay in this side in order to get that balance of youth and experience. We also have huge problem in the Spin department which is something I never thought I would say about the SL team. Vandersay is our only specialist spinner who to be honest hasnt performed well. Akila Dananjayas performance also took a dip afyer his remodelled action, but I think its best to still hive him another chance. We need to seek out young spinners to see if they can do a better job than our current ones.
The selectors can’t be faulted for changing players. The players except the 2 spinners and siriwardana justified their inclusion. Perhaps Vandersay can become better with experience. Thirimanne at 6 looked odd but played well in both matches at that number. He looks a good number 3 . Kusal janith might have into middle order. Players like Niroshan Dickwella, Oshada Fernando and some others have to be in the mix. Thisara bowled well but batting not up to mark. Asela gunaratne and isuru udana might be premium all rounders. Sandakan, dhananjaya can be taken as spinners as well as Kamindu. Viswa Fernando and Kumara should be in the mix. Angelo Mathews if fit will be a bonus. Sri Lanka have about 22 world class players now and they must form nucleus and surely one or two talents will come up. Chandimal should be allowed leniency
You are looking for preparation to start now for 2023 WC but the problem is we don’t have the correct people with cricket brain, with a vision at the SLC .
honestly we never had correct people @the SLC from 2010 todate, if we had our Cricket never ever would have got in to a black hole .
People who came during this period contested bought or got votes to get in to SLC cause of greedyness to its money , prestige , power.
I am pretty sure all genuine past present cricketers, all genuine cricket fans will agree with me .
Please i have no gruges against anyone but for betray no mercy.
So solutions first cricket constitution/laws should be amended to suite current future environment , to fulfil requirements to lift maintain cricket on correct path all the time.
Disslove SLC administration and appoint a Interim Committee with past honest cricketers with a Cricketing brain and a vision
SLC voting members must be lowered to less than 20 from present 124 members.
Implement the Sanga, Mahela report on change of domestic cricket structure
Pitches must be prepared as per international cricket demand Example pitches to suite fast bowling, spin bowling etc (presently it’s flat pitches which effects the fast Bowlers and batsman to perform well outside Sri Lanka )
Get proper assistance from experienced quality coaches with the likes of Anusha Samaranayake, Avishka Gunawardena etc
Advice and guidance if required from Sanga, Mahela, Dilshan, Malinga, Rangana, Murlidaran, Waas etc
Hope these constructive criticism comments,practical ethical suggestion would not go unnoticed
Great read and some really salient points, the one enjoyed most was, palyers are valuable assets while officials are dispensable! Absolutely brilliant point but we have totally missed this and it shows!
Most of us know what needs to happen but sadly not the people that matter. The honorable man, like many before him, talk rubbish and move on with no impact on the future. Recall the previous honorable man, Mustafa was it, had some worthy ideas, where is he now and what did he do? Firstly, we need to get this morons out of the game to have any chance of the future.
If I am not mistaken, we are ranked 9 now and if the draw was as is, we would need to play qualifiers for the next WC. I am not sure what the format is for the 2023 WC but that is how dire it is for us and its time to wake up.
Anyone recall the circus leading up to the 2015 WC. Recall we were to have a fielding camp to prepare but SLC went and agreed to a meaningless one day series. Recall the selections? Dimuth was taken to the WC on a 150+ test score in NZ. We took Jeewan to Oz and left Kusal Perera at home. Yet when someone got injured, we recalled Kusal and played him in the quarter final – Dimuth still sat on the bench – well 4 years on, nothing has changed! If the same idiots keep running the game, 4 years from now we could be not even in the WC much like Zim who were playing Ireland while the WC was on!