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Musical chairs and desperate measures to resurrect Sri Lankan cricket

Sri Lanka were bundled out of the ICC World T20 in embarrassing circumstances. (AP Photo/Theron Kirkman)
Roar Pro
19th April, 2016
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Sri Lanka have adopted a panicked approach to resurrecting the country’s flagging fortunes after a disastrous defence at the recently concluded World T20 tournament in India.

After floggings from Pakistan and India at home, and then a forgettable tour to New Zealand where they were thrashed in all formats, the country’s administrators angrily chose a knee-jerk reaction by sacking the selectors just days before the T20 World Cup.

This threw their campaign into chaos and ultimately humiliation, being unceremoniously dumped from the competition in the first round – and losing to Bangladesh to boot.

It was the worst performance by the once-proud Lankans in a long stretch, managing just a single win against Afganistan – and that too was a close contest. Prior to the T20 World Cup, they could only manage a win over lowly UAE in the reformatted Asia Cup.

The emergency selection committee appointed by Sri Lanka’s sports minister was headed by legendary Aravinda de Silva, and included recently retired superstar Kumar Sangakkara and Romesh Kaluwitharana, but failed to deliver expectations of miraculous proportions heaped upon them. In response, more heads rolled.

Former chairman of selectors and batting dynamo Sanath Jayasuriya has been recalled to head the selection committee once more, and as the reshuffle of the brains thrust continues another former mentor, Charith Senanayake – who was manager then sacked during an Australian tour – has been reinstated as manager for the upcoming tour to England.

What is most troubling though is the lack of leadership from Angelo Matthews, who profited from the presence of Mahela Jayawardene and Sangakkara during his formative months as skipper. But the departure of senior members of the team has sorely exposed and highlighted Matthews’ inability to get the best from his players, and his on-field strategies appear to be askew of the modern game.

Jayasuriya, and another re-instated man, coach Graham Ford, together with Matthews, have the collective nightmare of fast-tracking a revival, as Sri Lanka face the ominous task of Australia at home and then South Africa away after the tour of England.

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The distinct lack of consistency by those chosen to succeed the departing heroes has been the main reason for Sri Lanka’s dismal form.

The culprits are Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thissara Perera, and perhaps to a lesser extent newcomers Dhanuska Gunatilleke and Milinda Siriwardena, who have shown great temperament but a distinct lack of concentration and adaptability to the evolving game.

They are in need of professional mental conditioning about their approach and shot selection, and this can only come through exposure to the world’s best bowling attacks.

The other areas where they have let themselves down is in their fielding, which a few years ago was up with the best teams in the world. The bowling – apart from heady speedster Dushmantha Chameera and ageing Rangana Herath, the latter who has announced his retirement from the shorter form of the game – lacks bite or penetration.

If re-building is the mission of the current selectors, then unearthing new talent to replace their ageing list is definitely the way forward. Success-hungry Sri Lankan fans will do well to be patient while the process takes its course.

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