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Desperate for success? here's the opportunity
By Ranil Abeynaike
Those players knocking on the door to get into the national team are very fortunate that they have the opportunity to play regular 'A' team games. This helps them to develop their game and also impress, to move up the national side. Up until the turn of the century 'A' team tours were not that regular. Now every test playing nation realizes the value of these tours.

Have the Sri Lankan's who have had this opportunity made the most of it? I do not believe so. It is big scores and large hauls of wickets, performed consistently that makes the selectors look up and take notice.

Russel Arnold continues to appear on the top of the list. He impressed when pitted against Pakistan and England some months ago. Shantha Kalavitagoda did enough to get the nod to tour New Zealand. There he was exposed. On a pitch that did assist seam bowlers, he was baptized with balls moving all around him and succumbed before too long. The next encounter could be at home and he has to grab the opportunity when it comes along.

Because of insufficient games and competition at the top level of domestic cricket, selectors are forced to keep players in the 'A' team, simply to afford match practice. This shows down the flow of younger players coming through the ranks.

Players like Avishka Gunawardena, Prasanna Jayawardena and Ruchira Perera are absolute veterans of 'A' team cricket. They can't go on for too much longer. It is closing in on ending their life span in this category.

Thilina Kandamby and Anushka Polonowita have been left out of this squad picked to tackle the West Indians. Both players are talented and have the ability, but consistency is what they lack. That is due to not being really desperate for success. Kalavitagoda has that desperation and he won for himself the national cap.

Two fast bowlers who have been on the mend and will want to succeed are Dilhara Fernando and Ruchira Perera. Two years ago Fernando was amongst the quickest of bowlers in this world. Since then injury has plagued him and form has defected the big man. Against Pakistan and England, his bowling was wayward. He is too good a bowler not to be in the national loop. Let's hope that this tour will be the beginning of his second coming.

Ruchira Perera's bowling resembles his personality and character. He succeeds in fits and starts. Perera has genuine pace. Provided he has his mind set on the job of getting wickets he will be successful. He too has had a long apprenticeship and has reached the stage of "now or never".

The young batsmen Ian Daniel, Michael Vandort, Jeham Mubarak and Malintha Gajanayake, will be watched carefully. A few positions in the batting line up should fall vacant sometime in the future and these players who are in the wings should always be showing off their form with consistency. It’s another opportunity for the fringe players. It will be interesting to see who will be desperate for success.

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