A mistake that I would always remember

As we look back on our two test, three one-day international tour of the Caribbean I feel that overall we were quite unfortunate in not putting to good use the opportunities that came our way. In the end, a tour that began on an extremely promising note with our first test win in the West Indies ended in a damp downpour that ruined the third one-dayer-perhaps a fitting end that sums up our fortunes.

A draw in the test series after being one up after the first game and a two-nil loss in the one day series are not results we can be proud of. So, we have to ask ourselves what went wrong and why, and try to correct our mistakes with an eye on the future. I am responsible as anyone could be for that last ball loss in the first one day international. We may have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory but it would be useful to remind ourselves that after the first hour of play, we were 49 for 5. That we eventually put 235 on the board, augurs well and is a tribute to the abilities and temperaments of the two Chamaras, Silva and Kapugedera.

In the dressing room at the innings break, the mood was upbeat. The wicket was not easy to bat on and we knew we had a good chance of getting the Windies out, provided we bowled in the correct areas and held our catches. We held our nerve even when the Windies were 109 for one at one stage and then it all came down to those two crucial final deliveries where ten runs were needed.

When Mahela threw me the ball for the final over, I was not nervous. I have been in tighter situations than this: in 2004, against the Australians at Dambulla, eight runs were required from the final over with Michael Bevan and Andrew Symonds batting and I restricted them to six runs and we won the match by one run.

In this game, with 13 required off six deliveries-and having already conceded only 17 runs in nine overs-I truly believed I could do it again. The first four deliveries went well, conceding only three runs and leaving a target of ten off two. My idea was to bowl two yorkers-the best delivery for this type of situation. Of course there is a fine line between a yorker and a full toss if one gets the length even slightly wrong and that is exactly what happened, resulting in a low full toss. The match made headlines for its thrilling finish and it will not be a game I would forget in a hurry either.

If we were unfortunate in the first one dayer, then we were really unlucky in the second, where the interruptions for rain worked against us. We lost a crucial toss and although we knew rain was on the cards, there were no predictions as to when the showers were likely.

Therefore we had to accelerate the scoring rate and we decided to promote Kaushalya Weeraratne as a pinch hitter. It is not a tactic we have tried recently and unfortunately it didn’t work. The search for quick runs only meant that we slid from 105 for two to 112 for five when the showers came, leaving the Windies with a relatively easy target of 125 which they achieved despite being in early trouble at eighteen for three.

In the third one-dayer when we performed really well with the bat, with Mahela Udawatte, Chamara Kapugedera, Dilshan and Kaushalya all contributing the continued showers meant that the game was called off. It was encouraging to see the middle order back in business and we hope that trend will continue.

If one were to reflect on this tour, we must not forget that we had to leave most of our experienced bowlers at home due to injuries and Murali was also rested for the one-dayers. We had planned on trying out new players and when that is done, we need to be patient with the newcomers because they may be inconsistent with their performances.

It was clear that we still need to look for a stable opening pair for the one dayers- a void that was created with the departures of Sanath and Marvan. These two players obviously cannot be replaced overnight and the search is still on. Among the new crop of fast bowlers, Nuwan Kulasekera impressed me with his accuracy and consistency and the competition he will provide when Lasith, Farveez and Dilhara return from their injuries should be healthy for all of us.

The other player who caught everyone’s attention was Ajantha Mendis, after his performance in the first one dayer. I have faced him at the nets and he has about five variations as a result which it is extremely difficult to pick him. But Ajantha must remember that cricket is now essentially a batsman’s game. As he seems to have created a sensation with his very first appearance, rival players will now be rushing to get video footage of him and the ways in which he grips the ball for his various deliveries. It is how he handles that kind of pressure which will determine his success eventually.

Of course, we should also guard the youngster against over-exposure and it may be a good idea to use him sparingly-perhaps only in the one dayers-until he establishes himself. Nevertheless, Ajantha will be one positive factor to emerge from the Caribbean tour.
For the next few weeks though, world cricket will come to a virtual standstill for the Indian Premier League (IPL). Some of our squad-Mahela, Sanga and Dilshan are already in India, having gone there directly from London. I myself will be in Kolkata when this is being read, playing for the Hyderabad based Deccan Chargers in a team that would include Adam Glichrist, Andrew Symonds and our own Chamara Silva and Nuwan Zoysa. It will surely be a new experience.

But we still have to retain our focus on Sri Lankan cricket. The Asia Cup awaits soon after the conclusion of the IPL and then a more rigorous three test, five one-dayer visit from the Indians. These assignments will be crucial for the national squad but it is a challenge that we look forward to with relish.