Sri Lanka cricket demands revamp targeting World Cup 2019
It is time the SLC administrators, together with the Selectors, realised the jeopardy the present ODI team is in, having been beaten comprehensively by the Proteas. They should address this debacle to rectify the drastic state as an utmost priority.
All zealous cricket crusaders would be very inquisitive to know whether the squad for this series is the best and the criteria for selection of this team. It is obvious the selectors have flopped in their endeavour. Many seniors have failed to deliver repeatedly, but have been persisted with at the expense of aspiring youngsters. There are so much of talent overlooked.
The tail has not stretched, but is brittle and tentative as it should have been. The bowling not hostile and penetrative, but erratic, unlike their counterparts Rabada and Ngidi who looked deadly. The spinners have not been consistent, but were erratic. The choice of Prabath Jayasuriya has not brought results, having failed to impress, not capturing a single wicket. Our senior batters, after silly dismissals, look sarcastically at the blades of their bats, thinking it was the fault of their bats. Back in the pavilion, they resemble a set of wet hens pondering what had taken place.
The Selectors have deliberately overlooked some who have performed well at domestic and international levels, such as Asela Gunaratne, Isuru Udana, Vandersay and Sachitra Senanayake to name a few.
The latter, although performing admirably well in domestic cricket, has not been recalled, which is indeed pathetic. The openers selected have failed often. It was indeed a pity that consistent Dimuth Karunaratne who has the ideal temperament even for ODIs, not given the nod. Dilruwan Perera who was somewhat unplayable in the Tests, should have been selected for the ODIs.
In the context of the above, it is not too late to change the composition of the team, if we are to have any hopes at the forthcoming World Cup in England and Wales in 2019.
Sunil Thenabadu via e-mail in Brisbane..