The Sri Lankan cricket team were on a high
Charlie Austin03-Jan-2002The Sri Lankan cricket team were on a high. Six consecutive wins – a recordfor a sub-continental side – and a third series win in the offing left thema happy and contented bunch. But, on the eve of a series clinchingopportunity, the national selectors have now soured that positiveatmosphere.The five-man selection panel, accountable to the ministry of sports andheaded by chairman Tikiri Banda Khelgamuwa, has incensed the Sri Lankan teamby resting vice-captain Marvan Atapattu and promising young fast bowlerCharitha Buddika Fernando for the second Test against Zimbabwe.Sri Lanka should still win, but the decision to rest both players is notonly demeaning to the game Test cricket, but also an ill-timed and dangerousmove that has damaged morale in a previously harmonious team.Sri Lanka are only one-nil up in the series and a Zimbabwean win in thishill-station venue is not inconceivable. A lively pitch and overcast skiesprovide the ideal conditions for their quartet of fast bowlers on a bogeyground for the hosts – they have lost three of their last four games here inthe last 16 months.Chairman of the selectors, Tikiri Banda Khelgamuwa, explained the thinkingbehind the decision: “We have made the change in the best interests of SriLankan cricket. Sri Lanka has a long international calendar leading up tothe 2003 world cup and we want to try out some new players.”He argues that Zimbabwe’s modest side provides an opportunity to experiment.There is some truth in this but the underlying fact is that the series hasnot yet been won. In Test cricket you underestimate opponents at your peril.The appropriate time to give Silva international exposure was in the thirdTest next week – assuming Sri Lanka win in Kandy – and in the recentlyconcluded LG Abans tri-series when Silva could have played in the finalgroup game.By making these changes now, clearly against the wishes of captain andcoach, the selectors have handed Zimbabwe hope where there was none before.The decision to drop Fernando is potentially the most damaging change – notto the team but to the two bowlers. The young bowler has played two Tests ondry, flat wickets. In both games he had quietly impressed and this matchprovided the perfect opportunity to boost his confidence before the Englandtour, where he could have a key role to play with his accurate, skiddingseamers.In his place comes another promising fast bowler Prabath Nissanka, who isshort of confidence after some wayward performances in the one-day game. Histalent is raw and his mind fragile. Worse still, when he marks out his runtomorrow, he will do so with additional pressure on his shoulders knowingthat his teammates feel Fernando has been unjustly sidelined.The timing of his inclusion is wrong and smacks of a selection committee outof touch with the internal dynamics of the team. Should he fail then thereis the very real threat that his career will go backwards rather then forwards.The selectors belief that Silva be given a chance is understandable, buthaving knowingly pushed out the vice-captain against the wishes of the team,he too will be burdened by the feelings within the team. Probably, he willbe under greater pressure tomorrow than if he had stepped out in front of afull house at Lords next May.Also, why Atapattu has been identified as the man to step down is unclear.He has scored two double centuries and a mountain of runs in Kandy. StuartCarlisle, the Zimbabwean captain, couldn’t hide his delight: “If its true, Iam very surprised because of his record in Kandy. Its good for us and wehave now to get at them early.”His removal leaves Sri Lanka without a specialist opener, although RusselArnold, who will move up the order, scored both his Test centuries as anumber two. But it is a position he is now unfamiliar with. To give him lessthan 24 hours to prepare for the job, let alone not consulting him, isunfair when he is fighting for his place in the team.The decision was also made without apparent reference to the conditions inKandy. The selectors sat in Colombo and are thus unaware of the pitch andthe overcast conditions, which make the decision to axe Atapattu, anaturally adhesive anchor in bowler friendly conditions, even moreperplexingThere are other concerns, particularly the fact that the wishes of captainand coach have been so summarily and arbitrarily ignored. A decision of thisunusual nature clearly should have the blessing of coach and captain – theyare the ones you are best able to gauge the impact on the players and team.And what happens if this arrogant plan backfires? If Zimbabwe pull off asurprise win in Kandy and hold out for a draw after poor weather in Galle,who will accept the blame for a change in Sri Lanka’s ICC Test Championship standings? Ultimately, it will reflect badly on the captain and coach, who live and die by results.Psychologically, the team has been handicapped without a ball being bowled.Jayasuriya has been made to feel powerless, Atapattu is upset and probablyresentful, Arnold is burdened by unnecessary pressures at a crucial time,Silva’s mind will be cluttered by fears that he has inadvertently caused aproblem in the team, Fernando`s self-belief will have dipped and Nissankawill more tense than ever before.The objective of blooding young players is to be applauded, but the timingis appalling and the manner in which the decision was made was deeplyinsensitive.