Can Sri Lanka be the world’s best cricket team?

Rev. Bro. Nimal Gurusinghe - FSC

This is a million dollar question aspired by every cricket loving fan. The way things are happening it looks like Sri Lankan cricket is deteriorating. If this trend continues our future will be very gloomy.

It’s high time our cricket authorities sit together and discuss a concrete plan to improve our standard and implement it. If not, its not worth our country playing cricket in the international arena. I’m herewith giving a few suggestions in order to raise the quality of our cricket team.

It is up to our cricket Board to view these suggestions with a practical and reasonable eye. Firstly our ageing players should not be included in the national team.

Their presence would endanger the chances of entering young players to the national team. Australia being the world’s best team, during the last one year five of their best players retired gracefully from their national team thus giving a chance to young players to walk into the Test and one day teams.

If, the up and coming young players get a chance to prove their versatility and this initiate constant exposure to improve their existing standards.

The ageing should gracefully retire and make way for the youngsters to replace them. If this policy is not adhered to, it is difficult for our country to climb the ladder of success.

It is an accepted fact that our players are very vulnerable in playing on fast bouncing pitches.

They are also weak in facing swing bowling. This deficiency has to be rectified soon. Two ways of overcoming this problem is to get soil from Australia and South Africa and prepare at least four pitches similar to their conditions.

One month ahead of a tour our players could practice on these turfs. This could instill confidence in our players. Our players could also be sent to Australia and South Africa to play some first class cricket.

Thus our players would get exposed and acquainted to similar conditions. If this problem remains unresolved our chances of winning would be very bleak.

Our selectors should select two pools. First pool for the national team and second pool for the “A” team.

These two pools should remain together and practice through out the year. While in the pool coaches could work out a schedule to improve their skills and overcome their weak points.

This could be done more effectively under two separate coaches. Experts could be invited to upgrade the standards to international level and thereby improve existing talents and skills.

While in the pool they may play for their clubs and Provinces in the Tournaments. Once tournaments are over players could resettle into their respective pools. A player that is not in one of these pools should not be allowed to play in the national team.

A player who gets a break should be given sufficient time to show his class. If our selectors expect him to deliver from the word go it is unfair. If a new player is brought into the national side by the selectors because of his talents and skills, it is highly unethical to discard him due to some small mistakes after a few matches.

Our selectors have made these blunders in the past. The Cricket Board should comprise of sincere and honest men. They should have the dedication and sincerity to put their country first before anything else.

If the criteria for selection is on prestige or money our country will very soon lose to other countries very often thus bringing a major disaster in the field of cricket.

The main goal of our Cricket Board should be to put Sri Lankan Cricket on the world map. Being a good cricketer does not qualify for being an administrator of the Interim Cricket Committee.

It makes matters worse if a dictator chairs the committee. I strongly appeal to the cricket authorities to carefully review and implement the suggestions given by me in order to update and bring Sri Lankan Cricket to an international standard in order to restore Sri Lanka to its former glory.

If these suggestions are adhered to, I’m sure that Mother Lanka will produce an invincible cricket team very soon.