Rex Clementine at Pallekele

Sri Lanka’s captaincy often has been decided on seniority in recent years. Muttiah Muralitharan never had a chance of captaining the side for he never wanted it. Otherwise, on seniority, he should have succeeded Sanath Jayasuriya in 2003. But in recent years, almost every senior player in the side wanted to give captaincy a crack. Some were spectacular failures while a few other captains’ shortcomings were camouflaged as the side fared well thanks to the presence of a host of match winners.

At times, grooming of captains has not gone down well with seniors. When Sidath Wettimuny appointed Mahela Jayawardene as deputy to Sanath Jayasuriya at the age 22, there were a few murmurs. But Sidath wasn’t giving an indication about the succession plan. He was simply grooming a future leader. It was the right decision. MJ did an outstanding job when his turn came to lead Sri Lanka in 2006.

Early this year, the selectors split the captaincy appointing three captains for three formats. While Dhananjaya de Silva’s succession as Test captain was endorsed as he had been understudy to Dimuth Karunaratne for several years. However, giving Wanindu Hasaranga and Kusal Mendis a taste of captaincy cast doubts in people’s minds and as expected their stints lasted just over six months. Wanindu was a bit of a disaster earning two suspensions and a hefty fine. Not the kind of standards you’d expect from a national captain.

True, Wanindu was elevated as Sri Lanka’s captain after he led Kandy franchise to the title in the LPL last year. But between Charith and Wanindu, it is a clear cut who is a better leader.

You wonder whether the selectors would have been better off handing ODI and T-20 captaincies to Charith Asalanka in January itself. To start with, he had been groomed as captain from a young age. In fact, Wanindu played under Charith for Sri Lanka Under-19.

Charith takes up the captaincy at a relatively young age having turned 27 last month. He’s been in the set up for barely three years and that’s an indication as to how much empty that leadership cupboard is. That is quite worrisome and lack of leadership within the team is one reason why Sri Lanka has performed below par in ICC events in recent years.

How acute is the leadership problem is even more evident as the team has not named a vice-captain for the ongoing T-20 series. That is an area the selectors need to give serious thought to. If they are sensing an impending crisis, there’s no harm in playing someone like Dunith Wellalage so that he would be ready down the line to succeed Asalanka.

Charith has carried himself well since making his debut for the country in 2021. No suspensions, no fines and no reprimands and a clean track record is a rare thing for a young Sri Lankan cricketer these days. He needs to be commended and backed all the way.

Charith’s batting is a breath of fresh air as well. He bats with authority when setting scores and when chasing targets, he keeps his composure and has helped the side pull off some famous wins. His choice of shots during the recent World Cup were uncharacteristic and many were upset by the options he took like trying to hit Anrich Nortje to the largest part of the ground in New York with the side in trouble at 45 for five.

Then in the next game in Dallas, he attempted to hit the leg-spinner against the wind and threw it away again. You had seen a lot more maturity from him but during the World Cup his batting was uncharacteristic. But batters have bad tournaments and many would give him the benefit of the doubt for what he had exhibited in these three years not just what he showed in US.

As we tried to argue, most Sri Lanka’s recent captains have got the job on seniority and not because of their tactical brilliance or leadership skills. Charith is the first captain in a while to possess all attributes a good captain needs. In US, Donald Trump is promising to make America great again. Can Charith make Sri Lankan cricket great again?