by Rex Clementine

The nation’s top cricketers have been informed to take part in the next rounds of the ongoing First Class tournament. Although, playing domestic games is mandatory for selections for the national team, there seems to be more emphasis this time around as players have been advised not to rest but to keep themselves occupied.

Sri Lanka’s poor preparations ahead of the recent India Test series was a point that was highlighted. Accordingly, all players will return to First Class cricket today or next week when the semi-finals of the National Super League begins.

The final of the First Class tournament will take place before the team leaves for Bangladesh and several players will have around three First Class games under their belt before the tour while most would have played two games.

This week’s First Class games sum up the first round and four of the five teams will qualify for the semis.

There’s been no First Class cricket since the 2019-2020 seasons and the ongoing season has been a welcome addition as lot of effort has been put in place to address Sri Lanka’s alarming decline in international cricket.

The National Super League is the brainchild of The Cricket Advisory Committee headed by former great Aravinda de Silva. While the new competition has won many admirers the Committee’s decision to increase the number of clubs that are playing First Class cricket has been frowned upon.

Players’ performances in the inter-club First Class tournament will merit selections for the National Super League and the performance there will earn them their international spots.

Kamindu Mendis has been the standout performer having amassed 687 runs in eight innings with three hundreds and three half-centuries. He averages 81. Sri Lanka discard Oshada Fernando too has been impressive having scored 476 runs in eight innings with two hundreds and three half-centuries. He averages 68. One problem is that both of them represent Kandy, a team that has failed to win a single game in the tournament.

Prabath Jayasuriya nearly made his Test debut last year but failed the skinfold test paving way for Praveen Jayawickrama to come onto the scene. Jayasuriya is the second highest wicket taker behind Malinda Pushpakumara, also a left-arm orthodox spinner. At the age of 35, Pushpakumara is past his prime and Jayasuriya’s ambitions of becoming a Test cricketer is limited as the senior team has got two solid left-arm orthodox spinners in Jayawickrama and Lasith Embuldeniya. However, stranger things have happened in cricket. .

Kasun Rajitha is the standout performer among the seamers having taken 11 wickets in two games. At a time when there are so many injuries for quicks and retirement of Suranga Lakmal, the form of Rajitha should serve the Test team well.