Putting together a formidable outfit

by Rex Clementine

You may have not liked everything about National Super League (NSL), but at least the Cricket Advisory Committee addressed the concerns about the lack of competitiveness in our First-Class cricket. Having promised to make selections for the national team on the performances of the NSL, the national selection panel has made some bold moves.

Middle-order batsman Roshen Silva showcased his appetite for big runs by posting an unbeaten 174 for Colombo against Jaffna. That was the highest score in the competition and he finds himself in the extended squad for the two-match Test series in Bangladesh. He should be part of the Test squad and should go onto nail that number six slot for Pakistan and Australia Tests as well.

Often, players categorized as ‘fine talents’ have got a long rope in Sri Lankan cricket than players like Roshen Silva whose match-saving and match-winning abilities have not got proper attention. A solid player of spin bowling with excellent temperament and an ability to play the waiting game should have played lot more than the 12 Tests he has been involved in so far. The only reason why he has played in fewer Tests is that he doesn’t have any godfathers in cricket.

Also back in the extended squad is Oshada Fernando. One of Sri Lanka’s heroes when they became the first Asian nation to win a series in South Africa, Oshada had been identified as a Test match player but after his success in the longer format of the game with the team struggling to compete in white-ball cricket he was drafted into the limited-overs sides as well and he was clearly out of depth. Eventually, he was thrown out of the Test side afte r his failures in white-ball cricket. Oshada should only play Test match cricket and we have an ideal number three in him.

Sri Lanka’s batting will look formidable once they get the right players in the midst and a top-six of Karunaratne, Nissanka, Oshada, Mathews, Dhananjaya and Roshen will be good enough to post competitive totals.

It looks a tough call on Charith Asalanka, a player earmarked for the future. Again, Asalanka was picked for Test match cricket on his excellent form in white-ball cricket and he needs to do much more than a First-Class average of 26 or one century to earn a place in the Test line-up. What needs to be welcomed is the axing of Lahiru Thirimanne. After 44 Tests, he has posted three centuries and averages 26 and the Indian series was proof that against quality bowling, he’s just a sitting duck.

A lot of people feel that Kamindu Mendis has got a raw deal. He was the best batsman in NSL having amassed over 800 runs in six games at an average of 80 with four hundreds and four fifties. In to the bargain, his imaginative leadership came in for high praise as well. Mendis will be feeling disappointed but then, rather than warming the bench during a Test match, he would be better off going to England and playing some competitive cricket.

Kasun Rajitha also finds himself back in the squad. Attributes of Rajitha being the ideal Test match quick are many but he did disappoint when he broke down halfway through his third over during the Boxing Day Test at Centurion in 2020. People don’t seem to trust him after that. However, he’s done pretty well to prove his fitness during the NSL and should go on to replace Suranga Lakmal in the side. There’s also Vishwa Fernando who has been Lakmal’s understudy and along with Asitha Fernando, the team can rely on the trio with the new ball while Ramesh Mendis, Lasith Embuldeniya, and Praveen Jayawickrama will do the job as spinners.

Many were the blunders that were committed by selectors during the Indian series. Some improvements have been made moving forward.