Sports
Choosing captains on merit and not on seniority
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?
(Cricbuzz)
By A Special Sports Correspondent
All eyes will be on new entrants to rugby ‘Sri Lions Sports Club’ when they debut in the 2024/25 Inter-club league rugby tournament in Kandy on Sunday (December 15). Sri Lions are slated to take on last season’s league tournament runners-up Kandy Sports Club at the Nittawela grounds. Despite Sri Lions SC being new to domestic rugby, a thriller is expected; as the team is packed with players who are well drilled at training and the other reason being all players possess an IRB Level 1 qualification.
Sri Lions SC’s entry into division 1 rugby was not smooth. Many clubs opposed their promotion to the top league in the domestic tournament. Rugby sources told ‘The Island’ that despite the opposition shown by some clubs, Sri Lanka Rugby and other prominent sports authorities in Sri Lanka had to grant the new entrants their due place in the top league. This was largely because Sri Lions SC had made progress through the proper channel by winning the B Division rugby tournament last season.
Dr. Kelum Sujith Perera, the founder chairman of Sri Lions SC, was quoted in the newspapers saying that the club’s priority was centred around professionalism and transparency and that the club was committed to contributing to rugby development in Sri Lanka.
The club boasts of having in their line up comprising 12 former national players and a horde of talented ex-schoolboy players who have recently finished their academic commitments on a high.
The other matches scheduled for the first week of club rugby are: Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club vs CH&FC at Ratmalana (December 13), Army Sports Club vs Police Sports Club at Panagoda, Navy Sport Club vs Havelocks SC at Welisara (Both matches on December 14).
CR&FC will be one of the teams to watch this season given that they are the reigning league rugby champions. The side is led by Gemunu Chethiya. The club upgrading their stadium to have floodlight facilities should elevate player thinking to another level. The other club to offer floodlight facilities for domestic rugby matches is Havelocks SC. However CR will not have a match in the opening week of the tournament.
Last season’s league runners-up Kandy SC are led this season by seasoned scrum half Srinath Sooriyabandara who counts years of experience playing in domestic and overseas tournaments. The side is coached by Fazil Marija. Kandy SC’s dominance in domestic rugby was broken last season and much is expected of the side from Nittawela, which is going through a team building phase at present.
CH&FC is a dangerous side to play against when the team members are gelled and focused. Last season the side finished fourth. This season the Gymkhana Club is led by Janidu Dilshan.
Havelocks SC led by Abdullah Faiz is set to finish on a high this season. The Park Club finished third in the league rugby tournament last season. Police SC, which had to be satisfied winning the ‘Plate Championship’ in the league tournament last season, will be another strong contender vying for honours . The side is led for the second consecutive year by third row forward Mohan Wimalaratne.
The other sides in the tournament are Army SC, Air Force Sports Club and Navy Sport Club.
The tournament is conducted by Sri Lanka Rugby, the governing body for the sport in the island. Rugby sources reveal that an SGM has been called on December 20 for clubs to attend with the motive of announcing the date for the much looked forward to Annual General Meeting of SLR. According to International Rugby regulations, SLR has to have it’s AGM before January 31 next year.
SLTA Hard Court Nationals
Revaan Amarasinghe and Shennon Senadheera reached the Under 12 boys singles final as they edged out their semi-final opponents at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association Hard Court Tennis Nationals at the SLTA courts on Thursday.
Amarasinghe of S.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia beat Nuren Wevita 6-1, 6-1 in his semi-final.
In the other semi-final, Wesley’s Shannon Senadheera beat Yonal Dankumbura 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Results : Under 14 Boys quarter-final
Jayan Sebastian beat Buvidu Jayawardana 6-4, 6-3.
Damsath Peiris beat Thuvakar Sathiees 6-3, 6-4.
D. Wickramasinghe beat Umar Wayis 6-3, 6-1.
Under 18 Boys’ semi-final
Louis Knese beat Ganuka Fernando 6-4, 6-3
Women’s Singles quarter-final
Rukshika Wijesuriya beat Sandithi Usgodaarachchi 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
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