Sports

Protect local coaches

Published

3 years ago

2022/08/7

by Rex Clementine

The national cricket team has been served by some two dozen Head Coaches in the last two decades and having seen cricket from close quarters since the days of Dav Whatmore to that of the incumbent Chris Silverwood, you can safely say that the knowledge of local coaches is as good as those of foreigners.

We have had some brilliant local coaches over the years like Roy Dias, Marvan Atapattu, Chandika Hathurusinghe overseeing the national team. We have also seen how the likes of John Dyson, Nic Pothas and Mickey Arthur operate and there was nothing extraordinary in them compared to the locals. Some rare exceptions were Trevor Bayliss, Graham Ford and Tom Moody. The success the national team had during their tenures bears witness for that.

You get the feeling that local coaches don’t get the credit they richly deserve and often we start realizing their value when they are recruited by other countries. Having first paid peanuts, we then try to pay them fantastic salaries to ensnure their defections. In some cases we take the extreme measure of changing the conditions too like in 2018 when Thilanga Sumathipala left no stone unturned in obtaining the services of Hathurusinghe.

The case of Naveed Nawaz is something similar as we should have never let him go to Bangladesh as he had proved his worth during his first stint with SLC. There’s no doubt that Naveed has the credentials to become the Head Coach at the moment but some felt that it was too early for him.

Just imagine this, Bangladesh cricket team is facing some serious trouble at the moment and if they decide it is time to part ways with the coaching staff and bring in someone familiar with the system like Naveed and offer him twice the salary that SLC pay him, wouldn’t he be tempted to go?

Former Sri Lanka cricketer Upul Chandana is someone who is so underrated. He’s been into coaching for close to 20 years now but unfortunately he doesn’t get the recognition he duly deserves.

Upul for a long duration had been sidelined to the Sri Lanka Under-19 team. He seemed to be the permanent Fielding Coach with little room or scope for promotion. He had done a brilliant job as well as every time you took a look at our junior team performing, you were amazed by the skill set of the young players. It has been argued that Upul is ideal to function as the Fielding Coach of the national team, a plea that has fell on deaf ears.

Last year when SLC conducted the T-20 tournament ahead of the World Cup in UAE, Upul was put in charge of Grey team and he delivered as that team went onto win the title. This year, SLC is conducting a similar tournament and the coaches have been named. You would have expected the man who won the title last year to be named as one of the Head Coaches. Alas, Upul finds himself demoted to Assistant Coach this time around. What crime has he committed? The country needs to know.

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Sports

Mendis ton lifts Sri Lanka to 285 in series decider

Published

6 hours ago

2025/07/9

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kusal Mendis posted his sixth ODI century to help Sri Lanka post a competitive 285 for seven in the deciding third ODI at Pallekele on Tuesday.

Kusal Mendis answered his critics in style with a sublime century as Sri Lanka posted a competitive 285 for seven in their allotted 50 overs in the third and final ODI against Bangladesh on Tuesday at Pallekele.

With the three-match series deadlocked at 1-1, the hosts needed their top order to come good after a stuttering display in Colombo. Mendis, who had faced the heat after a reckless dismissal in the previous game, rose to the occasion with a polished 124 off 114 balls.

The wicketkeeper-batter, under fire from both media and his own camp, including batting coach Thilina Kandamby, who publicly questioned the value of flashy fifties — dug deep to register his sixth ODI hundred and anchor the innings.

Coming to bat in the fourth over of the innings, Mendis played with a mix of caution and controlled aggression. He shared a crucial 124-run stand with skipper Charith Asalanka (58) for the fourth wicket, steadying the ship and setting the stage for a late flourish.

Having thrown away his wicket in Colombo after a whirlwind 20-ball fifty, Mendis showed far more application at Pallekele. His innings, laced with 18 boundaries, was a blend of crisp strokeplay and street-smart batting.

Importantly, Sri Lanka rectified their spin woes from the last outing. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, who had bamboozled the batters with a five-for in the second ODI, was tackled with positive intent. The hosts employed the sweep to good effect, used their feet wisely and played with soft hands to negate the turn. Tanvir finished with unflattering figures of one for 61 off his ten overs.

Mendis eventually perished in the 46th over, top-edging a pull off part-time spinner Shamim Hossain, who ran back to complete a sharp catch off his own bowling.

By Rex Clementine

Latest News

Kusal 124 forms the centrepiece of Sri Lanka’s series victory

Published

6 hours ago

2025/07/9

Priyan

Kusal Mendis recorded his sixth ODI century [Cricinfo]

Kusal Mendis crashed 124 off 114, Sri Lanka ‘s seamers took three wickets apiece, and Sri Lanka surged to a series win, defeating Bangladesh by 99 runs in the deciding ODI.

The centrepiece of Sri Lanka’s batting was the 124-run partnership between Kusal and Charith Asalanka who made 58 off 68. Bangladesh’s bowlers did well either side of that partnership, particularly at the death, conceding only 62 off the last 10 overs.

But Sri Lanka’s 285 for 7 was too much, and Sri Lanka’s bowlers too penetrative. Bangladesh never really seemed to be on top of the chase, 20 for 2 in the fourth over, then 62 for 3 in the 14th. Towhid Hridoy made a half-century, but the required rate kept climbing, and Bangladesh could not mount a substantial enough partnership. They were all out for 186 in the 40th over.

Asitha Fernando was again the best of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, finding three wickets for 33 runs off seven overs, as he continued to target the stumps, as he has done all tour. Dushmantha Chameera attempted the shorter lengths, but found success with the fuller ones, bowling Hridoy with an especially memorable seaming delivery. He finished with 3 for 51 off eight overs. Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage took two apiece.

Bangladesh will be proud of their bowling to the top order – they had Sri Lanka 100 for 3 at the end of the 21st over. And they also claimed four wickets in the last 10. But in between, Kusal and Asalanka put serious meat on the bones of this Sri Lanka batting effort.

The highlight of Kusal’s innings was his severity on length. Anything short was punished, and though the seam bowlers tried repeatedly, they could not get their bouncers high enough to really test him. He used his short-arm-jab pull to devastating effect, hitting both spinners and quicks through square leg with spectacular timing. Seven of his 18 fours came behind square on the leg side. And all up 82 of his runs (66%) came on the legside. Sweeps of various description – the hard flat one, the paddle, and the slog sweep, were also productive shots for him.

There was never a time in the innings when Kusal seemed to be in discomfort. He eased through the powerplay, hitting 25 off 26 in that period, and though there was a little slowing down as he approached fifty, the same cannot be said of his getting to triple-figures. It took him six balls to scamper through the nineties. He got there off the 95th ball he faced.

Asalanka was not in such good touch by comparison, but nevertheless found ways to make runs. He manufactured sweeps against the spinners at times, and used his feet to find lengths that he could score off. He too was stronger on the legside, finding six of his nine boundaries in that direction.

Bangladesh’s bowlers hit back nicely after that partnership, though. It was Taskin Ahmed that separated them, even if not with an especially good ball. He sent down a low full toss, and Asalanka miscued his attempted six over wide long-on, sending it into the hands of Mehidy Hasan Miraz at mid-on instead. Kusal hit one more boundary, and was out playing a tired hoick off Shamim Hossain in the 46th over.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers hunted as a pack in the chase. Asitha had Tanzid Hasan caught behind in the third over, Chameera got Najmul Hossain Shanto playing on to his stumps with one that jagged in the fourth, and then the spinners imposed themselves. Wellalage and Hasaranga took two wickets apiece, making breakthroughs through the middle overs. Sri Lanka had Bangladesh 124 for 5 at the start of the 28th over.

The spinners having exposed the lower order, Sri Lanka’s quicks came back to wipe out the innings. Aside from Hridoy, no Bangladesh batter crossed 30.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 285 for 7 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 35, Kusal Mendis 124, Charith Asalanka 58; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2-48, Taskin Ahmed 2-51) beat Bangladesh 186 in 39.4 overs (Parvez Hossain Emon 28, Towhid Hridoy 51, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 28, Jaker Ali 27; Asitha Fernando 3-33, Dushmantha Chameera 3-51, Dunith Wellalage 2-33, Wanidu Hasaranga 2-35) by 99 runs

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Kusal 124, Asalanka half-century lift Sri Lanka to 285

Published

17 hours ago

2025/07/8

Priyan

Kusal Mendis recorded his 11th ODI century, Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 3rd ODI, Pallekele, July 8, 2025 Kusal Mendis recorded his 11th ODI century [Cricinfo]

Kusal Mendis crashed 124 off 114 balls to continue his excellent form, and Charith Asalanka struck 58 as he joined Kusal for a dynamic fourth-wicket stand worth 124 off 117 balls.

Either side of that partnership, however, Bangladesh had strong showings. They had Sri Lanka 100 for 3 in the 21st over and conceded only 63 runs in the last ten overs. Though Sri Lanka’s 285 for 7 is a substantial total, they had been well-placed to push for a 300-plus score, given they’d been 222 for 3 after 40 overs, with two set batters at the crease.

But Bangladesh kept striking, varying speeds intelligently, as Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked two wickets, while Shamim Hossain took one at the death. Sri Lanka managed only five boundaries through the last ten overs.

Mehidy returned the best overall figures of 2 for 48, having dismissed Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage. Shamim got the prize wicket of Kusal in the 46th over. Had he survived till the end, Sri Lanka may have added at least 20 to their total.

The highlight of Kusal’s innings was his severity on length. Anything short was punished, and though the seam bowlers tried repeatedly, they could not get their bouncers high enough to really test him. He used his short-arm-jab pull to devastating effect, hitting both spinners and quicks through square leg with spectacular timing. Seven of his 18 fours came behind square on the leg side. And all up, 82 of his runs (66%) came on the legside. Sweeps of various descriptions – the hard flat one, the paddle, and the slog sweep – were also productive shots for him.

There was never a time in the innings when he seemed to be in discomfort. He eased through the powerplay, hitting 25 off 26 in that period, and though there was a little slowing down as he approached fifty, the same cannot be said of his getting to triple figures. It took him six balls to scamper through the nineties. He got there off the 95th ball he faced.

Asalanka was not in such good touch in comparison, but nevertheless found ways to make runs. He manufactured sweeps against the spinners at times and used his feet to find lengths that he could score off. He too was stronger on the legside, finding six of his nine boundaries in that direction.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 285 for 7 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 35, Kusal Mendis 124, Charith Asalanka 58, Wanidu Hasaranga18*; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2-48, Taskin Ahmed 2-51) vs Bangladesh

[Cricinfo]