Pata
04-24-2007, 12:39 AM
By Sa'adi Tawfeeq - Colombo
Who calls the shots? Is it the captain or the chairman of selectors?
Usually the captain should have the final say because it is he who
leads the team onto the field and if things don't turn out the way it
should, it is he who has to take the flak from the media and the
public.
The raging question that is doing the rounds as the Sri Lanka cricket
team under Mahela Jayawardene is trying to win back the World Cup for
a second time is the non-selection of former captain and experienced
batsman Marvan Atapattu.
Contradictory reports have appeared in the media over Atapattu's
continued absence from the Sri Lankan line-up especially when the runs
have dried up from the bats of opener Upul Tharanga and to a certain
extent middle-order bat Russel Arnold. The fact that Atapattu can
fulfill either role in the batting order is why there is great public
agitation at home for his inclusion.
For Sri Lanka's part the batting forms of Tharanga and Arnold maybe
the least of their worries because despite their failures the team has
continued to win and qualify for a place in the semi-finals.
Jayawardene would be more concerned to get his bowlers especially
Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando fit for the all-important game
against the Kiwis on Tuesday rather than dawdle with the forms of some
of his players, although it could be a concern. In fairness to Arnold
it should be noted that in the seven occasions he has made it to the
crease he has been dismissed only thrice. In Tharanga's case it is
different. He has the opportunity to commence the innings right from
the first ball and in nine matches he has crossed the fifty-mark only
twice.
Tharanga's early departures have not only exposed the team's most
reliable batsman Kumar Sangakkara to the new ball but also the middle-
order. Jayawardene experienced this problem batting at no. 3 and since
he switched over to no. 4 has regained his form.
The idea of having a national selector accompanying the team on tours
abroad came about during Atapattu's tenure as captain. It was his
reluctance to shoulder responsibility for dropping a player or players
from his team that led to the inclusion of a selector going on tours.
That responsibility was then passed onto the team manager who also
declined to undertake the responsibility and thus a selector has
accompanied the national side on each and every tour since 2005.
Whether that move has been beneficial to team selections on tour is
questionable. Who has the last word in selections? Is it the captain
or the selector? If Atapattu finds himself not selected for a single
match in the 2007 World Cup he should look at himself in the mirror
and ask the question: 'Have I dug my own grave?' In 1996 when Sri
Lanka won the World Cup under Arjuna Ranatunga, Atapattu though part
of the 14-member squad did not figure in a single game. Will history
repeat itself? Unconfirmed reports suggest that the chairman of
selectors Ashantha de Mel is against Atapattu being selected. De Mel
went as tour selector for the first part of the World Cup and although
he has been replaced by another selector Amal Silva for the rest of
the tournament, indications are that he will return to the Caribbean
as an observer.
De Mel is powerfully connected to a high ranking politician, which
makes it easier for him to take forceful decisions which may not be in
the best interest of the game. No sooner he became chairman of
selectors he tried to force the retired Sanath Jayasuriya down the
throat of the Sri Lanka team during their tour of England last year.
The team management at that time would have none of it and stood
strong not playing Jayasuriya until the third and final Test and that
too not as an opener but in the role of an all-rounder. On that
occasion the selection committee chairman did not have the courtesy to
inform the captain Jayawardene of his move to send Jayasuriya to join
the team. Such lack of communication suggests that the chairman acts
in a rather dictatorial manner.
The resting of key bowlers Vaas and Muralitharan in the game against
Australia also sparked off a row with contradictory statements coming
from Jayawardene and De Mel. While Jayawardene said the decision to
rest the bowlers was taken purely on the grounds to give them rest and
to allow them to recover from injuries, De Mel told a news agency that
it was a deliberate ploy to keep the two key strike bowlers away from
Australia, not wanting to expose them until the final.
"We did not want to give the Australians a free dress rehearsal. We
are saving our armoury for the final," De Mel was quoted by the
agency.
Another reason why members of the selection committee can act the way
they do is because they are not answerable to Sri Lanka Cricket, but
only to the Minister of Sports who put them there. It is sad to note
that the controlling body for the sport has no say in the appointment
of selectors. All they can do is to forward a few names as possible
candidates but the final decision lies with the Minister who can
always include individuals of his preference.
If Sri Lanka is to win the World Cup such trivial actions should be
eliminated and unity should prevail at all levels. There should be
sound reasoning in decision-making and nothing should be done to
disturb the unity the team presently enjoys under Jayawardene's
leadership. The captain should be given the fullest co-operation and
not be made a scapegoat to satisfy the cravings of certain individuals.
Who calls the shots? Is it the captain or the chairman of selectors?
Usually the captain should have the final say because it is he who
leads the team onto the field and if things don't turn out the way it
should, it is he who has to take the flak from the media and the
public.
The raging question that is doing the rounds as the Sri Lanka cricket
team under Mahela Jayawardene is trying to win back the World Cup for
a second time is the non-selection of former captain and experienced
batsman Marvan Atapattu.
Contradictory reports have appeared in the media over Atapattu's
continued absence from the Sri Lankan line-up especially when the runs
have dried up from the bats of opener Upul Tharanga and to a certain
extent middle-order bat Russel Arnold. The fact that Atapattu can
fulfill either role in the batting order is why there is great public
agitation at home for his inclusion.
For Sri Lanka's part the batting forms of Tharanga and Arnold maybe
the least of their worries because despite their failures the team has
continued to win and qualify for a place in the semi-finals.
Jayawardene would be more concerned to get his bowlers especially
Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando fit for the all-important game
against the Kiwis on Tuesday rather than dawdle with the forms of some
of his players, although it could be a concern. In fairness to Arnold
it should be noted that in the seven occasions he has made it to the
crease he has been dismissed only thrice. In Tharanga's case it is
different. He has the opportunity to commence the innings right from
the first ball and in nine matches he has crossed the fifty-mark only
twice.
Tharanga's early departures have not only exposed the team's most
reliable batsman Kumar Sangakkara to the new ball but also the middle-
order. Jayawardene experienced this problem batting at no. 3 and since
he switched over to no. 4 has regained his form.
The idea of having a national selector accompanying the team on tours
abroad came about during Atapattu's tenure as captain. It was his
reluctance to shoulder responsibility for dropping a player or players
from his team that led to the inclusion of a selector going on tours.
That responsibility was then passed onto the team manager who also
declined to undertake the responsibility and thus a selector has
accompanied the national side on each and every tour since 2005.
Whether that move has been beneficial to team selections on tour is
questionable. Who has the last word in selections? Is it the captain
or the selector? If Atapattu finds himself not selected for a single
match in the 2007 World Cup he should look at himself in the mirror
and ask the question: 'Have I dug my own grave?' In 1996 when Sri
Lanka won the World Cup under Arjuna Ranatunga, Atapattu though part
of the 14-member squad did not figure in a single game. Will history
repeat itself? Unconfirmed reports suggest that the chairman of
selectors Ashantha de Mel is against Atapattu being selected. De Mel
went as tour selector for the first part of the World Cup and although
he has been replaced by another selector Amal Silva for the rest of
the tournament, indications are that he will return to the Caribbean
as an observer.
De Mel is powerfully connected to a high ranking politician, which
makes it easier for him to take forceful decisions which may not be in
the best interest of the game. No sooner he became chairman of
selectors he tried to force the retired Sanath Jayasuriya down the
throat of the Sri Lanka team during their tour of England last year.
The team management at that time would have none of it and stood
strong not playing Jayasuriya until the third and final Test and that
too not as an opener but in the role of an all-rounder. On that
occasion the selection committee chairman did not have the courtesy to
inform the captain Jayawardene of his move to send Jayasuriya to join
the team. Such lack of communication suggests that the chairman acts
in a rather dictatorial manner.
The resting of key bowlers Vaas and Muralitharan in the game against
Australia also sparked off a row with contradictory statements coming
from Jayawardene and De Mel. While Jayawardene said the decision to
rest the bowlers was taken purely on the grounds to give them rest and
to allow them to recover from injuries, De Mel told a news agency that
it was a deliberate ploy to keep the two key strike bowlers away from
Australia, not wanting to expose them until the final.
"We did not want to give the Australians a free dress rehearsal. We
are saving our armoury for the final," De Mel was quoted by the
agency.
Another reason why members of the selection committee can act the way
they do is because they are not answerable to Sri Lanka Cricket, but
only to the Minister of Sports who put them there. It is sad to note
that the controlling body for the sport has no say in the appointment
of selectors. All they can do is to forward a few names as possible
candidates but the final decision lies with the Minister who can
always include individuals of his preference.
If Sri Lanka is to win the World Cup such trivial actions should be
eliminated and unity should prevail at all levels. There should be
sound reasoning in decision-making and nothing should be done to
disturb the unity the team presently enjoys under Jayawardene's
leadership. The captain should be given the fullest co-operation and
not be made a scapegoat to satisfy the cravings of certain individuals.