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| Sunday, 17 August 2003 |
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Restructuring of domestic cricket raises new expectations by SRIAN OBEYESEKERE Sri Lankan cricket is on the tip of a new iceberg. After former coach Dav Whatmore, the question Sri Lankan cricket looked at was - whatmore after Whatmore? That was in the wake of a bruised and battered image after the World Cup and a lost home triangular as coach and captains being changed. Now, nigh 4 months after Whatmore's long honeymoon with this sub-continent country's cricket ended, Sri Lanka, one of the three from a fanatically cricket crazy Asian region next to big brothers India and Pakistan where the game is almost a religion, is set to enter a new voyage. A voyage which is gaining much noise for the entry of new Australian born coach John Dyson. For Dyson (41), like Whatmore will wield the highly envied Australian influence. But that is as far as similarities go. What has raised great expectations here in Sri Lanka is the fact that the former Australian opening batsman has already given an idea of 'new methods' based on modern science on which he would be honing his coaching skills. For a start, Dyson will have at hand what the local cricket authorities described as a 'scientific trainer.' Expectantly, it is this double dose of know-how coupled with pumping 'new oxygen' in re-structuring the country's domestic cricket tournaments on two footings which found BCCSL approval last week which is seen as the tonic base to shaping the future of Sri Lankan cricket to new heights. Describing the whole concept coming under one umbrella of inter-relating a concentrated development drive on all wheels with emphasis on new technology was Mohan de Silva, Hony. Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL). "Already a foreign trainer has been short listed and identified for both the national team and the Sri Lanka 'A' team on Dyson's recommendations," revealed De Silva to the 'Sunday Observer.' "The role of such expertise has been stressed by Dyson which is in taking into consideration new goals of raising the standard at the highest level in conforming to new scientific training skills", he added, stressing that scientific training was a key area of development in the Australian curriculum. Australia is regarded as the world's super team in both forms of the game. New muscle aimed at tapping all available latent talent which is felt had hitherto been a neglected area, will revolve around (1) The re-structuring of the domestic tournament format, and (2) The conducting of a super tournament at provincial level, according to the BCCSL Hony. Secretary. This decision had been arrived at with the active participation of Dyson, who attended a series of brain-storming sessions recently, De Silva said. The new tournament format envisages the participation of 16 premier clubs divided into two groups with the top two teams of both groups as qualifying semi-finalists which will decide the finalists. De Silva explained that the main criteria of the super tournament confined to four provinces was to ensure an equal distribution of strength which would enable the national selectors to strike a balance in grooming players. "The criteria of distribution of players would be based on places of birth, their places of employment and location of clubs they belong to. It is also intended to encourage more competitiveness under a relegating system," he added. "The new tournament formats were arrived at last week by the cricket authorities after reviewing suggestions from club nominees which consisted of 6 groups," De Silva added. Dyson will bring with him not only a strict regimen from the coaching manual. There will be no room for half heartedness in his book. "He (Dyson) is very particular that all national players participate in the domestic tournaments to ensure the success of the whole concept", revealed the BCCSL Hony. Secretary. Indeed, Dyson carries the Australian 'brief' of giving Sri Lankan cricket some more after Whatmore in identifying new areas and means of development to breast the globe. o17sac48.ak. |
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