Selections will always come in for question

Selectors the world over in whatever sport work in mysterious ways and it is customary for their selections, however good, to be queried by the discerning. As for us the squads selected to tour India are the best.

But in saying this we are certainly not picking holes with the selectors and their selections and we are sure they would take it in the spirit in which these comments are made.We would like to nudge the selectors and ask them as to how come all rounder Farveez Mahroof failed to get into any one of the three squads? Only last week he slammed a belligerent three figure score to bring his team the Nondescripts a victory that seemed impossible at one stage.

Certain number

Accepted that the selectors can only pick a certain number to form a squad and that only eleven can take the field. Probably after wracking their brains, the selectors could not have found a slot for Mahroof.

Mahroof when he first made it to the big league, delivered with a bang and it was the consensus that Sri Lanka had found the long awaited allrounder. But unfortunately injuries plagued him, and Angelo Mathews who took Mahroof's place has delivered and cemented his place in the national squad and it will not be easy to dislodge him.

While we sympathise with Mahroof for having been left out, which was beyond the control of the selectors led by Ashantha de Mel, the chairman who needs no introduction and who is known to perform whatever the job he is entrusted with to the best of his ability, with honesty his hall mark, we would like to make a comment on Angelo Mathews.

An example

We would like to start by saying that Angelo Mathews has been an example. Every budding cricketer will do well to follow his example. When Mathews was knocking on the door, the selectors who have a knack of spotting talent, plonked Mathews into the national squad. Mathews, an extraordinary allrounder - brilliant batsman, nagging medium pacer and excellent fielder, grabbed the opportunity with both hands and delivered and continues to deliver and has now not only cemented his place in the national team, but concreted it. Today cricket has become a livelihood, unlike in the days of old where we had to jump a bus or take ten string hoppers for lunch during a match. The dollars are cascading, filling not only the pockets of the players, but also fattening their bank accounts. None will begrudge their earnings as long as they are performing.

Good old days

To the good old days where we had to jump a bus and take ten string hoppers for lunch. Here's a little anecdote when the writer was playing for the Tamil Union in his early days. The Tamil Union second team had a captain who held that exalted post for many years. The reason being that it was only he could afford to stand a round of soft drinks after the match.

Also more of interest is this. At one time the club playing in a lower division, found it difficult to attract players. There was a book in the dressing room where players had to sign in their willingness for selection.

While the club would be struggling to find 11 players for a match, the moment the name of the next match was entered in the book, and in this instance it was the CCC - Colombo Cricket Club there would be many players entering their name in the book and making themselves available. Why? because the CCC used to serve beer shandy after the game. We hope what is said is taken in the spirit it is said because no embarrassment is meant to anyone.

Must perform

Getting back to Mathews, then it is paramount that players once in the national team PERFORM - performing at every outing is absolutely essential to earn the dollars that are on offer. Mathews has been a shining example and it is hoped that all players have got the message and will endeavour to keep performing like Mathews is doing. One must give credit to the selectors when credit is due and we must say that they have done well by giving Chanaka Welagedera a break in the Test team to India. Welagedera hailing from Matale St. Thomas' is a left-arm fast medium bowler. He has played Test cricket, but unfortunately has not been persisted with and as for us he has the makings of being the next Chaminda Vaas.

We are not trying to perform the job of the cricket selectors, but would like to tell them to keep an eye on Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Tirimanne and also Sameera Soysa and have them in their radar. Tirimanne is named as standby in the Lankan one-day squad. He is a stylish left handed top order batsman hailing from Prince of Wales, Moratuwa.

Consistent scorer

Playing for Ragama CC in the Premier League, he has represented the Sri Lanka under-19 and scored a century against Pakistan. He has scored consistently for the Sri Lanka 'A' team against Pakistan and was picked as one of the best young batsmen by skipper Kumar Sangakkara. A great student of the game, he is considered as the best young batsman in the country and if and when he is given his spurs should deliver.

Sameera Soysa from Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala is another fine top order left hand batsman and a wicketkeeper of high standard. Those watching the Wayamba game in the Champions League would have seen the lightning stumping he made of Dinesh Karthik off spinner Ajantha Mendis. Soysa was vice captain to Angelo Mathews in the Youth World Cup. He has the honour of winning the U.B. Wanninayake medal presented to the best all round sportsman at Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala. He is potential Sri Lankan material.

Aussies in India

The World Champions Australia led by master batsman and tactician Ricky Ponting are in India for a series of seven one-day internationals. Earlier the Aussies thrashed the Brits 6-1 in a seven match one-day series in England. At the time of writing the Kangaroos won a nail-biting first game by 4 runs. But in the second game received a thrashing by the home team by the massive margin of 99 runs. With five more matches to be contested for, many more thrilling encounters between two of the leading teams in this style of game could be witnessed provided the wickets are made for this style of cricket.

Harbhajan the nemesis

With the Aussies strolling to an easy win in the first game, Harbhajan who has been the nemesis for Australia wherever they play India, joined forces with Praveen Kumar and nearly took the game away for the yellow clad Aussies, until Peter Siddle bowled Harbhajan for a scintillating 49 which was the beginning of the end for the Indians. That they lost by four runs was a travesty of justice. Came the second game and complacency would have made Ponting win the toss and ask the Indians in. Ponting would have taken the dew factor into consideration when asking the Indians to bat. The Indians said a very big thank you to Ponting and after losing Sachin Tendulkar early, the rest of the batting shown the way by the dashing Virender Sehwag, pummeled the Aussies bowlers who were missing the in form Brett Lee to post a massive 354 for 7 in 50 overs.

Dhoni demoralising

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni came to his form of old to bang a demoralizing 124 off 107 deliveries which innings was a treat while it lasted and he was helped by Gautam Gambhir 76 and Suresh Raina 62.

The Aussies who chased leather all round the ground would have had their tongues hanging as it were, when it came to them taking strike and it came as no surprise when they fell short by 99 runs.

When this is being read the third game would have been played and indications are that this series would be keenly contested with Australia determined to maintain their World champion tag and India determined to stuff the Kangaroos.