We have done our home work- Sanga
by Tyrell Peiris
Sri Lanka’s cricket captain
Kumar Sangakkara is having his hands full rebuilding the team. The
32-year-old stylish left hand batsman says that he is aware that much
more has to be done to have a world beating side. At the moment his
focus is on the tour of India in November for 3 test matches, 5 ODIs and
2 Twenty/20 matches.
Following Sri Lanka’s recent defeats Sangakkara, the NCC player who
got the captaincy a few months ago after his predecessor Mahela
Jayawardane gave up the job, is of the view that it is a long term task
of getting the ideal team. That would take times in finding specialist
players for the batting and bowling departments with emphasis on
fielding. Since Sangakkara became captain gradually steps have been
taken in that direction. It is his view that young players have to be
looked at for places considering their form.
Many such players, he says are tapping on the door for selection and
are pressurising senior players. One of the best finds after Sanga took
over the captaincy has been former St. Joseph’s all-rounder Angelo
Mathews. Like Mathews, Sangakkara has now turned his eyes on young
former Thomian Kaushal Silva, the Wicket-keeper batsman who has been
selected for the month long tour of India. Sangakkara believes that
Kaushal, who has shown superb talent behind the wickets and as a batsman
for the Sri Lanka under-19 XI and Lanka ‘A’ XI, will win his Test cap on
the Indian tour.
“Kaushal is a specialist wicket-keeper and batsman. So we are looking
at him to keep wickets in the three test matches against India. He has
also shown good potential as an useful batsman and that would boost the
middle order,” said the Sri Lanka captain. He said that he would even
look at the prospect of having Kaushal Silva open the batting with
Tillekeratne Dilshan.
“But that will depend on how well Tharanga Paranavithana performs on
tour,” said Sangakkara. Commenting on the recall of paceman Dilhara
Fernando to the ODI team and batsman Chinthaka Fernando to the Twenty/20
squad, Sangakkara said that Dilhara had made it because he had got over
his no ball problem while Chinthaka had been considered for some
consistent performances with the bat on the domestic scene. Thilina
Kandamby too would in all probability win a Test cap against India,
according to the Lankan captain following some impressive performances
at ODI level.
“Kandamby batted positively in difficult circumstances when the top
order failed in the champions Trophy. A notable change in the one-day
side would be veteran Sanath Jayasuriya having to give up his long time
role of opening the batting for Sri Lanka.
“Instead, Sanath will be asked to but lower down the order to
pollster the batting what is important is that he will be played mainly
as a back up bowler to bowl his 10 overs,” said Sangakkara who explained
that his aim was to set out a consistent batting plan. He said that in
the fielding department new fielding coach Gavin Fingelson, a former
baseball player had done much working with the squads to improve that
area which had notably been poor during the champions Trophy.
With 20 Test centuries and 32 half centuries to his credit from 85
matches and 10 ODI tons and 49 half tons from 257 matches Sangakkara,
who has earned a reputation as one of the world’s top batsmen, will
himself be focusing on regaining his old form following a recent poor
patch including the champions Trophy. |