Good on SLC and the selectors

Limited over cricket, especially needs young blood. This style of game - 50-over and Twenty20 are fast forward games and require young and fast moving players to be on the field.

In saying this we are certainly not saying that older players cannot fit in. There are the exceptions. And one rare exception is the Matara mauler Sanath Jayasuriya. He is a phenomenon.

In limited over cricket, the only aspect that improves and develops is the fielding. The techniques in batting and bowling goes with the wind with slogging being the order when batting and being negative when bowling.

We would like to congratulate the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket and the selectors for taking the plunge and fearlessly plonking young blood in the ongoing tri-series in Bangladesh which also features India and the hosts.

Young and talented

Young and talented players of the calibre of Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Thissara Perera, Suraj Randiv, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chanaka Welagedera and Thilina Kandamby have proved what they are capable of.

The selectors have also done well in sending Mahela Udawatte and Dinesh Chandimal as replacements to Bangladesh. Before the squad left for the Indian series, I wrote that the selectors would not been faulted had they included that stylish right hand batsman Chandimal, so that he could get a feel of what big time cricket is all about.

Better late than never it is said, and it is encouraging to note that Chandimal has now found favour with the selectors and made it to Bangladesh. Chandimal has kept to his promise and scored heavily for his club the Nondescripts and fully deserves to be persisted with.

The above mentioned are the 'SUPER STARS' of the future of Sri Lanka cricket and must be persisted with for them to show their true potential. A failure or two does not mean that they be pushed into the limbo of the forgotten.

Failures are the pillars of success

'Failures are the pillars of success'. Many great players have emerged after not too successful a beginning. It is the duty of the selectors to keep faith in the youngsters, encourage and give them the all-important continuity if they are to hit the big time.

The Bangladesh tour has been a revelation where the youngsters are concerned. Opener Lahiru Thirimanne looks composed and solid and has the right temperament to go the distance. He looks a photocopy of Upul Tharanga. He just massacred the Indian attack. He has been coached by Heshan de Silva who is doing a wonderful job with the talent available to him at St. Joseph's College. SLC must make a note of De Silva's capabilities and have him in their frame.

Opening bowler, the left arm seamer Chanaka Welagedera is improving with each outing. His 5 for 66 against the mighty Indians proves this. He must be told to vary his line and length a bit more.

Pushpakumara and Randiv are two more than ordinary off spinners. They are not afraid to flight and tease the batsmen and must be told that spinners have to buy their wickets

Age in his favour

Left-hand hard hitting Thilina Kandamby has age in his favour and if he bats a little more intelligently should be in the runs more often than not. He has the power and the required strokes to blast any opposing attack. He must watch his running between the wickets.

Now that Sri Lanka Cricket and the Selection Committee have identified the talent, it is now up to them to talk with the youngsters and tell them what to do and how to adapt to situations. Some of those in the Interim Committee and all in the Selection Committee have been great cricketers and the youngsters would sure like to learn from them.

With the World Cup Limited Over Cricket Tournament to be contested in the sub-continent next year, the Sri Lanka authorities are straining every nerve and sinew to see that the team they pick would emulate the feat of Arjuna Ranatunga's 1995/96 sharp shooters and win the Cup.

The talent to succeed is there. To get the best out of that talent is the challenge now facing the cricketing authorities. We wish them success.

ICC keep bungling

The International Cricket Council when they okay a tournament,must before doing so, just for the sake of doing so, check what the tournament is all about and most importantly check as to the conditions in which the tournaments are to be played.

Take the ongoing tri-series in Bangladesh. The conditions for the side fielding second to say the least are atrocious. Dew starts to set in and with it goes the chances of the side fielding making the game competitive as the bowlers are unable to grip the ball and bowl the way they would wish.

The captains of the three teams taking part in Bangladesh tournament - Kumar Sangakkara, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Shakib ul Hassan have voiced their concerns and quite rightly too and it is hoped that the organizers would do a rethink and make it day games.

Once the ICC okays a tournament, they must not think that their responsibility ends there. They must stay tuned and follow the working of the tournament. As for us this tournament is a farce considering the dew situation. The bowlers cannot bowl, the fielders cannot field and every player is open to career threatening injuries owing to the slippery conditions of the ground. Even insects are playing a game of their own.

When will the ICC ever learn.

Great Aussie victory

The Australian cricketers led by the mercurial Ricky Ponting stunned the world of Test cricket by coming from behind to register one of the most astonishing victories seen, in what the game is all about - Test cricket.

When the final day began in the Second Test in Adelaide, Pakistan were already celebrating and were cock-a-hoop, what with conceding a lead of only 80 and with two remaining Aussie batsmen to be removed.

But the Pakistanis never bargained for the grit and determination of the Aussies to rise Phoenix like from the ashes, slug it out to the end and make the impossible, possible.

'Mr. Cricket' Michael Hussey and tail ender Peter Siddle put on 130 runs for the ninth wicket to take the lead to 176 and set the Pakistanis a challenging total to win. Hussey played one of his career best innings to remain unbeaten on 134, while Siddle stayed put to make 31.

Pakistan began the chase well oozing confidence. But when it came to the crunch, nerves seemed to have got the better of them as they collapsed in a heap to give the baggy green caps a victory from the jaws of defeat. What a game it was!

I have always said that a match is not won or lost till the final ball is bowled. The Pakistanis seemed to have forgotten this.