Aravinda’s Mission: winning the next World Cup

Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lanka’s only batsman to make a century in World Cup cricket is back at the “wicket” —- this time as Captain of the New Selection Committee. His mission statement is simple: we want to see Sri Lanka win the next World Cup.

Underlying that simple “mission” are some complex responsibilities. Actions that will require a single minded effort from all quarters: the players, coaches and selectors.

De Silva takes strike with the rich experience of having been selector earlier, observing events as they unfolded ever since, and lessons learnt from our successes and missteps. To help him with his task he has a first rate team of co-selectors in Ranjit Fernando, Amal Silva and Shabir Asgerally, all persons of integrity and with courage of their convictions. While the selectors will target the World Cup 2011 to be played in the sub continent, they will use the Asia Cup, the triangular, tours by West Indies and a limited over tour of Australia to strategize for World Cup 2011.

No nonsense

De Silva has made it clear that he and his selectors will be guided by nothing else but meritocracy; that their actions will give very serious considerations to the wishes and feelings of the captain of the team. After all it is the captain who has to live with and give effect to the decisions of the selectors. It will be a team effort. And the new Sports Minister C. B. Ratnayake has promised to uphold the highest standards by effective delegation to the Selectors and holding them accountable. Often the word “accountability” is misinterpreted. A crude but effective way of translating it is to say that it means holding the “feet to the fire”! But in doing so, it also means that accountability engenders “trust” along with which comes patience to give time and latitude to those being “trusted” to get their act together and put their plans into actions. Selection also implies strategy. A strategy that takes into account carefully orchestrated steps to achieve the end goal. And in this case it’s our quest for the World Cup. This cannot be achieved overnight. Rather, through an exercise of patience and teamwork.

For reasons best known to them, previous Sports Ministers have succumbed to pressure and changed team selections made by selectors. Of late selectors have been named by Sports Ministers. This being the case, they should repose trust and confidence must have confidence in them, and have the courage to stand by them. Patience is key.

Patience includes the ability to give the selectors the space and time for discussion, healthy debate and final determination through the artful process of consensus building. It also means that once the matter is settled and selections made, the matter should end there without any interference and without discredit to those who may have had differing views. We believe the selectors will keep it that way and foster a co-operative relationship among them.

De Silva at the first interaction with the media said that the vital factors for a winning combination are experience, fitness, commitment and discipline. He is spot on. And if any player lacks the above factors, then however brilliant he is, he will fall short of the required optimal levels that we require to be world class.

Only exception

The only exception to this was the batting legend of a bygone era, the great Mahadevan Sathasivam, who it said would enjoy late nights, imbibe some stiff drinks till dawn, sometimes before and during a match, and then take strike the next day —-and then beautifully and elegantly carve out a century! This is only being referred to in this column as an entertaining aside and not in any way as an encouragement to anyone who may want to follow suit!

Here is a little anecdote about the flashy cricketer, which would be of interest to our readers. It is said that MailScanner warning: numerical links are often malicious: F. C. de Saram a stickler for discipline had picked Sathasivam in his team and having won the toss was waiting for the legend to arrive.

Arrive he did, but not steady on his feet. ‘Satha’ you are opening batting with me’, barked De Saram in his stentorian voice in anger. ‘Satha’ it is said, went into the dressing room, threw up, donned pads and walked to the centre with his captain.

Anecdote

De Saram it is said was out in the first over. Sathasivam went on to play one of the finest innings and walked back to the pavilion with a hearty laugh and no less a century and that too not out to his name. Consternation was writ on De Saram’s face. That was the inimitable Satha. There will never be another Sathasivam.

Lets revert to De Silva and his prescription of experience, fitness, commitment and discipline. These four prerequisites require an “Rx” poster on the walls of dressing rooms as without these attributes there is no substitute for the healing of cricketing ills and for success.

Fifty over cricket demands no less of player. If fitness is at its peak, the natural aspects of the game of cricket fall into place - form, concentration, nimbleness, an eye for the ball and a sense of anticipation —— and a match winning performance is the end result.

De Silva is confident that the present crop of cricketers have the ability to achieve something that he and his team could not achieve. And that is to beat Australia in Australia in a Test match.

Pertinent question

A pertinent question: How often do we play Australia here or there? When we were in Australia a few years back, the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy was inaugurated to be contested between the two countries, with a sense of anticipation that this will be good for international cricket. Since then what? Australia is in arrears of a reciprocal tour. When will that materialise?

Back to the selectors and we can’t call them new because they have been in these seats before. Ranjit Fernando is the elder statesman bringing in a bag full of experience. As a wicket keeper/batsman at St. Benedict’s College he was simply fantastic. He made a half century on debut for the college against St. Peter’s which launched him to stardom. As a schoolboy he is best remembered for the blistering century he hammered before the milk interval against Royal at Kotahena.

Great wicket keepers

He continued to score heavily and keep wickets for his club Nondescripts and later the Sri Lanka National side. He was in the class of Ben Navaratne and H. I. K. Fernando two of the great wicket keepers produced by the country. Fernando brings with him a lot of experience in every aspect of the game and Aravinda de Silva and the other two selectors will be the beneficiaries. With his experience and steadying influence he should guide them all. Fernando also celebrated his Golden Jubilee with his club NCC.

De Silva was one of the country’s batting greats. He is a product of D. S. Senanayake College and during his time he was a scourge of all bowlers and three figures came naturally to him. With a stance that was not from the book, he was in line with foot to the pitch of the ball to send it scorching past fielders.

Quick of eye

Blessed with strokes all round the wicket, he was quick of eye to spot a bouncer and send it over the fence. Imran Khan and Kapil Dev had the mortification of seeing their bouncers being peppered over the fence. He also had the distinction of captaining the country. NCC was his club.

Amal Silva was also a very successful wicket keeper/left hand batsman for St. Peter’s and NCC and runs came gushing for him at club and national level. He is in the illustrious company of those who have scored a century at the Mecca of Cricket Lord’s in a Test match.

Shabir Asgerally who did not have the fortune of sporting national colours, showed his prowess with the bat for Moors and Bloomfield as an opening batsman. He was also a wicket keeper.

So it will be seen that the selectors have a tremendous and unenviable task before them in their endeavour to take Sri Lanka to cricket’s Mount Everest which is the World Cup 2011.

Here’s wishing them well.