 Will
the one-day series end Dilshan’s reign?
The question for which sports fans, especially cricket fans are
seeking answers is: will skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan continue to sport
his captaincy band or will he be asked to step aside after the South
African tour?
The selectors captained by former Sri Lankan dazzler Duleep Mendis
appointed Dilshan for the tour of South Africa. The tour was probably
the best that Dilshan has enjoyed since taking over the reigns of
captaincy which before then saw a rapid decline in our form and
fortunes. His previous three outings as captain against England,
Australia and Pakistan, all ended in series defeats, which cast a dark
cloud.
Sri Lanka lost the series 2-1 against South Africa. But, the
consolation prize was leading the country to its first ever victory
against South Africa in South Africa.
Next two bashes
At the time of writing Sri Lanka’s next two bashes will be the
‘cowboy’ series- the 50 overs - against South Africa and later a
Commonwealth Bank tri-series which features World Champions India and
Australia in Australia.
Will the one-day series in South Africa be Dilshan’s Waterloo? A
little bird whispers that should Sri Lanka win the series in Protealand,
he will continue in the saddle. A whitewash could call finis’ to his
reign. So as a fighter with courage Dilshan can be expected to prepare
himself to lead by example and from the front. This he will seek to
accomplish, hopefully, by batting gallantly for the team and going for
big scores and giving the rest of the batsmen the platform to build on.
Wretched run
What has unsettled Dilshan is his wretched run with the bat. When he
began to fail as an opener, some bright spark planted the seeds of
uncertainty by forcing him to bat in the middle. He did just that
without success and now he is between two worlds. Open the batting or
batting in the middle?
Uncertainty has led to the downfall of many a cricketer and led to
the cricketer’s ousting from the game. If this calamity befalls Dilshan
it will be sad, considering that he has been a dashing opening batsman
and brilliant fielder for the country. Another malady that afflicts many
losing captains is the ugly aspect of finding excuses. A standard excuse
is finding solace in ‘Ifs’ and ‘Buts’. A match has to be won, lost or
drawn. A humble captain will always give credit to the winning team for
playing the better cricket that saw them to victory. ‘Ifs’ and ‘buts’
like being wise after the event, is the refuge of a “loser”.
Press briefing
After the match press briefing, Dilshan is on record saying that had
Chanaka Welegedera attempted a catch off double century maker Jacques
Kallis when he was on two in the final Test at Newslands been taken, the
story could have been different.
On the other side of the coin, the South African skipper Graeme Smith
could have lamented that had Kumar Sangakkara, who scored a century in
the Durban Test, been held when he was on two, the story too could have
been different!
So it’s time to lose gratefully and be magnanimous in victory, rather
than prefer weak and speculative excuses. Excuses however good are
unacceptable once in the big league. Dilshan is also reported to have
said that the domestic cricketing structure is weak. This is old hat and
not something that should cloud one’s mind when the focus should be to
garner the full energies of the team one has to put up a decent showing.
Gut feeling
The gut feeling is that if Dilshan fails to win the one-day series in
South Africa the selectors will have no other alternative but to shop
for another captain. It is not idle speculation that former captain
Mahela Jayawardena who had a good run as captain, taking us to the World
Cup final in the Caribbean in 2007, will be invited to take on the lead
again. Jayawardena, although he could not make good with the bat on the
tour of South Africa, is still one of the best with the willow in the
world. His present failings are just a hiccup. All great batsmen have
had a dip in batting form. Jayawardena one can rest assured will swing
back into action before long.
Indians in poor form
If Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s cricketing Indians lose the Third Test to
Australia which began at the West Australian Cricket Association Ground
(WACA) in Perth is lost and with it the series 3-0 in a Four-Test
series, then several of their cricketers will have to contend with the
wrath of their rowdy local fans who would not tolerate such defeat.
After the four-nil series pummelling by England, in England, and if they
were to suffer humiliation at the hands of the Australians, then it will
be a calamity of hispotic proportions. In the Two Tests played,
Australia has outplayed the Indians. When the Indians arrived in,
Australians expectations were high. But sadly they have crumbled under
the intense pressure exerted on them and now find themselves in losing
land.
If they surrender in the Third Test, wholesale changes will be made
to the future squad. We would not hazard too many guesses, but top of
the chopping list will be captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni himself.
Cry for changes
The cry has began in India for changes to be made; for the old to
make way for the young emerging players; and for better leaders to take
over and lead Indian cricket to winning ways. India does not lack for
want of talent. And the selectors will not be faulted if they bring in
the long overdue changes. The old hands have served faithfully and now
it is time for them to take a bow.
Of interest to the Indian fans will be Sachin Tendulkar. Will he
achieve that mother of all hundreds – the 100th hundred in Cricket?
He is under terrific pressure walking in, shown by the big hand he
gets by his adoring fans, when he puts bat to ball. Will this be the
Test match he has been waiting for?
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