New interim coach Atapattu will face the challenges with gusto

For new head coach former Sri Lanka opening batsman and Captain Marvan Atapattu, the two tours of Ireland and England will bring challenges in his high profile job which he is sure to meet with gusto.

Entrusted with an interim job, if Atapattu is well motivated to get his squad to perform well on the tours of Ireland and England and later when South Africa play here. Today winning is not everything it is “the thing”. Winners are heroes, losers are outcast. How well winners were treated was shown when thousands lined the streets from Katunayake to Galle Face to welcome the Twenty20 World Cup winners.

It is said that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. And although the crown on Atapattu’s head is interim, he will do his best, no doubt, to ensure that its remains there for a long time.

Has been long enough in the game

Atapattu has been long enough in the game as a player, captain and also as batting coach and knows the demands expected if he is to continue batting in his job. Even before Atapattu could don pads in his new role, comes the news that foreign coaches are circling, waiting to pounce on the prey that is the Head Coach of Sri Lanka cricket.

News has it that three Australians have already thrown in the bait and reports have it that the big fish running Sri Lanka cricket and entrusted with picking coaches could bite the bait.

These are early days. But Atapattu would have got the message now and he will have to pull out all tricks from his coaching baggage and deliver and if he delivers will have the credentials to challenge any world coach. So now the ball is in Atapattu’s court.

WC preparations with the two tours

The new coach before leaving for Ireland made it known that Sri Lanka’s preparations for the 2015 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia begins with the tours of Ireland and England.

He also stated that there is no time for experimenting. The possible World Cup squad requires maximum exposure so that will give them the opportunity to find the right combination that could repeat the 1995/’96 triumph.

He also revealed that Sri Lanka has about 20 matches before the World Cup and that it was important to find the right team and combination and also maintain a winning momentum.

Atapattu also revealed that during the Bangladesh series they had prepared a plan with Farbrace for the England series and that it was unfortunate that Farbrace had to leave us. He also said that just because Farbrace knows our plans, weaknesses and strengths it is not a disadvantage.

Kid thinking should have no place

To think and be worried that Farbrace knows our play and game plan and that he will tell the England players should be told to kids. Our cricketers are professionals and know how to adjust. Kid thinking should not be allowed into professional play.

Having said about Atapattu, we understand that everything is not smooth between Sri Lanka Captain Angelo Mathews, Coach Marvan Atapattu and manager Michael de Zoysa.

Accepted that Mathews and Atapattu have played the better cricket. But Zoysa too has been in the cauldron of cricket having played first class cricket for the SSC. He is an Old Thomian and son of former leg spinning legend Lucien. He has pedigree in him.

De Zoysa hails from Balapitiya

He hails from Balapitya which town cheer leader Percy Abayasekara hails from. He comes from a very illustrious family and he held many responsible posts in tea companies ending up as Chairman of one of the largest tea firms in the country.

He also held office in the Cricket Board, probably before Mathews and Atapattu were knee high to a bat. He followed in the footsteps of his father Lucien who along with Bertie Wijesinha formed Sri Lanka’s first cricket commentators and was a commentator himself.

De Zoysa has so far performed an admirable job and from what we can gather to the entire satisfaction of those who matter in Sri Lanka Cricket. His hard work and discipline he has maintained has not gone unrewarded. In appreciation it was good on Sri Lanka Cricket to reward his good work with another year’s extension with a promise of a likely raise. He deserves it.

Manager’s job is to perform

As manager he has a tough job to perform. He must maintain discipline at all costs, who or however powerful the player or players are. He must stand tall at all times, hold his head high and do his job without fear or favour. In the past there have been instances where players had late nights, broken curfew and had their own way which incidents have led to poor performances and the media exposing the indiscipline in the teams. Michael de Zoysa must continue the good work.

There was a manager of Sri Lanka Cricket who was doing a grand job. But sadly he fell from grace and was removed for no fault of his. The sin he committed was that he allowed a player to use his lap top to reply SLC. Doing your job and offering a straight bat like you did during your playing days is what is required, knowing that a straight bat will not allow anyone to breach your defence.

Instead of making a mountain out of a mole hill, going public and washing dirty linen which has been the style in recent times, the warring factions who are all sportsmen must talk, indulge in CONSULTATION, COMPROMISE and CONSENSUS.

England’s cricket on uncertain pitch

The thrashing England cricket received from Australia in the previous Ashes series 5-nil, has no doubt shamed them and are pinching coaches, dismissing players and the latest is that they have dumped their former captain and batting coach Graham Gooch.In their hurry to regain their lost glory under new coach who re-returns Peter Moores there will be many more dumpings and new inclusions until they strike the right chord before the next Ashes clashes with Australia in England. The latest casualty was former England Captain and batsman Gooch who was one of the soundest and straight batters in English cricket. In his reign as batting coach he showed them how and the batters progressed.

More throats to be slit

First it was Andrew Flower the head coach, then dashing batsman Kevin Pietersen, then one day Ashley Giles and now Gooch. We wonder how many other throats would be slit before sanity prevails in the England cricketing camp. England’s next fling will be 5 one-day internationals and Two Test matches against Sri Lanka followed by four Tests against India in their hurry to get their game right before the all conquering Aussies led by Michael Clarke and coached by Darren Lehmann arrive.

Playing in their own backyard, England will be on top and could beat Sri Lanka and India and be lulled into false security. The real test will come when the marauding Australians who are familiar with English wickets and conditions unwind in England.

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