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by SRIAN OBEYESEKERE

Looking from the pinnacle of a career not built on ideal dream - starts, but a nightmare of ducks, but the better by the experience which he described as unfortunate, Marvan Atapattu strikes a clear, no nonsense chord of a new leaf of demanding, flexible strategies in captaincy in bridging an existing vacuum towards reaching the highest goals of one-day cricket which he intends starting on a winning note in the coming triangular.

A no nonsense approach he immediately took strike on assuming the captaincy in saying that there were no excuses for batsmen who cannot perform on away tracks like South Africa. "It comes down to batsmanship."

`Feeling great' to be in the saddle as the first separate one-day captain of the national team which `is an honour', the lean and wiry 32-year - old opening batsman gave an insight of his intentions ahead of the 7-match triangular involving Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan beginning on May 10. In an interview with the `Sunday Observer' he said, "We shouldn't be going the way we've been going which has ended in dire straits. From here we need a definite change.

We need to be flexible. We should play to our strength. But if we are not successful we can afford to try out anything. There should be new ideas coming in. For a change, a lower order batsman could come in to bat up the order. A spinner could be bowling in the first 15 overs."

Atapattu, who is vice captain of the Test team to veteran Hashan Tillekeratne, but whom the selectors insist is their long-term choice to be prepared for both jobs, is a practical man and owned up to the batting debacle in the semi-final loss to Australia for which he felt the public were justified in being critical of the team.

He touched on a wide area of work ahead. From the grooming of youngsters, which should not be overnight, but systematic, to the brittle batting department worsened by a few vacancies created where a few new faces could be expected, to the coaching after Dav Whatmore, who like every good thing, does not remain, but whose influence remains, to the wicket-keeping chore which he felt if Romesh Kaluwitharana justified should be his as world cricket depends on a keeper who can bat.' The captain elect made, no bones about it and insisted on a high degree of competence. It was unfair to simply write off the over 30's if potential remained in them.

Youngsters, he stressed, cannot be rushed to fall on the wayside like the unfortunate Roshan Jurangpathy, and nearly in his (Atapattu's) case where `luckily my second break was a gradual phasing out'.

He felt that the media should not be unduly harsh in criticism which Atapattu acknowledged nearly affected his career, but for a determined comeback after that initial failure. There should be constructive criticism in the public interest.

As to the gap between big and small, he would strive to bridge the gap to change from a long existing Sri Lankan pattern to meeting new demands at once which would not be easy, as similarly rivalling a benchmark side like Australia on whom 'we'll try to catch upon.' But Sri Lanka also had a big, big gap on the domestic structure in comparison to some of the major cricketing countries.

He struck a positive note saying he was still in a learning curve ready to explore and felt that even if one played 500 matches, still there is something new to learn.

He dismissed as 'utter' rubbish that Sanath Jayasuriya had quit the captaincy in disgust as reported in an English daily (not Lake House group).

Interestingly, Atapattu traced back a schoolboy career which began at Mahinda College, Galle where `I played one under-13 season before crossing over to Ananda.'

Excerpts of the interview:

(Q): How do you feel to be appointed the first separate captain of the one-day team?

(A): "I feel great and honoured to lead my country.

(Q): Despite the team coming to the semi-finals of the World Cup you would agree that there is a big vacuum to be filled involving much work. How would you get about tackling it ?

(A): "Exactly. We are the most unpredictable side. We played well in one stage of the tournament and badly in another. I agree that despite making it to the semi-finals there is much to be done. We shouldn't be going the way we've been going. It has ended in dire straits.

Over a period of time I'll try my best to get the team flexible. For a start in the coming triangular you could see a lower order batsman going into bat up the order or a spinner coming in to bowl in the first 15 overs.

We should play to our strength. That's the way we've been going. But if we are not successful we can afford to do anything. Now the old pattern of 1996 is a bit stale. There should be new ideas coming in. If we find the correct combinations we'll stop at that. From here we need a definite change. We need to groom youngsters."

(Q): Although Sri Lanka is the team that came closest to beating Australia, there is much public discontent that we lost a semi-final that we should have won chasing 214 runs. Your comments ?

(A): "We had it in our hands when we restricted them to 213. I would say that the batsmen including myself should take the blame for it. I'm willing to respect the public thinking, that it is not acceptable that we lost. It is not wrong for people to think so. If Australia had made 300 and we lost it's another story. 213 was within our reach."

(Q): What are the type of changes you'll be looking at ?

(A): "You could see some new faces. All must support the youngsters. But we can't simply rush them in. It must be gradually phased out. And we cannot simply write off the over 30's. If they perform to potential they must be duly considered because that is what matters. People shouldn't be discarded looking at their ages which is too harsh."

(Q): What about the wicket-keeping berth ?

(A): If Kalu (Kaluwitharana) plays well, he'll be in the side. He is the best wicket-keeper batsman we have. World cricket depends on one who can bat as well keep wickets.' Though he is in his 30's, if he is fit enough that is what matters."

(Q): Speaking of grooming youngsters, how would you look at your own career when you had a horror start of ducks, but came out of it like some great cricketers around the globe have ?

(A): "Some players come really good in their early ages. Unfortunately I didn't. But I managed to come good when given a second chance in 1996. I must say I was groomed in such a way not being rushed into the big games, but secondary matches and when I was re-drafted not being sent up the order where I would have felt the pressure. Thereby, I didn't feel it. Most like Russel (Arnold) and Mahela (Jayawardene) were brought up that way. It should be gradual. You must not throw a youngster into the deep end."

(Q): Unfortunately it happened to Jurangpathy ?

(A): "It happened. We should know where and when to blood youngsters."

(Q): Would you say that the media was too harsh on you in the wake of that initial failure as in the case of Jurangpathy ?

(A): "Yeah. The media should criticise. That's how it should be if they see something going wrong which they should tell the public. But they must not be unfair in criticism."

(Q): Is it correct that Sanath Jayasuriya quit in disgust over pressurising to accommodate favourites from outside influence and over the wages dispute as stated by a columnist in an English daily (not Lake House)?

(A): "It is utter rubbish. Sanath did not quit in disgust. He is in the best of spirits and looking forward to the cricket ahead. It was simply that he stood down in good faith."

(Q): What about some of the local club talent ?

(A): "There can be good club players who won't necessarily make it to the national side unless they are potential enough where the selectors are convinced that they can deliver".

(Q): Would you agree that the ultimate goal in one-day cricket should be to bridge the gap between such countries like Australia and South Africa. How would you look at it ?

(A): "I will try my best to bridge the gap. But Australia and South Africa are right there. Australia has kept a benchmark. They are the ones to look upon in world cricket.

Their cricketing skills are of the highest level. It is simply fabulous upto the financing. Everything is working well for them. Most things they do are suitable. There is a gap.

We'll try and catch upon them. It is a learning curve and everyday I have something new to learn and I must say I am happy to learn. Our approach will be the same Sri Lankan approach which will be very hard to change at once which our country is renowned for. For me to change the pattern early will be difficult."

(Q): To your schoolboy days ?

(A). "I must mention that my schoolboy career began at Mahinda College, Galle. I played in one under-13 season for Mahinda and then I came to Ananda College from Grade-6 which was the qualifying admission requirement. At Mahinda I was coached by Major G. W. S. de Silva, and subsequently by P. W. Perera who also coached Aravinda (De Silva)."

(Q): Would the exit of Dav Whatmore have an adverse effect particularly with the upcoming triangular tournament ?

(A): "Dav did a great job with us. If you ask the players they will vouch for that because they know best. But every good thing does not remain. Unfortunately Dav has to go. But I must say we are very happy with Duleep (Mendis) who has much experience behind him."

(Q): But you would miss Whatmore's services for sure ?

(A): We would. But I must say we know what Dav did. We can't change from what Dav did. The style of preparation, his practices and the way he got about it are ingrained in us. I don't see any setbacks by Dav not been around."

(Q): Any idea of the newcomers to the side ?

(A): Not that I don't have. I do have, but better not mention at this stage."

(Q): What about your own form which has been considered brilliant of late in the wake of those 2 cameo centuries off South Africa in the World Cup and a Test match before that, and the one against Zimbabwe. Looking to continue in that vein ?

(A): "I really enjoy batting on those tracks. There is no excuse for a batsman not to be able to bat on those tracks. We get good wickets. We get bad wickets. It comes down to batsmanship."

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