Mathews dropping is a lesson in itself

The dropping of Sri Lanka’s new skipper Angelo Mathews by theselectors of the franchise that he is playing for Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League demonstrates a good lesson in big league cricket that one needs to keep one’s form up or risk being sidelined. This is as it should be whether its IPL or even Sri Lanka Cricket. These are the realities that all sportsmen and women need to contend with in their careers. And it is no different with Mathews.In many respects shocking as it may seem its also a wake up call to all professional cricketers. .

In any sport the player must be consistent. Consistency will see the selectors persisting with the participant. Inconsistency or poor form,and the player will come under the microscope of the selectors.And with talented and deserving cricketers on the bench yearning to play in the cash rich IPL, the selectors cannot be faulted for not persisting with players who are poorly out of form.

Completely out of form

And Mathews who is leading the Pune Warriors has been completely out of form. Not only Mathews, all of the Lankan cricketers playing in the IPL have, for their high standards been completely out of form.

Besides Mathews, even three former captains who shone in previous IPL’s Mahela Jayewardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillekeratne Dilshan have also run into a storm of wretched form.Not only the Sri Lankan cricketers, even some of the proven Indian cricketers have failed. This must be worrying not only thecricketers, but also the franchises who are paying them money bags

to perform.It is said that Kumar Sangakkara as captain of Hyderabad Sunrisers dropped himself, before the Selectors could do it for him. But he has since come back, but not hit a rich vein of runs that he is famed for.

Like a house on fire

Jayewardene leader of Delhi Daredevils started like a house on fire, hitting the first six and the fifty of the tournament and then followed it up with another half century, but has not done enough for his standards.Tillekeratne Dilshan also lit up the IPL playing some dazzling innings in previous tournaments. He too has been in poor form and suffered the selectors’ axe being benched for some games.The poor batting form by these three champion Sri Lanka cricketers forces us to ask the question now that they are in their mid 30s whether Twenty20 cricket which is a fast forward game, being too fast for them?Back to the captains and it is intriguing and inexplicable when of all players captains are dropped or asked to be dropped like in the cases of Sangakkara and Mathews.

Ponting too drops himself

For that matter even former Australian captain and now captain of Mumbai Indians Ricky Ponting has dropped himself citing poor batting form. Ponting was a class act when in form, but in his case too he seems incapable of keeping up with Twenty20 cricket.Mathews was the prince in waiting to take over from the Lion Prince of Sri Lanka cricket Mahela Jayewardene once he steps down. Although there were many other mortals with no credentials aiming for this coveted post, the selectors led by that ‘Matara Mauler’ Sanath Jayasuriya made no hassle but installed Mathews.It is every sportsman’s or woman’s ambition to lead the national team.It is great reward, respect and honour to have the opportunity to lead the country. This honour finally came Mathews’ way.His first fling was against Bangladesh and acoustomed himself well as captain winning the Test and One-day series and showed that he has blue blooded captaincy in his veins.

Mathews’ next foray Champions Trophy

His next foray will be in the International Cricket Council conducted Champions Trophy in England early next month. He will be up against some of the best captains and teams and would have been looking forward to deliver.

Knowing Mathews as we do, one can be sure that he will rise to the challenge. The tall and strongly built allrounder, we are sure, has the courage and the toughness to face and overcome the setback and not worry him when he begins his campaign in England.Whoever the Pune Warriors selectors, they have exposed their ignorance and that is that you don’t play or lay much emphasis on a captain for his form with the bat or ball, we don’t need to tell the PW selectors that a captain plays for his ability and competence in captaincy.Mathews was not appointed captain of Sri Lanka and Pune Warriors for nothing. He showed intelligence, read the game and situations well and made the right moves at the right time, led from the front and earned the all important respect.

Played for leadership qualities

So it must be noted that a captain is played for his leadership qualities and not purely on form with the bat or the ball. It might be interesting to know whether the PW selectors took all this into consideration before benching Mathews.We would like to hark back to the 1980s and take readers to the bold and admirable thinking of the England selectors who threw form to the winds and persisted with Captain Mike Brearley.The former Cambridge Blue and Middlesex cricketer who was appointed captain of England did not meet with much success as a batsman. But was persisted with, because he had a shrewd cricketing brain and was a born captain.In that series against Australia, it was his brilliant captaincy that brought the best out of his team and helped England win that series, with Ian Botham playing a sterling role as batsman and Bob Willis as bowler who helped turn certain defeat into victory at Headingley, Leeds.

Captain is played for his captaincy

So it will be seen that a captain is played for his captaincy and no other attribute. Maybe it was opinion of the Pune Warriors selectors that Mathews was not what a captain should be and not captaincy material.If that be so then it is a sad indictment on Mathews.

And it could break his confidence which could affect his performance all round when he leads Sri Lanka in quest of the ICC Champions Trophy in England next month.it was also surprising the action of Kumar Sangakkara leading the Hyderabad Sunrisers. Time and again he has proved his ability as a captain and although his act of dropping himself citing poor form was accepted as a sporting gesture in some quarters, it was inexplicable and unacceptable in most quarters.

Still in the Indian Premier League

In the news is former West Indian ‘master blaster’ Vivian Richards in India as Ambassador for Delhi Daredevils. Richards has revealed of an incident when he was ruled out LBW in a Test match at the Kotala in 1983.Richards has made a sensational disclosure where he says an anonymous caller called him in his hotel room to warn him about an umpire. He was batting like a house on fire smashing 67 when the incident took place.Richards made big news when he smashed the dressing room door after being given out LBW to a delivery from Kapil Dev, which Richards says would not have hit three other stumps if they were there.In the 1980s match or spot fixing as unheard of.

But Richards’disclosure is sure to bring to the fore again and would raise thequestion of whether match fixing was prevalent even in the 1980s.It would be worth watching and waiting.

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