A performance to celebrate despite selection farce
Sri Lanka can be proud of their performance.
FanZone Editor
03-Aug-2005
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When Thilan Samaraweera was succoured into a cover drive off a floated leg
break from Danish Kaneria and caught at slip, a momentary lapse that ended a
long and determined resistance, it precipitated a sudden rush of anger, not
with Samaraweera for he had batted bravely, but with Asantha de Mel, Sri
Lanka's chief selector.
De Mel's decision to discard Tillakaratne Dilshan from the Test team, not
because of an alarming slump in form but because he had become "frustrated"
by the team management's apparent reluctance to blood new players, turned
out to be of crucial significance.
There can no doubt that Jehan Mubarak has talent. He also has displayed guts
in the past, most notably against South Africa at Centurion in 2002 when he
was thrown into the deep end and scored a gritty 48, but this was not the
time to throw him back into the fire. His time should have come naturally,
against weaker opposition or after injury to one of the top six.
His case for immediate inclusion was hardly overwhelming: a first-class
average of 29.04 and one century in 92 visits to the crease. Statistics can
be misleading - Kumar Sangakkara's first ever first class century was in a
Test match - but there was simply no need, or indeed point, in thrusting
Mubarak into the limelight at the expense of Dilshan, a player who had
seemingly just cemented his place.
Mubarak was put under intense pressure. Deep down he would have known in his
heart that his team-mates, although they may have tried to make him feel
welcome, were surprised and shocked by Dilshan's omission. Mubarak fought
bravely in the first Test, scoring 34 important runs, but thereafter it was
all downhill with scores of 0, 13 and 2. It would be a true tragedy if he
was to become the second innocent victim of de Mel's "frustration".
When Samaraweera snicked to slip it was a pivotal time in the Test match.
Sangakkara, with help from Mahela Jayawardene and Samaraweera, had resisted
for two and a half sessions. The score was 333 for 4 and Sri Lanka had
finally established a slim lead. It was the perfect time for Dilshan to
enter the arena. Since returning to international cricket he has played his
natural aggressive game, with some notable success against England and
Australia.
An injection of energy into the innings would have eased the pressure on
Sangakkara's tired shoulders and carried Sri Lanka away from Pakistan.
Instead, though, the innings stagnated and then nosedived with three more
wickets tumbling in the final hour. Pakistan were left jubilant at the
close, aware that only a miracle could prevent them from levelling the
series. The duly did so.
Sri Lanka though can be proud of their performance. They were put into bat
on a tricky damp pitch and forced onto the backfoot from the start. But they
battled hard, session after session, refusing to be broken as the Pakistan
lead ticked up. Certain doom appeared inevitable but the likes of Chaminda
Vaas, Jayasuriya and Sangakkara were heroic in their refusal to surrender.
If you measure results in with results it mattered little, Sri Lanka were
the losers and a series was shared, but this was a performance to celebrate.
Once again, it showed how well Atapattu has bonded together and inspired his
team. They are once again a tight unit, committed to fight for each other
and for Sri Lanka until the very end. This spirit is so precious.
Unfortunately, their task was undermined by a selector. De Mel may well be
upset with the attitude of John Dyson, who has taken a stronger stance on
selection than Dav Whatmore, and Atapattu, both of whom are focused on
winning, but he must understand that they are accountable for results. Their
job is to win series and to carry Sri Lanka to the top. Their mission was to
beat Pakistan.
De Mel may have had some sound reasons for his frustration, but there was no
need for a public attack two days before a tri-series final, and there was
no need for Dilshan to be sacrificed. De Mel made a misjudgement, a serious
series-wasting clanger, but will he be held accountable? Only the Sports
Minister can answer that. But he should go, and go soon before more damage
is done.