Mercantile provides window of opportunity

The Mercantile Cricket Association announced tonight that eight teams would participate in this years six-week Division A tournament, which is being sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka, as opposed to the ten that played last year. The small number of teams coupled with the availability of national pool players is sure to provide for an intriguing tournament.

Indeed, the recently appointed selectors are likely to follow the tournament keenly, as they look for the winning formula against India and New Zealand. Unlike the unwieldy Premier League one-day competition, which has so many spurious encounters that fine individual performances are often rendered meaningless, the Mercantile tournament pits the cream of Sri Lanka's cricketers against each other.

The likes of Sajeewa Weerakoon, Ian Daniel, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Kaushalya Weereratne, Malintha Warnapura, Suresh Perera, Jeevantha Kalatunga, Akalanka Ganegama, Ishara Amarasinghe, and Sujeewa de Silva - to name but a few of the promising players now waiting in the wings - now have a chance to stake there claim for recognition.

Even an old dog like Hashan Tillakaratne, who scored a mountain of runs this season for Nondescripts, could force his way back into the Test squad on the back of a successful tournament, especially with uncertainty as to the availability of Aravinda de Silva.

Last years winners, Hatton National Bank, once again can boast an impressive line-up and possibly start as favourites. The batting is strong, though perhaps somewhat unreliable, with the likes of Avishka Gunawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamara Silva, and Chintaka Jayasinghe.

In the spin department they can count on the golden left arm of Sajeewa Weerakoon, the highest first class wicket taker of the season, the off cutters of Malintha Warnapura, and leg spin of Nimesh Perera, a player who appears to have regained the all round school boy form that earmarked him as a future Sri Lankan player.

Another side to watch will be Access International, the runners up last year, who have Aravinda de Silva, a clutch of Tamil Union players, including the tongue twisting Anil Riddigammanagedara, Indika de Serem, and Niroshan Bandaratilake, an old workhorse in Pramodya Wickramasinge, and the promising Suresh Perera.

Seylan Bank is quietly hopeful this year. They have the best batsman in the country at the moment, Mahela Jayawardene, the wiliest seamer, Chaminda Vaas, and fastest bowler, Dilhara Fernando. With Thilan Samaraweera, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Ian Daniel, Pradeep Hewage and Nawed Nawaz filling the ranks, they have every right to be hopeful too.

Samath Bank will be no push over either with Kumar Sangakkara, Marvan Attapattu, Upeka Fernando, Chandika Haturasinghe, Indika Gallage and Rangana Herath.

Each team will play each other once, then the best four will go through to a semi final on June 16, with the final scheduled for June 23. All the matches will be played at Bloomfield, Moors, Colts and NCC.