Wanted- a new Sri Lankan cricket team for the millennium (4 June 1999)

4 June 1999

Wanted: a new Sri Lankan cricket team for the millennium

Ivan Corea

Sri Lanka bowed out of the 1999 World Cup, bequeathing the cup without a spirited defence of their title. The favourites are south Africa and Pakistan to lift the cup. However, one needs to keep things in perspective, you can't 'win em all.'

Previous holders of the cup have found that to their horror, Sri Lanka fell into this category.

Arjuna Ranatunga and the team seemed to struggle to cope with these English conditions. The conditions were ideal for fast bowling. If you kept a good line and length, the wickets tumbled. Sadly, our magnificent batting line up failed to live up to expectations. They gave up without a fight. This resulted in a very poor run rate and virtually no hope of getting into the Super Six. The star batsmen all failed leaving Sri Lanka no chance at all of posting decent scores. By the time we got to the match with Kenya it was too late and Sri Lanka was out in the first round.

Sri Lankan fans, who, according to BBC Television News, are the 'envy' of the world, stood by the team - to the bitter end. The flags, the baila music, the bands, all added to the carnival atmosphere. They left crestfallen whenever Sri Lanka lost a match but they were back again at the next match willing the team on.

We must now put this disappointment behind us - we need a new team for the millennium. Youngsters from the provinces and the capital city of colombo must be given a honest-to-goodness chance of getting in to the national squad - the criteria should be real talent and not political patronage. We possess marvellous talent; particulary young batsmen who with the right coaching and nurturing could develop their skills and play for Sri Lanka. It is time we looked overseas for a coach who possesses strong qualities, someone who must instil real discipline.

It is a sad irony that Dav Whatmore who helped Sri Lanka lift the 1996 World Cup is now one of the leading contenders for the job of England's coach. India attributed their success to the coach Bobby Simpson who has given them a new spirit...they were on fire against Sri Lanka - records tumbled - all in India's favour. We certainly need to look overseas for a major player in terms of coaching, someone who has the ability and the potential to turn things around. We need a big name, a respected ex-cricketer - not a 'bit part' player on the international cricketing circuit. People like Dav Whatmore, Bobby Simpson, Bob Woolmer are going on from strength to strength because they possess that ability to turn things around for their respective teams. We must prepare for the next World Cup immediately and put into place a blue print for Sri Lanka's future where cricket is concerned.

The cricket scene needs a transfusion, officials of integrity and honesty combined with a firm disciplined approach - we need youngsters with real ability - an environment free from cricket politics - with people of high calibre - a mixture of people with real cricketing experience and young whiz kids. Sri Lanka needs to look forward to the millennium with a new cricketing ethos, a new emphasis, and a new PR campaign coupled with a new approach. We cannot rest on our laurels. Sri Lanka was found wanting when the going got tough.

If we are to stand any chance at all in the next World Cup - we need to act now, it is pointless being destructive in our criticism of the team. We tend to build up our heroes and then knock them down.

We cannot forget the legacy left behind by Arjuna Ranatunga and the World Champions. They may be flying to Colombo empty handed but they changed the face of one-day cricket. A developing nation, mocked and ridiculed by the media - dismissed as 'minnows' and 'cricketers from the tea bag republic' climbed the summit and became World Champions.

It is a feat that even England has failed to accomplish. Alec Stewart and his men along with Sri Lanka were knocked out of the first round. Sri Lanka's cricketers brought the World Cup to Colombo, the pundits said we could never achieve this miracle, but the Sri Lankan team achieved it with such panache and style in 1996 in Lahore.

As we approach the millennium, we need to re-vamp the cricket scene. The squabbles must be put behind us - we need to be forward thinking, using the success of Arjuna Ranatunga and the team as a platform to build on - for the future. The time for change - is now.

Source :: The Daily News

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