A step ahead for young Sri Lanka but it’s not perfect
Sri Lanka's mixed tour arrived at a happy close in Pallekele.
Twenty20 captain Dinesh Chandimal's words after the
game suggested an encouraging future, just as Angelo Mathews' comments had done
after a loss, three nights earlier. Amid a flood of praise for Kusal Perera's
bat speed and brutality, Chandimal explained how he would spend the imminent
two-month break from international cricket, instead of travelling to India for
the IPL. "Over the next two months, I'll be doing a lot of training,"
he said. "I still have a few issues with my technique that needs to be
sorted out, so I will be working very hard with the national coaches to correct
those issues, looking forward to a busy season."
It was heartening, honest, realism
from a young captain, desperate to improve himself after having embarked on a
season of sudden responsibility. Captaincy aside, he is now the Test side's
wicketkeeper, as well as vice-captain and a key batsman in all three formats. .
Mathews had also been candid and
introspective after the loss in the third ODI. A wet ball played its role in
the result, as did a shortened chase that tilted the match slightly in the
visitors' favour, but Mathews refused to find fault anywhere but in Sri Lanka's
own performance. It has been a difficult tour for him, with his side having
achieved worse-than-anticipated results in the Tests and ODIs. But although he
could have justifiably called for patience as an inexperienced captain leading
a regenerating side, he apportioned blame where it was deserved and emphasised
a commitment to correcting specific shortcomings.
Though as a side, Sri Lanka will be
disappointed at not having whitewashed Bangladesh in all formats, as they have
done in every home series before, their two young leaders have displayed an
awareness of the bigger game that is afoot; that of preparing for a future
without Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene or Tillakaratne Dilshan. It
appears that Kusal Perera is likely to become a mainstay - particularly as he
could relieve Chandimal of the gloves, if they are deemed too big a burden.
Lahiru Thirimanne has also begun producing high-quality innings in earnest,
despite not having a settled place in the top order.
Mathews' captaincy betrayed his
inexperience at times, particularly as he rifled through bowlers in the Tests,
as quickly as most captains would in an ODI. But he hardly allowed the game to
meander either, as Dilshan did during his unsuccessful stint at the helm. Under
Chandimal's effervescent leadership, the side was electric in the field, and
flourished as a collective. He will regret having given part-timer Angelo
Perera an over, when plenty remained from his frontline bowlers, but there was
much encouragement as well. In all three formats, Chandimal and Mathews were in
constant, often animated discussion, before fields were set and bowling changes
made.
In the future, it is conceivable the
pair might exchange leadership between formats. Chandimal is patently unready
for Test captaincy, but his talents and temperament - immature though both
still are - seem better suited to the longest format, where he has been most
impressive for Sri Lanka. Mathews' all-round ability, meanwhile, is a better
fit for limited-overs cricket, where he rarely allows a game to pass in which
he has not contributed in either discipline.
At any other time, as unconvincing a
series as this against Bangladesh would constitute a substantial failing for
Sri Lanka. A firm focus on youth during this tour has given the side a grace
period, in which poor results will be easily forgiven and forgotten. But if Sri
Lanka are to become a major force in cricket once more, Chandimal and Mathews
must ensure the improvements they have spoken of come swiftly, and
emphatically.
It’s all for cricket fans,
Author by crick info
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