When the Sri Lankan Cricket Team made their international debut in 1975, the word ‘minnow’ was an understatement. Though cricket was introduced to the country as far back as 1832 by the Englishmen, they played first-class cricket as ‘Ceylon’ since 1905, 70 years before making it to the big stage.
Whilst the game got its fair share of popularity when the Island Nation won the ICC trophy (associate championship) in 1979. Although they were admitted as test playing members on 21 July 1981 and won their first ever Test game against India on 6 September 1985, it wasn’t until the beginning of the 1990’s culminating in the historic World Cup triumph of 1996 that they became a force to reckon with at the grandest stage of them all.
And why not? The team that won the coveted trophy boasted of one of the shrewdest captain of all time in Arjuna Ranatunga, the most destructive opening pair of the generation in Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana, one of the most versatile all-rounders in Arvinda de Silva and two legendary bowlers in Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan.
Ranatunga was the first to retire among the six in 2000, followed by de Silva and Kaluwitharana in 2002 and 2004 respectively. Coincidentally, it was the same year in which the legendary captain played his last game that Sri Lanka’s most successful batsman Kumar Sangakkara made his international debut, 3 years after his best mate Mahela Jayawardene had made his international debut.
By this time, Marvan Atapattu was a major force to reckon with and the duo of Vaas and Muralitharan carried on until 2009 and 2011 respectively. By the time, Sri Lanka had a host of mystery spinners in their ranks, a destructive opener in Tillakaratne Dilshan and probabaly the best death bowler to ever play limited overs cricket – Lasith Malinga.
In hindsight, a team that has produced as many as 10 players who can be called nothing short of legends in the last 25 years or so is bound to do well at the international stage. Whenever a big name made his way out, a successor was ready to fill in the boots.
However, from the highs of the T20 world cup triumph of 2014 to the lows of exiting the Asia cup, Sri Lanka have fallen from grace from dizzying heights at an alarming rate. After all, as Mathews stated, how long can transition period be used as an excuse?
Sri Lanka need a settled side
Sri Lankan cricket has been blessed with some charming legends from time to time. But coming to look at the current Sri Lankan setup, the future, for the first time in many, many years looks bleak. After all, a team that has Chandimal as arguably the best batsman in the side has a long way to go if they are to carve a niche at the top of the tree.
Take a look at this astonishing stat – ever since Kumar Sangakkara retired on 18th March 2015, the Lankan team has included as many as 42 players across all formats in less than a year!
Needless to add, a team that is so unsettled will never be able to find its feet in the cruel arena of International cricket. Australia had been on similar crossroads a while ago, being hammered by almost every team they played against. Darren Lehmann came and changed that drastically. If one were to find out what he did differently, it was as clear as day – he settled the side as soon as he could, picked out a handful of players he trusted in and made them World Champions in no time.
Out of the 42 players who played International cricket for Sri Lanka, only 9 have played over 15 internationals. This basically implies they don’t even have a fixed XI at all to begin with!
Should a longer rope be handed out to players in the setup instead of the continuous chopping and changing?
And honestly, with due respect, is that the only problem in the camp? Does the Sri Lankan team boast of players even half as talented as the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc or David Warner to name a few?
It is almost gut wrenching to see a team slide its way to oblivion. Almost 15 years ago, the mighty West Indies withered away to nothingness and if Sri Lanka go on in similar fashion, the future looks agonizingly bleak.
Unless another Sangakkara, Jayawardene or Muralitharan rises from the rubbles of the current Lankan ruin, the Lankan cricket has only one direction to move in – downwards. And, in all honesty, looking at the current crop of players the Island nation is producing, it seems to be a daunting task indeed. There is no certain leadership, no guarantees of a place in the side or even in the squad.
As a cricket fan, it is almost painful to see one of the powerhouses of the last two decades wither away into the wind of change. One can only hope that the nation turns around, gulps down its pride of the past and dole out yet another plethora of wonderful players it has constantly been doing for a long, long time.
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