Arjuna Ranatunga believes Sri Lanka are over-reliant on spin

Former World Cup winning Sri Lankan captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, has downplayed Sri Lanka’s over-reliance on spin bowling and has said that excessive dependence on spin may cost the team during the next ICC Cricket World Cup to be held in England in 2019. The Sri Lankan spinners have wreaked havoc during the ongoing home series against Australia and have made the Australian batting look extremely weak.

Ranatunga, who captained Sri Lanka to their only 50-over World Cup victory in 1996 was delighted at the team’s recent success against the Australians, wherein the Lankans clean swept the men from Down Under 3-0 in the Test series, and have displayed a formidable performance in the ODIs as well. However, the lion’s share of the credit for their recent victories can be attributed to the spinners such as Rangana Herath and also the newcomer Amila Aponso, who took 4/18 to help Sri Lanka win the 2^nd ODI.

“We need to build our all-rounders and fast bowlers. Spin alone is not enough to play in conditions like in England. If we are preparing for the next World Cup in England, spin alone won't do,” the 52-year-old told reporters in Colombo on Thursday.

“I am not putting down their achievement (in beating Australia), but they need to go out (of the subcontinent) and prove themselves. At the moment we are depending entirely on spinners.”

Have a lot of faith in Mathews: Ranatunga

The Sri Lankan team has had a bitter time of late, across all formats of the game, as after the departure of high-profile players such as Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena, the team has been in a transition stage. However, over the past couple of weeks, youngsters such as Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Lakshan Sandakan and Amila Aponso have shown some promise with their performances.

With the eyes set on the 2019 World Cup in England, Sri Lanka are looking to build a nucleus of young cricketers who can be nurtured over the next three years to participate in the grandest competition that the game has got to offer. Although, in Ranatunga’s terms, their reliance in spin alone cannot fetch them much success outside the comforts of their homely realms.

“Even if you fail once or twice, you need to be able to pick yourself up and remain focused,” the former cricketer said, with reference to the next World Cup.

The ex-skipper also had words of praise for the current skipper. Angelo Mathews, and said that he had a lot of faith in the incumbent captain. “I have a lot of faith in Mathews. I think he will end up being the best captain Sri Lanka ever produced. He has huge potential. He is able to keep the players together as a team,” he said.