Most of us would have thought that last month’s Delhi Test was done and dusted the moment Dinesh Chandimal was dismissed in the eighth over after lunch on the final day. The captain had put up a splendid show to save the game, but Ravichandran Ashwin went through his defenses, expertly bowling him through the gate to end a 112 run stand for the fifth wicket. The writing was on the wall against India’s formidable attack with an inexperienced lower middle order and the tail to follow. But amidst the Delhi smog, the Sri Lankans came up with a tremendous effort to save the game. It was a well-deserved draw as the tourists had batted for four sessions.
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At the end of it all, Niroshan Dickwella tongue in cheek told Sanjay Manjrekar that if not for the injury to Dhananjaya de Silva, Sri Lanka would have in fact gone for the imposing target of 410 runs and rewritten the record books.
Having been whitewashed by India 3-0 at home, when the Sri Lankans departed for the return series, many had predicted a similar score-line. But the tourists did well and their only blemish came in Nagpur. Calcutta and Delhi were two closely fought games, particularly the last Test.
Chandimal and Angelo Mathews had scored hundreds in the first innings, but with their backs to the wall when the going got tough, the guys who put up their hands were Dhananjaya de Silva, who had replaced vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne and debutant Roshen Silva. While Dhananjaya posted a flawless 119, Roshen came up with a mature 74 not out as both batsmen tackled the demons of a fifth-day wicket against top-ranked Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja expertly. Both showed exceptional temperament.
Prior to the tour to India, both players were part of Sri Lanka ‘A’ squad that toured the Caribbean and played a key role in the tourists’ come from behind series win over West Indies ‘A’. The deciding third unofficial Test, which Sri Lanka won by ten wickets to clinch the series, was a day-night encounter played at the famous Sabina Park and both Dhananjaya and Roshen scored crucial half-centuries against a formidable pace attack.
The Caribbean experience had done a world of good for both players and some others like Shehan Jayasuriya.
Given the lack of competitiveness in our First Class cricket, such competitive series for the country’s second string players is a must. Fast bowlers Sheldon Cotterell and Ronsford Beaton who featured for the West Indies senior side in New Zealand last month, were part of their ‘A’ side when Sri Lanka ‘A’ were in the Caribbean.
About 15 years ago, there was a conscious effort to give the players who were waiting in the wings much-needed exposure through bilateral series and there were plenty of assignments. In fact, in 2002, the Kenyan national side toured Sri Lanka travelling all over the country playing against Sri Lanka ‘A’ over six weeks.
Not only did the tour help young players to make a mark but it was a stage for some of the players who had been dropped from the senior side like Upul Chandana, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Avishka Gunawardena and others to force their way back into the side. It was a strong Kenyan side comprising Steve Tikolo, Maurice Odumbe Collins Obuya, Martin and Tony Suji and Thomas Odoyo. The unofficial Test series was won by Sri Lanka ‘A’ while the tourists bounced back to win the one-dayers.
Less than a year later, that same Kenyan team stunned the Sri Lankan senior side beating them in an ICC Cricket World Cup match in Nairobi, earning a place in the semi-final of the 2003 tournament staged in Africa.
Sadly the ‘A’ team doesn’t receive the same privileges these days. Not too long ago one SLC Chairman said publicly that the board didn’t have enough money to stage ‘A’ team cricket. Effectively he failed to allocate money for cricket development and that was one reason why the Sri Lankan side hit new lows last year.
This year for the first six months Sri Lanka ‘A’ doesn’t have any assignments. In July a series against South Africa has been scheduled followed by two other series with one being conducted by the Asian Cricket Council.
Sri Lanka Cricket needs to do much more to invest in ‘A’ team cricket as that is the best remedy to address the woes of our First Class cricket.
Having known the importance of ‘A’ team cricket, you can be certain that Head Coach Chandika Hathurusingha will be insisting on more exposure for younger players and those who have been dropped from the senior side. That will be his ploy to bring Lahiru Thirimanne back into the fold.
The ‘A’ team is coached by former opening batsman Avishka Gunawardene. A lot of people have reservations about Avishka as he comes across as an arrogant, big-headed person. Appearances are deceptive. Only by spending time with someone you will get to know that person. His knowledge about the game and man-management skills are second to none and he is an excellent coach but receives little credit.
