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From the Press Box by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

The criticisms levelled at the Cricket Board's interim committee have been increasing by the day and it has reached a point where the crying need now is for an elected body to administer cricket.

The focal point of criticism among other things has been the manner in which the Cricket Board handled the payment of advertising rights to players during the World Cup and their failure to secure a qualified physiotherapist and a foreign coach for the national cricket team ahead of the Test series against New Zealand. Another aspect of criticism has been the overstaffing at the Cricket Board and the blunders that have been made from time to time, which reflected poorly on the administration.

The failure to arrange constant tours for the 'A' team and under 19 sides has resulted in there being a dearth of middle order batsmen leading the national selectors to pick teams by the numbers and not by choice or merit.

There is a lack in thinking management. Cricket administration has never fallen to such abysmal depths as it has today.

In their search for a successor to Dav Whatmore the Cricket Board has drawn a blank. The four whom they were earmarking to succeed Whatmore - Bob Woolmer, John Bracewell, Graham Ford and Steve Rixon, all turned down the offers.

It was not that there was anything wrong with the approach of the Cricket Board to these gentlemen, but they backed out after much deliberation because they were not comfortable of their future, especially when they were dealing with an interim body, which could be replaced at any time.

The situation is slightly different in the case of finding a physio.

Although outgoing physio Alex Kountouri had informed the Cricket Board as early as January that he was quitting at the end of the World Cup in March, no move had been made to get a physio even with the help of Kountouri, until lately.

Solution for middle-order

Desperate situations demand desperate measures. Sri Lanka cricket is in the middle of a middle-order crisis. One way it can be solved is for the selectors to speak to Michael Vandort, Ian Daniel and Jehan Mubarak, all talented opening or one-down batsmen and ask them to adjust themselves into playing as middle order batsmen.

With Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu certain to continue as Sri Lanka's principal openers for at least another three years or more, the chances of either Vandort, Daniel or Mubarak replacing either of them is rather remote unless of course in very dire circumstances. Waiting for an opportunity in the sidelines is certain to bring frustration among these youngsters.

So the best policy would be for the selectors to get them to adjust and play as middle-order batsmen. The transition won't be as difficult as when a middle-order batsman has to elevate himself to being an opener as happened in the case of Roshan Mahanama.

Openers have the most difficult role to play. Not only have they to contend with the new ball and come up against some of the best fast bowlers in the business, but also a fresh pitch if the side bats first.

The selection committee in the mid eighties had the common sense to speak to Mahanama and ask him to open the batting for Sri Lanka because there was no place for him in the middle order. At that time the middle order comprised players in the calibre of Roy Dias, Duleep Mendis, Ranjan Madugalle and Arjuna Ranatunga which made it airtight for anyone even to think of replacing either of them.

Mahanama's talent was such that the selectors felt it would have been a crime to leave such a talented player on the sidelines. So what they suggested to him was to become an opener where a berth was available and Mahanama finally made the national team.

Although in later years Mahanama lost his place as an opener and was shuttled in the batting order between No. 1 and 9, he yet ended up playing in 52 Tests and 213 one-day internationals for his country. Chandika Hathurusingha, another cricketer who opened the batting for his country also made it to the national team under similar circumstances.

Kalu's chance

Romesh Kaluwitharana has finally regained his rightful place behind the wickets for the ongoing Test series against New Zealand. But he should not rest on his laurels having achieved that. One of the reasons for him being dumped from the national team was his failure to score runs when the occasions demanded.

It was not so much his wicket-keeping that saw him being dropped, but his careless attitude to throw his wicket away when a big score was the need of the hour. Kalu should reflect back on the number of occasions he had brazenly thrown his wicket away after getting on top of the bowling.

Kalu should take a leaf out of Zimbabwe wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu, who is a class act. He has not only excelled behind the wickets but also made useful contributions with the bat, which has elevated him to the position of vice captain in the Zimbabwe national team at the age of 20.

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