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| Thursday, 1 April 2004 |
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Why not Arnold? Has the national cricket selectors got their wires crossed? One cannot fathom the logic behind sending Tilan Samaraweera to New Zealand to play in the three one-day limited over matches for Sri Lanka 'A' ahead of a proven one-day player like Russel Arnold. Samaraweera's style of cricket is best suited to the longer game and he proved it during the recently concluded Test series against Australia. Chairman of selectors Lalith Kaluperuma said that Samaraweera was picked for the Sri Lanka 'A' side to see how good a one-day players he is. The selectors didn't find Samaraweera good enough to play in the five-match one-day series against Australia which Sri Lanka lost 3-2. He was not even a member of the one-day squad. Arnold, who led successful Sri Lanka 'A' teams to South Africa and Kenya and India was not sent to New Zealand because the selectors thought that he may be required for the home series against Australia. Although he was picked for a few one-day internationals, he was overlooked for the Tests. As a result Arnold was left cooling his heels at home while the Sri Lanka 'A' was getting thrashed by an innings in the three five-day unofficial Tests by New Zealand 'A'. Now comes the bloomer that he has been excluded the three one-day games against New Zealand 'A'. It was not long ago in December last year that Arnold led Sri Lanka 'A' to win the Kenstar one-day triangular tournament in India where he was named the man of the tournament. Arnold may be struggling at the top level, but it is unfair to leave him out of the 'A' side where he has already proved his worth. With the limited resources available to national team, the selectors cannot afford to discourage players like Arnold whose past track is proof that given the confidence he can win his place back in the national team. - [S.T.] |
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