Jayasuriya has been rested

Let it be known, especially to his detractors that Sanath Jayasuriya has not been dropped from the Sri Lanka team, but has only been rested to allow him to recharge and come back firing all cylinders, as he usually does.

Playing continuously for 10 long years, it is natural that his body has to give way, and the niggling injuries that he is suffering, especially with an injury to his right shoulder, was just one of those things that has to be accepted and is a natural phenomenon.

With a record of having played 100 Test matches and over 300 one-dayers, Jayasuriya's record would not be easily equalled or surpassed. He is one who is a fitness fanatic.

That his shoulder had to give way was just unfortunate. Jayasuriya would have done well had he not gone on the Indian tour. But then he could not refuse the call of his country and in his patriotism and urge to do well for the nation sadly came a cropper.

Jayasuriya would do well to take this opportunity to be away from the game for a while. He should not brood over his failures. But instead study where things went wrong, analyse them and hit back with a fresh approach and mentality.

With Sri Lanka's target being the World Cup 2007, coach Tom Moody and physio Simseck must pay particular attention to how Jayasuriya is doing in his rehabilitation period and keep a close watch. Jayasuriya's all-round ability is a prerequisite if Sri Lanka is to bring back the World Cup, won by Arjuna Ranatunga and his all conquering heroes in 1995/96.

Jayasuriya with his other dashing partner Romesh Kaluwitharne, turned the one-day concept on its head, by bashing the opposing bowling in the first 15 overs and not following the set trend of going hell for leather in the final 15 overs.

All opponents tried to emulate Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharne, but sadly came a cropper. They alone were monarchs in that style.

Jayasuriya's failures in India was mainly because he could not free his arms the way he would have liked to. His right arm was immobile and causing him all problems.

Jayasuriya's batting which is devastating when he gets going, is one who is called an 'eye' batsman. That is he is able to see the ball much earlier than most batsmen do. His technique is not what it should be. But then that is how he plays his game.

At the moment he is playing the ball far away from his body. He is not getting his feet to the pitch of the ball nor is he in line. All that stems from the fact that he has lost confidence due to his injury. Jayasuriya, by being rested has been allowed time to recuperate and rehabilitate. It is hoped that he would recharge and come back with a vengeance.

Cricket in a crisis

Sri Lanka cricket is in a crisis, and in a deep crisis at that.

If this is not so can one explain the humiliating 6-1 defeat at the hands of the rampaging Indians, in the Videocon series.

Considering that they beat the Indians here not so long ago, the big defeats in India are unpalatable and unacceptable.

When the Lankans took wing to India, they did so with a lot of confidence and one expected a closely fought out series.

But apparently they met an Indian side that had put aside the ugly side that was the Ganguly-Chappell episode and put out their best sides studded with talented and promising youngsters. And how well they delivered.

If Sri Lanka cricket is to raise its head again in the one-day game, then a complete overhaul is required.

The coach and the selectors must act without fear or favour and ring the necessary changes, otherwise we are afraid our cricket would continue to be on the skids and would not be long before it is pushed into the limbo of the forgotten.

Sri Lanka Cricket is struggling for funds. SLC must realise that losers are outcasts.

Sponsors who are very vital and the life blood of the game, will be running away not wanting to be involved with a side that is making losing the rule rather than the exception.

The Interim Committee must immediately draw up a crash programme and get everyone to put their shoulders to the wheel and push vigorously to try and revive the losing trend.

How they would set about doing this would be watched with keen interest by the supporters and sponsors, who are at the moment clearly disappointed.