Sports psychologist to help Lanka overcome losses

by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka are calling on renowned sports psychologist Sandy Gordon to help the national cricket team come out of its present rut of defeats.

In the past two months, Sri Lanka have suffered defeats at the hands of India and New Zealand in one-day internationals so that they have lost eight of their last nine matches. On top of it they were also beaten 0-2 in the Tests series by India.

Following the defeat at the hands of New Zealand at Christchurch yesterday, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Duleep Mendis told a media gathering at Taj Samudra that the team had lost all the confidence.

"Right now I can see from the body language they have lost all the confidence," said Mendis, a former Sri Lanka captain and administrator. "It is very important that the coaches get together and talk to the players."

Mendis said that Gordon will meet the players and talk to them in two sessions in Melbourne on January 9 and in Perth in the first week of February to give them confidence.

"In a situation like this, this is what is needed most than fitness and play on the field. Mentally we are down. We have to give the players back the confidence because we are approaching the World Cup. It is a very important time. Hopefully, we will benefit out of it," said Mendis.

Mendis reflected back to the time when Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1995 when he was then manager.

"Like in the past in 1995 we had a good series in Australia and the boys got all the confidence to go and win the World Cup in March 1996. I think it is very important that we do that in Australia once again followed by wins against Pakistan in the home series in April," he said.

Gordon's services were used prior to the home series against West Indies in July where it proved to be quite successful when Sri Lanka went onto win the Test series 2-0 and the IOC one-day triangular against India and West Indies.

Sri Lanka travel from New Zealand to Australia to participate as the third team in the VB one-day triangular against Australia and South Africa which will take place from January 13-February 14. When questioned why the team is on a losing streak, Mendis said the best persons to answer that question was the coach Tom Moody and captain Marvan Atapattu.

He also added that manager Michael Tissera, another former Sri Lanka captain could also be able to say where the team is going wrong.

"Moody must be knowing where we are going wrong. He will have to address that. I feel as a past cricketer it is all mental right now. Moody being a past cricketer is aware of it and especially in Australia where he was brought up. I am sure he knows what he is in for," he said.

When questioned whether the appointment of Chaminda Vaas to the vice-captaincy had brought about any dissension in the team, Mendis said: "A vice captain can be any member from the team. Chaminda Vaas is an outstanding cricketer. When he was appointed to the post I don't think there should be any conflict inside the team. If a vice captain is appointed it is the duty of every member of the side to give him his fullest co-operation.

"There was a lot of rumour that there was some dissension among the players over Vaas' appointment, but I don't think anyone can be happy if he is not supporting that appointment," said Mendis.