Time to get down to brass tacks

SRI LANKA cricket needs drastic changes. From what is happening with the national team in Australia the time is ripe to stop beating about the bush and get down to brass tacks.

First and foremost the problem must be tackled with the man at the top who is the captain. From the way Marvan Atapattu has been handling the side suggests that he has no confidence in himself.

The big question is why is Atapattu continuing to bat in the middle order instead of opening the batting with Sanath Jayasuriya?

Atapattu dropped to the middle order during the Indian one-day series due to loss of form, but even after he had regained his form he is still continuing to play in that position instead of going back to his usual position as opener.

Atapattu's style of play does not suit his present position. It is best filled with a stroke player who can wade into the bowling from the first ball. By continuing to bat in that position Atapattu is not only contributing to his team's downfall but depriving another batsman from playing. A firm decision has to be taken that Atapattu either opens the batting or he does not play at all.

He certainly does not fit into the middle of the batting. Sri Lanka will be well served if he opens the batting and tries to bat out the entire innings as he has done in the past thus lending the much needed stability.

The situation was further aggravated by coach Tom Moody going onto make a statement to the effect that 'Atapattu is a valuable player anywhere in the batting order'. What kind of poppycock is this? It goes to show that the either the coach is ignorant or is not aware of Atapattu's limitations as a one-day batsman.

The true leadership quality of a captain is reflected on how he acts and the decisions he takes when the chips are down. In that aspect Atapattu has fallen far short of expectations.

Several past international cricketers who are now commentators have questioned some of his bowling changes and the times he has been found to go through the motions instead of taking the bull by the horns and trying to lead the team from the front.

Kapugedera

Then take the case of young Chamara Kapugedera. He was dropped from the side after he had shown his class as a batsman in the few minutes he was at the wicket. He exuded the confidence which some of the senior players lacked at the top executing strokes much to the delight of everyone watching.

It was a bold and daring display of batting by an 18-year-old on his debut against the likes of Lee and McGrath. He made 22 out of a stand of 54 with Tillakaratne Dilshan without which Sri Lanka would have been hard pressed to pass even 200. But what happens in the next match?

He is dropped from the side to make room for the return of Atapattu who did not play due to back trouble. What one could not fathom is that Russel Arnold for all his pushing and nudging when he is required to hit boundaries is retained at the expense of a talented cricketer like Kapugedera.

This decision by the Sri Lanka team management once again brings to the surface whether the youngsters are being deprived of a place as they represent a threat to the seniors.

Like we suggested early in this column the best way to get around that situation is to revise the salary structure of the contracted players so that they are given a fairly reasonable flat payment with very attractive incentives for wins and performances.

What may be weighing on the minds of some of the players is that there is a clause in their contracts which states that if they don't play in a certain number of matches with a period of time they will not get their full quota of money.

Full powers

Unlike in India, there is no member of the selection committee on tour in Australia. That task has been entrusted to the manager of the team Michael Tissera. What we understand is that he has been given full powers to act on selection matters even to the extent of over ruling decisions taken by the captain and the coach.

From what has transpired in Australia so far, it is apparent that the manager has not made full use of the powers bestowed upon him by the selection committee and allowed things to take its own course.

We all know and respect Tissera as a gentleman cricketer but there are times when one has to shed the nice guy image and be ruthless. When it comes to the crunch you cannot avoid taking decisions and side stepping issues.

We understand that the selectors' view to move Atapattu up the order and to bat him as an opener or at No. 3 has been conveyed to the manager. But the captain continues to bat in the position he wishes.

The country's cricket is at the crossroads and the national selectors have a big role to play in putting it right. This carnival has been going on for too long and a fullstop needs to be put before we become the biggest jokers in the game.