Time to toss in Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka slid to defeat with more than a day to spare in the Second Test against England by six wickets, and this humilitation should, although belated open the eyes of the tour selectors, make them see reason and play Sanath Jayasuriya in the final Test.

Today any sport is all about winning. Winners are heroes and losers outcasts. Winning is money and there's stacks to be won.

Gone are the days when one played the game and winning or losing did not matter. Now the game has been highly commercialised and it is time that the Lankans realised this. Not only do the Lankans lose money they all lose reputation, when they keep losing.

When they continue to lose they also cease to be an attraction and not many countries would want to face them or invite them. If this trend continues it won't be long before we become the best from the bottom.

With all this at stake, it is now time for the selectors to pocket their arrogance and stubbornness and toss in Jayasuriya who would certainly be, not only an asset with his allround ability, but one who could also be a match winner.

Obviously the selectors would not want to separate Upul Tharanga and Michael Vandort as openers now that Vandort has underlined his importance with a neatly compiled century.

But the selectors would do well to slot in Jayasuriya in the middle, keeping the out of form Thilan Samaraweera out. Pity that Samaraweera has hit a bad patch.

Jayasuriya would certainly add the all important strength to the middle order batting that is crumbling like being hit by an earthquake. Also his tantalising spinners could give support to off spinner Muttiah Muralitheran who is fighting a lone battle.

Accepted that the game requires young blood to take it to the future. But then the fickle English conditions is not the blooding arena. And the selectors must guard against throwing youngsters to the deep end.

Youngsters must be carefully nurtured and given their spurs. Australia's amazing success is because they do not rush their youngsters all at once.

They cleverly toss in the youngsters when the time is ripe to do so. They do not rush them blindly. So we must take a lesson from the awesome Aussies.

Getting back to the lost Test at Edgbaston, the Lankans went out of the picture when they crumbled to 141 all out in the first innings. There was no way of coming out of the quicks and although Muralitheran and Vandort did their best to put them back in the picture.

England can be beaten because they are missing five of their best performers. There is no Michael Vaughan, Simon Jones, Ashley Giles, James Anderson and Steve Harmisson.

Yet the Lankans are losing to a second string England side.

It is time that the Lankans put their thinking caps on and arrive at strategy that can beat England. It is time that they shed their now famous losing habit.

Kevin Pieterson is batting at his brilliant best. Although Muralitheran had him both innings, it is he who is playing Muralitheran with utmost confidence.

His success has been because he is not afraid to go down to the bowler with his nimble footwork and attack him, which has made it difficult for Muralitheran to bowl line and length to him.

Pieterson played the stroke that will be remembered by those fortunate to see its superb execution. He reverse swept Muralitheran over square leg for six that had everyone watching amazed.

The final and crucial Test begins on Friday. It is accepted that it is those who dare win. It would be interesting to watch whether the Lankans would dare.