Sometimes matches are won or lost in the dressing room

Richard Dwight

Puzzling though it is to be confusing. Yet it is true that there have been occasions when matches have been won or lost in the dressing room.

Take the case of the players in the Sri Lankan dressing room – they must be surely disturbed with the frequent changes of the interim committees and the selectors.

One cannot lose sight of the fact that the former captains, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara are playing along with the current captain, Dilshan with almost the same set of players, a situation such as this, may perhaps.

Give rise to mixed feelings and divided loyalties amongst players. Furthermore when a few senior players, are able to speak eloquently and perform with authority, there is the spread of jealousy and bitterness within the fold.

This apart, there must be then an attitude of well-being, leading to a spirit of camaraderie and a sense of oneness.

Moreover they must exhibit a sense of belonging and take possessive pride in the country they represent.

In short there must be unity all round, which emphasizes, “a long pull, a strong pull, a pull altogether”. These cordial healthy relationships that are seen in the dressing room, should prevail in the playing field. For these at times could be the deciding factor between losing and winning.

As we dwell on the prospects of the Sri Lanka team, the batting seems to be stable to hold its own with six senior seasoned batsmen inclusive of Samaraweera and wicket keeper Jayawardene there is also all rounder Matthews, Kapugedara and Chamara Silva. As for the spinners there is a wide array viz; Randiv, Mendis, Herath, Malinga Bandara and Sachithra Senanayake. Rangana Herath is a fine spinner and a stocky hard hitting bat and, very much similar to Herath is, Malinga Bandara, who has had the distinction of accounting for the great, Tendulkar and the belligerent batsman, Virendra Sehwag, within 4 balls.

But mysteriously thereafter he was made to languish in the backyard of cricket in preference to average spinners, who were no threat at all.

Our fast bowlers were far from satisfactory, one of them keeps running a lot and does not deliver the ball towards the batsman or the wicket, but dumps it midway for the ball to sway to the slips, for fielding practice.

The odd pace bowler or two laboured over their wickets, giving away many runs.

As against the Sri Lanka team the batting strength lies with skipper Michael Clarke, Vice Captain Watson, Hussey, Ricky Ponting and wicket keeper Brad Haddin.

Newcomer Phil Hughes will open the batting for Australia with Watson. The spinners are Michael Beer, Nathan Lyon and seamer Trent Copeland’.

It is revealed that four spinners and four fast bowlers on contract have been ignored for those not on contract.

Ryan Harris is supposed to be the fastest, while the others are Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Pattinson, who will play.

Comparatively, Sri Lanka has an experienced side, while the Aussies under Clarke has a good many newcomers that suggest lack of experience.

In the end the side that displays composure and evenness of mind, both in the dressing room and the playing field, will come out on top. As far as experience is concerned Sri Lanka does have the edge, provided they have a penetrative fast bowler or two in the likeness and mould of England’s Bressnen.