Mahela back as SL captain

Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka squad for Commonwealth Bank series

Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Farveez Maharoof, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Chanaka Welegedara, Dhammika Prasad, Stand by: Thilan Samaraweera

Veteran middle order batsman Mahela Jayawardene was yesterday appointed as captain of the Sri Lanka team for next month’s tour of Australia. His re-appointment as Sri Lanka captain comes after the resignation of explosive opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, who stepped down immediately after their disappointing tour of South Africa, losing both the three-Test and five–match One Day International series.

Thirty-five-year-old Jayawardene, a veteran of 128 Tests and 359 ODIs, regains Sri Lanka captaincy at a crucial juncture. Since the resignation of Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka has lost four successive Test series and fared miserably in all ODI series after the last ICC World Cup. Dilshan, who was under tremendous pressure due to various reasons, finally decided to step down though he regained his form as a batsmen by the last two ODIs in South Africa with back to back half centuries.

Leading Sri Lanka is nothing new for Jayawardene who had aggregated over 10,000 runs in both forms of international cricket. He had a successful stint as Sri Lanka captain before an injury forced him to pave way for Sangakkara. Representing Sri Lanka in 128 Tests, Jayawardene has aggregated 10, 086 runs at an impressive average of 50.43, scoring 29 centuries and 40 half centuries. His aggregate of 10,095 in 359 ODIs has been boosted by 15 centuries and 62 half ‘tons’ at an average of 33.31.

Jayawardene who did not play in Sri Lanka’s last two ODIs in South Africa, will be fit for the team’s forthcoming tour of Australia for a three-nation ODI tournament which also features India.

However, Jayawardene too has been undergoing a lean period at present, failing to score a single half century during Sri Lanka’s recent tour of South Africa. He aggregated only 142 runs in the three Tests against South Africa played in Centurion (30 and 15), Durban (31 and 14) and Cape Town (30 and 12). He also had scores of 2, 19 and 15 in the three ODIs he played before forgoing the last two games due to an injury.

The senior most member in the current national side, had defended his skipper Dilshan and coach Geoff Marsh, who too is likely to be sacked before his full contract period is over. “Since Paarl, we have made progress. We were in shambles in that game,” he was quoted as saying before the last two ODIs.

“We have improved in areas but we haven’t been consistent in all areas. The win in the second Test s something we will cherish. The guys were keen to show what we are capable of. We want to try and make sure we get things right,” he said.

Jayawardene had said that Dilshan had done “an admirable job so far”. “Dilly is a good player, a good leader. A captain is as good as his team. I don’t think we should be pointing fingers at anybody right now. He has tried everything,” Jayawardene was quoted as saying prior to the changes.

Jayawardene had said it is too early to judge the coach’s influence. “Geoff has been with us for two tours. The first tour he had to assess how the system works. On his tour, he tried to bring new things into the team. As a coach, he has done what he could do. It’s up to the players to gather what he is trying to bring into the side. It’s tough to say how good a coach he is and how hard he has worked having only been three months with the team,” he said.

However, Marsh who has been widely criticized for conflict of interests and concentrating on his son’s performances for Australia while Sri Lanka’s batting collapsed in last year’s series against Pakistan in the UAE, too is set to lose his job. Graham Ford, who was initially interviewed for the post of Sri Lanka coach six months ago, is expected to replace Marsh soon.