A Messiah in the form of De Mel arrives to resurrect cricket

That Sri Lanka cricket is in a crisis there is no doubt. This is obvious by the devastation after the defeats to England, Australia, Pakistan and now South Africa. This is even if one grants the come back wins in the one-day games.

Not since being admitted to the portals of the International Cricket Council in 1982, has there existed a crisis that is of such immeasurable proportions that we now face. In the recent past Sri Lanka cricket was admired and appreciated by the world, with some of them wanting to copy Sri Lanka’s style and approach that was eye catching, attractive and drew international attention and spectators like moths to a lamp.

On the skids

But of late, the game has been on the skids. At present the future looks bleak. And drastic action is needed to heal the cancer that looks set to kill our standing in the game. Without a positive outcome the Sri Lankan game could die a natural and sad death.

It is said cometh the hour, cometh the man. And the man, to use a bibilical term who has emerged in the form of a Messiah is former all rounder and a man who would dare . And that’s Asantha de Mel.

De Mel is no stranger to the game and its administration. He has served in various positions in Sri Lanka Cricket after enjoying great success as a fast bowling and big hitting all rounder for his schools Isipatana, Royal, club SSC, Sri Lanka and Maharaja Organization.

Unenviable job

De Mel has taken over the unenviable job of Chairman of Selectors at a time when the game is gasping for breath. He will have to play the job of physician, surgeon in the ER and immediately get down to getting back the heart beat that is badly needed to resurrect the dying patient CRICKET.

And in Amal Silva, Don Anurasiri and Hemantha Wickremaratne, he has a team of selectors who are also aware of what ails the game.

They could together be expected to discharge their duties with great competence.

The first stroke that De Mel and his team will have to play is the selection of the squad to contest the Commonwealth Bank Tri series in Australia which also features Australia, India and Sri Lanka beginning early next month. De Mel will be the ideal selector on tour in Australia.

New captain and squad

When this column is being read, the selectors would have picked a new captain and team to Australia. It is the demand from former cricketers and the millions of cricket fans here that the best team be picked strictly on merit with sentiment put aside. Miracles cannot be expected overnight, however. But a courageous start has to be made in the overhaul.

De Mel a no nonsense man must not brook any interference or influence from whichever quarter it emanates. He and his team must do a job to the best of their ability and not leave anyone to query their honesty and integrity.

At the moment there does not seem to be any team spirit that is so very essential for success. This is why we have been roasted in Protea land. Cricketers not talking to each other and other events detrimental to the success of the game is rampant.

Act fearlessly

The selectors must act without fear or favour and not hesitate to dump any spoil sports in the team however powerful or indispensable they are. The team has to be moulded as one vibrant cohesive unit rather than a disjointed collection of individual cricketers having their own agendas. Nothing less should be the standing order. No kid gloves, please.

Also there is strong talk that former Sri Lankan captain who had a glorious run Mahela Jayawardena has been pencilled to take over the captaincy and lead the team to Australia.

Rise to the occasion

Jayawardena need not have any qualms and has it in him to rise to the occasion. He has to accept the job for the sake of the country if offered. After all he once adorned with pride, aplomb and competence the task of captaincy and his leadership was inspiring, especially in crisis situations, the present situation being the most dire.

The selectors, should they agree with Jayawardena from him to lead, will no doubt consult him before picking the final squad to Australia. Jayawardena must speak out and suggest the team he would like to lead. The captain and the selectors must be counted upon at all times to maintain a good rapport.

Here’s wishing the selectors and the new captain a wonderful and successful stay at the wicket and may they score heavily for the game and the country and bring back those days of glory.

England down to earth

England who were riding on the crest of wave of success, as number ONE in TEST CRICKET was brought down to earth with a deafening thud by Pakistan.

In the First Test played in desert country, the Pakistanis led by that cunning off spinner Saeed Ajmal flummoxed the English batsmen and dented their cricketing pride by beating them by 10 wickets and finishing the game in three days.

The defeat would have been anathema not only to the cricketers and former cricketers, but also to former captain Bob Willis which prompted him to, while commentating for Sky TV, to query the action of Ajmal who bamboozled the English batting especially with the ‘doosra’. To England who gave birth to the game, losing has always been bitter and unacceptable to them. And it was no different after Pakistan beat them convincingly.

Willis in dreamland

Sadly Willis would have been in dreamland and forgotten that the International Cricket Council had passed Ajmal after testing his action in 2009 by Dr.Paul Hurrion, the ICC Head Biomechanics Analyst.

Willis will do well to understand that England cricket is not looking for blind loyalty or sympathy. Willis, although he led England, has not learnt or been told to be humble in victory and determined in defeat.

He should have appreciated, applauded and spoken eloquently about Ajmal’s clever bowling and not run to find excuses for England’s defeat which was fairly and squarely slapped by Pakistan.

When the Second Test begins, Willis should be man enough to apologize to Saeed Ajmal and Pakistan.

[email protected]