Mathews eyes a top spot in Test rankings

SAJEEWA JAYAKODY

Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Test captain Angelo Mathews is aiming to rise to the top three in the ICC Test rankings within the next couple of years.

The 25-year-old batting all-rounder, revealed this after he was selected as the 14th Test Captain of Sri Lanka at the SLC headquarters, Colombo yesterday.

“Currently we are 6th in the Test rankings and we hope to advance to the top three within the next couple of years,” said Mathews, the first Test captain from the Colts Cricket Club, at a press briefing.

Following Mahela Jayawardena’s stepping down from captaincy, Sri Lanka Selection Committe made changes for the betterment of Sri Lanka cricket. Chief selector Jayasuriya said he was looking forward to continue with Angelo Mathews, who has been a top class cricketer with good captaincy qualities. “Ange (Angelo Mathews) has showed that he can steer Sri Lanka cricket towards the winning streak as has proved it on several occasions when the team was struggling.”

After Sri Lanka’s highly rated captain, Arjuna Ranatunga retired in 1999, selectors brought Jayasuriya as captain and Mahela Jayawardena as deputy. Similarly, 22-year-old Dinesh Chandimal has been named Mathews’ deputy. “We are looking at the future of Sri Lanka cricket. Chandimal is still young and we can get more from him,” Jayasuriya said.

Jayasuriya said by appointing Chandimal as the Twenty20 captain, he thought to give him an opportunity to groom himself to lead the country in the established game while acting as Mathews’ deputy in the Test and ODIs. “We relieved Mathews from leading Twenty20 as we want him to concentrate more on Test and ODIs,” Jayasuriya said.

The notable omittance in the Test squad is former Peterite and NCC middle order batsman Angelo Perera, who has been scoring well in the current domestic tournament. The 22-year-old right hander has proved him as a superb timer of the ball with an array of shots.

The short right hander has blasted 307 runs with a couple of centuries and a half ton with a 153.50 average in two matches so far. His strike rate (117.62) rated him as an ODI player. Jayasuriya hinted that Perera will get a chance in the shorter format.

Tamil Union middle order batsmen Kithruwan Vithanage and Ashen Silva have been included in the 20-member squad with NCC fast bowler Dushmantha Sameera as three new comers.

Veteran Thilan Samaraweera and opener Tharanga Paranavithana have been omitted from the squad and limited-over specialist Jeevan Mendis has been included as a batsman and Kusal Janith Perera will replace Prasanna Jayawardena as the wicket-keeper.

NCC off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal, the leading wicket taker with 19 wickets in two matchs so far in the Premier League Tournament has been picked with Rangana Herath, Suraj Randiv and Ajantha Mendis as spinners. Paceman Suranga Lakmal, who played in the Sydney Test has also been overlooked and Nuwan Pradeep, Shaminda Eranga, Chanaka Welagedara, Nuwan Kulasekara and Dushmantha Sameera were chosen as seamers. According to Jayasuriya, the squad will be prune down 10-days prior to the first Test.

The two-Test series starts at Galle from March 8 to 12 and the second at P Sara Oval from March 16 to 20.