Mathews to rescue our ‘cricket ship’ that has commenced to sink

Richard Dwight

Most deservedly, rightly or wrongly congratulations has come the way of, Angelo Mathews, on his being made captain of the Sri Lanka test cricket team and, Dinesh Chandimal as the Vice Captain and captain of the T/20 series as well.

Both cricket captain and vice captain, come over to take their respected positions in test cricket, after playing a lucrative series of T/twenty cricket.

The 26 old Mathews, of St. Joseph's College, is be towed with an ideal physique for a cricket captain he is suave to be unassuming, to be modest and is disciplined to be gentlemanly walking along the side to take the field, Mathews the début skipper and Chandimal, the vice captain, will do well to see that frivolous unnecessary conversations amongst players are kept to a limit, or done away with completely.

It will be in Mathews, to lead, ahead a few yards away from the others, with the ever smiling, Chandimal, following in closely as deputy, with the rest of the team heading for their identical places on the field – their entire concentration being on the tasks that lie ahead.

It need not be said, that as to whether the opponents be strong or weak, our skipper at all times must lead the side from the front, sporting that confident bravado outlook. This spirit of approach, attitude and, being well attired must become infectious amongst all players.

There was much speculation, that Mathews would be picked to the national team and with time he was selected to play for the Sri Lanka cricket team.

Mathews as an all rounder, after good many test matches did not live up to his talented reputation. Sadly his scores being in the region of 17 or 18, not forgetting his two run outs and the dropping of two crucial outfield catches. These unfortunate mishaps do happen, especially in ‘Test Cricket’ which is akin to life.

Perhaps having partly learnt the lessons of life through playing cricket – he was determined to ‘Never Give Up’, but continued to play and made amends by scoring a few 40's and 50's, then going on to bash an 80 and late banged in a century and, with the odd wickets he claimed, Angelo Mathews had come to grips with ‘Test Cricket’ to warrants Angelo Mathews being confirmed as the future national cricket captain of Sri Lanka. He took the opportunity to celebrate his appointment by slamming 155 (7 sixes 10 boundaries) during the weekend, against the army SC. Mathews has under his command a squad of twenty players, which has been now reduced to 18 without Sangakkara and Mahela. The emerging question is as to why, Prasanna Jayawardena, considered one amongst the best wicket keeper batsman, side stepped.

Taken by and large, it could be referred to as a team building side, pitted against a very progressive Bangladeshi team. The Sri Lanka team is made up of youngsters, whose batting largely depends on Mathews, Dilshan, Chandimal, Karunaratne the off and on Lahiru Thirimananne the inconsistent all rounder Jeevan Mendis the sedately stubborn, Samaraweera and probably Kusal Janith, of whom much is not known.

Amongst the spinners there is Jeevan Mendis, who has to come off big with a measure of consistency, Ajantha Mendis has to live up to his earlier promise and Suraj Randiv ought to do well, with Rangana Herath the other established spinner. The medium pacers are Nuwan Kulasekera, Shaminda Ernaga, Chanaka Welagedara, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Sameera and Tharindu Kaushal.

It must be said that Nuwan Kulasekera is vastly improved bowler, whose weapon is to serve it up, with direct line and length and permitting the ball to swing to the right or left. The other medium pacers without bowling wild, will do well to keep it right onto the stumps.

Our team is a young side and should not be overawed to be overwhelmed, by the atmosphere of ‘Test Cricket'. They should put their shoulder to the wheel and play best to their ability.

“Someone once said ‘Hope springs eternal in the human brast man never was but is to be beast”.