Bravo Sri Lanka Cricket for the Lanka Premier League. We are off to a great start notwithstanding the setbacks from Corona. This is what courage is about, not allowing anything to disrupt a well intentioned breakthrough to an exciting form of cricket and cricket tourism.
With India showing the way conducting the Indian Premier League with great success attracting and paying foreign stars big money and with other countries conducting similar tournaments, Sri Lanka Cricket not wanting to be the odd country out ventured out conducting the Lanka Premier League and with encouraging success.
Although not being able to attract the cream of international cricketing stars what with them having to represent their countries in the established game, SLC must be congratulated for boldly venturing out with the LPL and at the time of writing meeting with success.
Two games were spoilt by rain. The first one between Colombo Kings and Galle Gladiators had to be decided on five overs and the second one between Jaffna Stallions and Dambulla Viking was washed out with each team sharing a point each.
In the first game West Indian mauler of bowlers Andre Russell feasted on the bowlers to bash a lightning 65 not out for Colombo Kings off 19 balls. He reached his 50 in just 14 balls to equal the world record for the third fastest half century in T20 cricket.
When Russell made himself available to play in the LPL we sang his praises and ventured out to boldly predict that he would light up the tournament with his brutal hitting which he showcased at Pallekelle when he last played here.
From Sri Lanka’s point of view those who caught the eye were Thisara Perera the Jaffna Stallions captain with his admirable leadership and all round efforts with bat and ball. Keeping him company were the left handed dasher Kusal Janith Perera the Kandy Tuskers captain, Dasun Shanaka the Dambulla Vikings leader and Bhanuka Rajapakse who leads the Galle Gladiators.
A memorable incident in the tournament was when Vijayakanth Viyaskanth a little known player from Jaffna sporting the Jaffna Stallions colours captured the wicket of former Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews. A promising leg spinner – promising leg spinners these days are like looking for a needle in a haystack- intelligently flighted a leg spinner which forced Mathews to miss hit the ball for Pakistani all rounder Shoaib Malik who took a well judged catch that sent all in Jaffna taking in the action on TV into raptures.
At the time of writing everything does not seem to be right on the cricket pitch in Sri Lanka’s number one game cricket.
While there were match fixing allegations in the Lanka Premier League T20 tourney in Hambantota, which we hope Sri Lanka Cricket will leave no stone unturned to ferret out the truth, there is also a lot of uncertainty over the selection of the squad to tour South Africa in December for Two Test matches.
At the time of writing the cricket selection committee has been finalized, but according to information a 22- member squad has been picked to tour with head coach Mickey Arthur soon after the LPL is completed.
Talking of coach Arthur who has been relieved of coach of one of the teams playing in the LPL and invited to act as TV commentator apparently to address any issues that may be raised on conflict of interest by commenting on the talent of some of the players he is coaching. It’s a judgment call that coaches and commentators need to make to preserve their independence.
During the recent Australia/England series when selector former Australian opening batsman Mark Waugh was commenting on the goings on in the middle he was questioned on the talent on one of the players in the Aussie squad. Waugh promptly told his fellow commentator that it was not ethical for him to comment on any player as he was a selector. Waugh was an example to all, especially to Arthur who probably imagined he was king.
The new cricket selection committee has been announced comprising Ashatha de Mel (chairman), Chaminda Mendis, Pramodaya Wickremasinghe, Ranjith Madurusinghe, Hemantha Devapriya, SHU Karnain and Nilmini Gunarathne.
It was intriguing to note the dropping of former Sri Lanka pacie Vinothen John from the selection team. John with de Mel as chairman and fellow selector Mendis did a job pleasing to all.
John was a fine opening bowler at St. Peter’s College and with Rumesh Ratnayake played havoc among schoolboy batsmen in the 1980s and bowled their school to many a victory. John later made it to the national team and bowled admirably moving the new ball both ways to trouble international opening batsmen.
John played his role as selector with a straight bat. It’s a pity that John’s wisdom will not be available, at least for now. People of John’s caliber need to be treasured.