T20 LOSS-SCAPEGOAT SANATH, KUMAR OR TREVOR BAYLISS?
Posted on May 16th, 2010
By DR M D P DISSANAYAKE
In the first match at Providence Stadium, Guyana against NZ, Sri Lanka lost the match by 4 runs. Kumar Sangakkara had two dropped catches visa-vis stumping chances.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sanath was sent into bat at ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ No. 7 andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ remained not out, without facing a ball.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ WasnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t Sanath good enough to score 10 to 4 runs, had he come earlier?
Then Sanath bowled the maximum number ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 4 overs permitted, with no maidens, 17 runs and taken one wicket. He did his best, disregarding theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ill-treatment by the Skipper.
In the second match against Zimbabwe, Sanath was sent into batch at No.8, he facedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 3 deliveries, scoring 3 runs at the tail end of the innings.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sangakkara scored 3 runs against Zimbabwe coming into bat at the top order.
From No. 7 and then to No. 8 and suddenly against West Indies Sanath was sent into open the innings with Mahela.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sanath did not score and was not usedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as a bowler.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka won the match.
Then against Australia Sanath was sent into open with Mahela, and Sanath, Mahela, Kumar, Dilshan all went back to the shed like a bunch of penguins at the Phillip Islands.
Then againƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the Semis, Sanath had to open.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The sequence of events we were watching into late night, was a unfolding drama of a GreatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ All rounder being humiliated by the Skipper.
Why Sanath was relegated to No. 7 and 8 against NZ and Zimbabwe? Why Sanath was not a given a specific spot to bat?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Except Mahela, no one else ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the team did their best.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So why go after Sanath? Was it because he was 40 or pure Professional Jealousy?
Sanath has been discriminated by the Team since the departure of Arjuna Ranatunga and MarvanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Atapattu.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But Sanath has ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ delivered the goods for Sri Lanka on many occasions, compared with some of the pedestrians with big talk withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Yorkshire accent,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ but no action.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Sanath Jayasuriya has played 110 test matches, scored 6973 runs, with the highest score of 340 and taken 98 wickets. Sanath played in 444 ODIƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s, scored 13428 runs, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with the highest score of 189 and taken 322 wickets.
Is there anyone else ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Sri Lankan team that can match these credentials? I repeat, we do need 11 Sanath JayasuriyaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with skills in all three departments.
May 16th, 2010 at 5:52 am
Two days ago you were trying to shift the blame for SL”s poor showing in the T20 tournament to the coach Trevor Bayliss, and you are still refusing to acknowledge that Sanath’s performance was terrible. Sorry Doc, you are wrong again.
I don’t suppose anyone is denying Sanath’s cricketing deeds of the past or his record. His record speaks for itself. What most of us are saying is that he is over the hill and in fact should have been dropped from the team some seasons ago. True, he has an ODI average of 32.43. Lara’s average is 40.49 and Vivian Richards’ is 47.00. But both those gentlemen knew when their time was up and gracefully withdrew from the playing scene. Unfortunately, our Sanath seems determined to play on when his form clearly does not justify it.
The heading of your article reads T20 LOSS-SCAPEGOAT SANATH, KUMAR OR TREVOR BAYLISS? My understanding is that a scapegoat is someone whom you blame for the mistakes of others. You have rightly included Kumar and Bayliss in the heading because clearly you are trying to make scapegoats of them.
May 17th, 2010 at 5:08 am
You can keep on repeating like selectors did and make people sick. Yes we need 11 young Sanaths but e this Sanath is doing his best not to allow new Sanaths to join the team. Even a year 8 kid can understand this.
The truth is Sanath was taken there as a bowler ( this is what selectors said) and to bat late to hit sixes in the last overs.
Batting at No: 8 he was supposed to hit at least 8 runs in three deliveries. Against Zim you expect him to hit 3 sixes , not 3 runs which I too can easily do.
Discriminating Sanath is pure rubbish, he is bullying all others.
When he is 80 years old you can keep on saying he scored so many runs in so many balls but that will not help Sri Lanka wining mathces.
People are not disputing his history ( although Cassandra is right and sharp to point out it was our other cricketing legends who won the world cup, not Sanath).
What can you say about his greed for money and selfishness ? You can never find 11 Sanaths anyway, as such greedy people are very rare. World is not that bad.