By M D P DISSANAYAKE

From the first Test match in the current series with Pakistan, it was becoming clearer that Pakistan was a superior outfit in all three departments.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The top performers and the rest of the team glued togetherƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to achieve a great victory during the second Test.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  PakistanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s new test skipper Misbah Ul Haq is a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-cool customerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ working through a methodically worked out strategy throughout the innings.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He has displayed extreme calm and composureƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  allowing the team to get on top of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  More than anything else, Misbah has had the over-all support of all team members, playing their own roles individually and collectively.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

By contrast, the Sri Lankan team has failed to maintain the team spirit. Most of the players, including some Seniors, were hell bound toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  maintain their place in the team rather than concentrating and applying the techniques to remain within the pre-planned strategy.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The lack of patienceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  can be identified with all 11 players. Some of them have no pre-worked solution to come out of the misery.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Quite a number of Sri Lankan currentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  team members are world class players in the batting department, though we are at the rock bottom with our bowling.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The batsmen are not scoring sufficient runs, the bowlers looking down the barrel to bat as well and then bowl.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This is too much pressure for the bowlers, even if they are well seasoned.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But with the current bowlers who are up-coming mediocre performers, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to expect them to bat under tremendous pressure and then bowlƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  will be too much to expect , time after time.

Dilshan to his credit appears to be handling the team in the field single handedly.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Rarely we could see senior players coming togetherƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  with their inputsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to blend the team success.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Dilshan had been made Captain at a time he never expected, now there are news reports of his impending replacement.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But it appears that there arenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t anyone willing to take, perhaps except Angelow Mathews.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Angelow Mathews was originally recruited as an all rounder, but due to an ongoing injury, his services are restricted to batting only at the moment, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the role he is playing in a professional manner with the tail-enders, yet scoringƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  respectable number of runs.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  To put him on top of the Team is a recipe for disaster at this too early stage. Tharanga Paranavithana and Angelow Mathews can be seen as future potential leadersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  in 3 to 4 years time.

Dilshan must be given the confidence and endorsement by the Administration and the rest of the team.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Dilshan in turn must open dialogue with the Seniors, , seek their views and work in a cohesive manner at regular intervals.

For the third Test, some changes must be made.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mahela Jayawardene is a great player and he must self-motivated and re-inginited. Mahela should lead from the front. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It would be best for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mahela to open the batting in the third and Final test with Tharanga Paranavithana, followed byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Chandimal as a specialist batsmen. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Kumar Sangakkara, Dilshan Tilekeratne and Angelow ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mathews & CompanyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  can then be followed. Prasanna Jayawardene, if heƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  is fit should keep wickets, if not Kaushal Silva should continue replacing Prasanna for the time being.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Prasanna is a great cricketer, the team Administrators should consider Prasanna not only for Tests, but for ODIƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s as well,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Suraj Randiv and Rangana Herath should spearhead the spin attack, with Dilshan playing an assisting role. Chanaka WelagderaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  is improving with both bat and the bowl and his place should be secured.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Kosala Kulasekera, debutant should team up with Chanaka Welagedera in the fast bowling attack.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Kosala 26 yrs of age, has an impressive batting ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ record in First Class cricket scoring 2751 runs in 72 matches at an average of 54 runs, with a highest score of 129 runs, two centuries and 14 half-centuries. In bowling in first class 72ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  matches, Kosala has taken 148 wickets at an economy rate of 3.54.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Kosala should not be sitting on the Bench!