da prosport bet： Continuity is a word seldom associated with Pakistan cricket, so when onediscovered that seven members of the Pakistan A squad that triumphed overSri Lanka in the unofficial three-Test series, also played in the Under 19World Cup here last year,
Charlie Austin29-Jun-2001Continuity is a word seldom associated with Pakistan cricket, so when onediscovered that seven members of the Pakistan A squad that triumphed overSri Lanka in the unofficial three-Test series, also played in the Under 19World Cup here last year, one felt obliged to comment, because the converseis true of Sri Lanka.Not a single member of the Sri Lankan team in the final Test Match, played in the Youth World Cup; a tournament in which they had defeated Pakistan in the semi-finals, before losing to India in the final. Ian Daniel, who played in the First Test Match in Dambulla, and Akalanka Ganegama, who played in the first two Test Matches, were the only representatives in the entire series.Indeed, for Pakistani players, the route into the national side is clearer.The Under 19 team side is a natural feeder into the A team and then fromthere one can progress into the national team.For Sri Lankan cricketers, however, the process is confused – there is nonatural progression from the Under 19 team to the A side. Worse, no oneseems to quite know what the A team is.Sri Lanka used 22 players in this three-match series, an unwieldy numberthat smacks of selectorial indecision and almost certainly hampered theperformances of individuals involved and contributed to the team’s eventualdownfall.With the squad being chopped and changed with alacrity, the players wereforever looking over their shoulders and were put under unbearable pressureto perform. Privately they admitted to unsettling feelings of insecurity.According to the team management, the selectors rationale was that theywanted to give an opportunity to as many players as possible. This serieswas to act as a stepping to the future when a leaner squad of approximately16 could be picked for forthcoming A tours.It is true that many players were given an opportunity, but it is thequality of that opportunity that poses the problem. With an overbearingimportance attached to each innings played and with the omnipresent threatof the axe should they fail, it is no wonder that the batsmen failed to liveup their potential.Sure, the selectors are looking for strong-minded players, but one cannotexpect even the most battle hardened young cricketers to flourish in such anenvironment of flux. Continuity of selection breeds confidence and anenvironment conducive to personal success.One wonders as to what poor Hemantha Devapriya, the A-team coach, said tohis batsmen before each match. Perhaps it was: “Good luck machang butremember, if you don’t score today, you will probably be dropped because theselectors think you may be a good player but they are not very sure.”Is it really true that the selectors could not identify a squad of 15players for the Test series? If they have not seen enough of the playersinvolved then the obvious question is, why not? A stable squad would havebeen preferred by the players and would have provided a clearer indicationas to the potential of each player.As it stands, the selectors have gained few insights from this three-matchseries. The now know that Thilan Samaraweera deserves to be promoted aheadof Kumar Dharmasena; they will realise, perhaps reluctantly, that AvishkaGunawardene is head and shoulders above the other upcoming batsmen; and thatMichael Vandort is an exceptional slip fielder and a promising batsman.Apart from those three, we know little more. Those that have failed were notgiven a proper chance, so a judgment now would be premature. This is true ofIan Daniel, Jeevantha Kulatunga, Dammika Sudharshana, Shantha Kalavitigodaand Malintha Warnapura.In the defense of the selectors they did they need to balance the needs ofthe national team. For several of the 24-man national squad this A tourprovided an ideal opportunity to gain valuable match practice against a highquality opposition. In normal circumstances the likes of Kumar Sangakkara,Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Indika de Saram may not have played.Clearly a decision has to be made: the A team is either a vehicle for thenational players to practice or it is a gateway to the senior side, a meansof providing experience to an emerging crop of players.In fact, the situation is crying for a complete overhaul of thedevelopmental system. The concept of an A team has become confused. Is itthe Sri Lankan second team, a natural feeder into the test team? Or is it acollection of young players, a true developmental team, who are unlikely toplay for the national team immediately, but could so in a couple of years?The obvious solution, in a country such as Sri Lanka where the domesticcricket is so poor, is to have two developmental sides: an A team which iseffectively a Sri Lankan 2nd XI and an Academy side, which provides astepping stone from the Under 19’s to the A team, and offers young playersan exposure to a high standard of cricket at an early age.A proper Second XI or A team is crucial because it will help to bridge thegapping divide between first class and international cricket. The Second XIwould play touring teams in Sri Lanka and could tour the likes of Australia,South Africa and England to gain greater experience. In the spirit of Asianco-operation there could even be regular tournaments with our neighbours.The Academy Side would also play touring sides in their warm-up games andtour abroad to play against the Academies that are springing up all over theworld. The important point is that the squad members get a greater exposureto a higher standard of cricket at an earlier age, something that is notpossible in the present hybrid system because the youngsters are crowded outby more established players. Even if they do get an opportunity, it is oftenshortlived.The root of the problem is, of course, domestic cricket, but that is adilemma that could take time to adequately resolve. In the meantime thesetting up of an Academy and A team is essential if Sri Lanka’s youngcricketers are to realise their full potential.