King Sangas’ inheritance

Amidst all the hullabaloo over the Pakistan terror attacks, King Sanga has been appointed the captain of the SL 2020 team.

Not the test team, or the ODI, just the 2020. Its an odd appointment by the selectors. Trying to make it look like there might be another choice in the long term.

We know there isn’t, they know there isn’t but that’s the way we do things around these parts ya’ hear.

When Mahela handed over the keys to the SL engine, it was misfiring, backfiring, leaking oil – the whole works. It had done its mileage.

Sangakkara inherits a team that is struggling and verging on decline. A test team that doesn’t know its openers – 4 combinations have been tried over the last year.

A one day team that still relies on Jayasuriya to win them matches. A team whose best fast bowler is Nuwan Kulesekara, with no offence to Nuwan- he knows we love him here, is a worry.

A selection policy that still deems it self necessary to have Dilhara Fernando strutting about and doing his thing to lose as as many games as possible. Is it some inside joke that we don’t get ?

Remarkably, Sri Lankas middle order, for so long the teams achilles heel, is experiencing a bout of consistency. From Sangakkara to Mahela to Dilshan and the reformed Samaraweera all have been in the runs and looking like they will score more.

If Sanga makes it past the next World cup as captain,  he will face a crisis no modern Sri Lankan captain has faced – Losing Vass and Murali.

Then there is the issue of dealing with the new crop – players like Thilina Kandamby, Paranavitana, Udawatte, Mendis, Prasad need guidance. Sangakkaras influence will shape their careers.

A lot will also depend on how Sangakkara handles the newly appointed 7 man interim committee that is to oversee SL cricket for a couple of years.

Which could prove to be good, or bad. We are going to go with bad.

But we would like to be proven wrong.

For once.

In the end Sangakkara must be feeling like he was called up by Mahelas lawyer and was read a will that pretty much left him a pile of shit.

Interesting times ahead.

7 Comments

  1. Sachintha said:

    Because our selectors like to make things dramatic, that’s why…
    Btw, when do we get the Sanga interview stuff?

    March 17, 2009
    Reply
  2. gihan said:

    all hail king sanga!!!

    March 17, 2009
    Reply
  3. reckon sanga will be ok.

    he showed some calm after the attacks, heard him spkn to the press soon after, what is this in comparison?

    March 17, 2009
    Reply
  4. damiths said:

    Sach> Ya they do love drama.
    Should be on soon. Waiting for the answers now.

    Gihan> I think you might be quite excited bout Sanga being captain. Im just not sure.

    BCC!> On the contrary, dealing with the SLC board will be much tougher

    March 18, 2009
    Reply
  5. Theena said:

    Dilhara has been a selectorial conudrum after he finished his third year as an international cricketer and hadn’t still mastered the concept of a no-ball. What part of the return crease and stepping over being illegal does he not understand? I swear I am going to lose what little hair I have on my head because of this man and his love for overstepping that fucking line.

    Damith, I know there’s a climate of doom and gloom that is pervading our cricket right now – everything from geo-politics to our team stability (or lack of it) has given little cause of cheer – but I have faith in our system’s ability to churn another unexpected gem in the next few years; we’ve done it constantly for about 20 years now and I have no doubt that it will continue as long as the beautiful game is played in every nook and corner of the island. And hey, who knows, once the north is integrated wholly to the rest of the island, we may seem some of these gems coming from there.

    In the shorter term, I am worried about the climate of stagnancy that has recently become the norm in the team. We are playing Bangladesh and Zim far too often with often disastrous long term consequences.

    March 19, 2009
    Reply
  6. Kesh said:

    i’m wondering whether they will go with murali until the world cup as vice capa…

    March 23, 2009
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