Give Sanath Jayasuriya the nod (9 June 1999)

9 June 1999

Give Sanath Jayasuriya the nod

Elmo Rodrigopulle

Much has been talked about Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga after our failure in the World Cup and tournaments preceding. Ranatunga has done much for Sri Lanka cricket.

At the age of 18 he scored a brilliant half century against England in the inaugural Test at the Oval in 1982. He later developed into a very knowledgeable cricketer, one of the best in the world and his tactics as captain, were beyond compare.

We tagged him "Captain Cool" and he played for Sri Lanka for well nigh 17 years. But in recent times Ranatunga has lost his zest to win. Now that he has served Sri Lanka well, it is time that he sheds the captaincy, stays in the team and guides a successor.

Anyway while his critics are baying for his removal, they haven't the guts to name his successor, if and when the selectors decide to tell Ranatunga that his services as captain are no more required.

Sometime back when there was a cry to groom a captain to take over once Ranatunga decides to quit, I dared to suggest the name of Sanath Jayasuriya.

The selectors of that time were in agreement and did not waste time in appointing Jayasuriya as vice captain to Ranatunga, hinting that Jayasuriya would take over.

But what happened after Jayasuriya was named vice captain was intriguing. He served as vice captain for one Test and for no particular reason or reasons, the selectors rescinded their decision, which was to say the least baffling.

However the selectors will soon be meeting to name the captain and the squad to confront the Australians who will be here for a Test series and a triangular in August which will also include India, and it will be interesting to see how the selectors go.

If the selectors decide to depose Ranatunga, then they will do well to give the captaincy honours to Jayasuriya. Jayasuriya proved an able captain when he led the Sri Lanka under-24 team to South Africa some years back and when he led the Board President's XI. He is still 29 and when the next World Cup comes around in 2003 in South Africa he would have gained enough experience to carry Sri Lanka's challenge.

But let the authorities remember that Test cricket is what the game is all about and let them plan to make Sri Lanka a formidable Test playing nation. We must get our priorities right. One day cricket is only a 'cowboy game'.

Let's face it. There was too much money going around. Many of our cricketers had their heads swollen like inflated footballs and many had burst during the World Cup.

It is opportune to note and take an example from Australia who at any time have a good second string as good as their first eleven. This should be so in Sri Lanka.

It is sad to note that this country, except for possibly Chaminda Vaas has no pace bowler worth the phrase fast in recent times. There was an exception in Rumesh Ratnayake.

There is no use for any recriminations. We have to take stock of ourselves and put our best foot forward.

It is a fact that our batting and fielding when we are fit are the best in the world. Our stroke play is the most exciting and attractive. We think it was a big, big mistake to have got rid of Dave Whatmore considering that he welded the side into a fine attacking force which brought us the previous World Cup.

Our administration must have a consistent plan to develop cricket in Colombo and the provinces so that we will be equipped to do well in conditions prevailing in any country.

At the time of writing the super six are battling it out and it will be interesting to see who will clash in the finals of the World Cup.

While South African Lance Klusener has been hugging the headlines with his superb allround ability, the one player who has stirred interest and brought spectators to the edge of their seats is that 'Rawalpindi Express' Sohaib Akthar of Pakistan.

Akthar has revived the dying art of express pace bowling. Now with the West Indians not being able to produce the exciting fast bowlers that they used to do with regularity, it is thrilling to watch Akthar doing his thing.

Akthar is temperamental like all fast bowlers. To him there is no settling down to line and length. From the first ball he is at the batsmen firing frightening pace, bowling a good line and length and getting the ball to rise disconcertingly from a good length. It is also amazing to see him moving the ball both ways.

His thunderbolts have been timed at 95 mph with the bowler to touch 99 mph being Jeff Thompson, the Aussie who had batsmen running for dear life with Dennis Lillee partnering him at the other end.

Akthar is a spectators dream and the dread of batsmen. At times his action is open to question and there is no doubt that the umpires who have watched him bowl will have questionable remarks to make about his action.

At the rate Akthar is going he is sure to burn out, unless taken in hand, nurtured and nursed to be in the game for a long time. Cricket is not likely to see the likes of him more often.

Akthar no doubt is a complete fast bowler. He has the speed of a Jeff Thompson, the run up and appealing of Dennis Lillee, the accuracy of a Keith Miller and the aggressiveness of a Fred Trueman at 95 mph.

Cricket can do with more entertainers like Sohaib Akthar.

Source :: The Daily News