Tuesday 22nd April, 2008 15 Should Mahela be axed as ? Show Mahela the door – Earlier the better

and his own faults. his early dismissals always caused our Lastly,a captain should be judged by team to collapse – not helped by his team’s performance. In recent times Mahela’s foolishness in also getting out our team seems to have fallen to depths quickly! We would all like to remember that we have never ever sunk to. We can Sanath as one of the greatest cricketers see how bad we are by examining our last he once was. five wins (not to mention our countless So, what is the verdict - sack Mahela irstly let me commend ‘The Island’ Indians where they had to score 10 runs in his trust on the bowlers to do the needful. defeats). Three of them were against from one-day captaincy immediately. I for taking this initiative of getting 2 balls. He did not make any adjustments One will never forget the days of Hashan lowly-placed , one was in a am not sure whether having two cap- Ffeedback from ’s very before the last two balls were bowled - I Thilekeratne as captain – where he shortened game against India where the tains for the one-day and test teams knowledgeable -loving public. I believe he thought that the West Indians delayed declarations time and time again could have gone either way,and our makes sense. If the choice was mine - I hope you will soon make it clear that you will never make it. A captain should never and then set very defensive fields when last win was against Australia where the would see how (see are not biased against Mahela and thereby think like that. There are countless other there was no chance of loosing! outcome did not count for anything – as below) handles the one-day team, and if prove some of your readers wrong, by examples of Mahela’s inadequacy in this Another important job of a captain is Australia was already in the finals. he does a good job, make him the test requesting feedback on other important respect. Next – does he lead from the to be an effective spokesman for the team. Please don’t get me wrong – Mahela is captain as well. Mahela should play as a cricketing topics. front? Again, no. We will never forget how He has failed miserably in this. Although a great batsman. His countless superb batsman as long as he continues to per- In order to objectively deal with he threw his away many times in his command of the English language has contributions to the team with the bat form. In my opinion his role in the one- Mahela’s suitability for captaincy,we need Australia recently,after Sanath got out improved dramatically over time, he talks should never be forgotten. What we are day team should be one akin to Asanka to see how Mahela stacks up against the cheaply.He does not seem to understand a lot of crap! He statements are so pre- dealing with is his suitability to be the Gurusinghe’s (Mr. Ever Reliable!!) essential attributes of a captain. Firstly,is that he is not a pinch hitter, and that he is dictable and senseless on many an occa- captain. where he steadied the on many he qualified? Most definitely he is - he has not cut out for hitting his way out of trou- sion - his use of catch phrases like ‘com- Our selectors should also take the occasions by sensible batting whenever always demonstrated that he is a ‘think- ble (watching him do the reverse sweep ing to the party’, ‘we have many positives blame for a lot of the problems we are fac- a wicket or two fell early. ing’ cricketer. Does he command his makes me cringe!). His foolishness would to take from this defeat’, ‘bowlers should ing now (this will be another interesting The question is who should take team’s respect? Again the answer is yes - have had a great demoralizing effect on bowl in the right areas’, etc., etc., are topic for The Island to take up). A case in over - the obvious choice is Kumar we see his team rallying around him all the rest of the batters that followed. Does laughable at best. Also, he seems to have a point is their continuous selection of Sangakkara – he seems to have all the the time. Does he make the right deci- he take calculated risks – he certainly penchant for blaming everyone and every- Sanath until very recently - did they not right attributes of a captain – if only he sions at the right time? Definitely no! A does, especially in test matches where he thing else for dismal performances rather realize that old and out of form Sanath drops that false accent of his!! case in point is the recent loss to the West has declared at the right times and placed than admitting to his team’s crappiness caused many a defeat simply because Sarath Wikramanayake Mahela Jayawardena Mahela needs a reminder about his duties Captaincy is no sinecure. Mahela sure and has erred and should accept lose but we had many positives is on the decline has acquitted himself well as a leader responsibility. nonetheless. and shown he is a respected leader. 1) A glaring instance is that last Let sanity prevail and let’s not He can express himself much better ball six. He should have instructed make changes for the sake of making He has harmed his position by his instrumental in dropping and/or chop- than most of his predecessors. He Vaas to bowl on the off side for that changes and Mahela is worth being arrogance and the chances of his return ping that great cricketer Sanath and Kumar are held in high esteem last ball especially knowing retained with the captaincy but he to his former self are very bleak. Jayasuriya from the last disastrous ODI by knowledgeable Australians both Chanderpaul is weak need and has a should know not to abuse his role. During the last ODI series in the series away from home in the West on and off the field. light frame. West Indies he failed as a captain, as a Indies. Mahela has been correct in giving 2) Vaas of late has performed woe- Ranjan Rodrigo, leader, as a team man and also as a bats- During the last World Cup series in youth a chance at the expense of fully in the last overs and should not Sydney. man. Mahela Jayawardena has hardly the West Indies, Mahela Jayawardena Sanath and Marvan (however, have been given that last over. In bat- contributed anything substantial to Sri abundantly displayed his selfish attitude Marvan should have been given a ting, Vaas sometimes shows disinter- There has been plenty of Lanka cricket. His sudden rise to lead in more less compelling Marvan chance in the World Cup), and obvi- est. feedback on whether or not the National cricket teams was not due Atapattu to carry water to the playing ously If his choices acquit themselves 3) , though he should be to merit but other extraneous reasons. field. Had it not been for such misdeeds well and good or else he is at the butt scored in his last match, was too slow sacked as captain of the ODI He was very fortunate indeed that of Mahela Jayawardena and his meek end of criticism. However, he should and this cost us the match. team. You can also send your Marvan Atapattu developed a back-pain approach towards his counterparts, Sri not think he is infallible and his Due to a few seniors being rested, views to ‘The Island’. during the 2006 season. Lanka could have easily brought the selections are questionable at times. Udawatte, Weeraratne and Mendis In appointing Mahela Jayawardena to World Cup home. A captain knows his team more than were discovered. E-mail – [email protected] or the coveted position of National cricket The recent trend has been for any the selectors but that does not mean Rumours there will always be like [email protected] captain, several other deserving crick- cricketer of the National team to be he should ride roughshod on them. the Vaas vice captaincy issue and Fax – 0112-497 543 eters who had contributed much more dropped if he faced a bad-patch. That Much as he should be given a free favourable treatment for Mubarak, Post – Sports Editor than Mahela Jayawardena to Sri Lanka principle never applied to Mahela hand, he must realise that there is a and Welegedera not being selected The Island cricket were over-looked and by-passed. Jayawardena. The recent ODI series in limit and he should not be given too lest he usurps another influential 223, Blumendhal Road, From the time of his appointment as the West Indies, where Mahela much power. player. -13 skipper, Mayela Jayawerdena worked Jayawardena not only failed as a cap- Of late, he has faced a lot of pres- On face value, we were unlucky to towards his self-preservation. It is no tain, but also as a batsman was an eye- secret that Mahela Jayawardena was opener. instrumental in driving a wedge between In these circumstances, it is my firm the Chairman of Selectors, Ashantha de conviction that Mahela Jayawardena No need to axe Mahela Not captain Mel and Marvan Atapattu, a potential should be axed from the captaincy and threat to Mahela Jayawardena's position should also be dropped from the team. as skipper. Mahela Jayawardena's reac- Players of the calibre of Muttiah No, there is no need to axe by and the other but batsman tions when Chaminda Vaaz was appoint- Muralitharan and , who Jayawardene and install Sangakkara youngsters? ed vice captain was repulsive and clearly have immensely contributed to Sri in his place. They do not seem moti- India did something like this and My opinion is that Mahela should demonstrated the depths of meanness he Lanka cricket and whose unstinted vated in the same manner that the results are there for all to see. be retained not as captain, but as a could go to when faced with a potential efforts had put Sri Lanka on the world Arjuna and Aravinda were motivat- The three seniors can be made batsman, as he can perform well. threat to his captaincy. map, should be given a chance to lead the ed. expert commentators and spokesper- I can remember Tendulkar’s fail- According to several news items National cricket team, before they hang Even Vaas seems jaded. Why not sons for Sri Lanka Cricket. ure due to leadership responsibilities. appearing in the sports columns of up their boots. give them a rest and field a young Lakshman Perera, Channa Pathirana newspapers Mahela Jayawardena was T. Sugathadasa team led by Dilshan and supported Kurunegala

Schools Rugby League Malinga in doubt for India series Speedster is a doubtful starter for the Test kicks off today and one-day international series against India later this by Ruchira Mendis year. Island’ said that this year, taking into consid- will again try his level best to produce a The 24-year-old has been The much looked forward to Singer eration all what happened last year, the champion combination. nursing a knee injury and was Schools U-20 Rugby League kicks off today at SLSRFA has taken all precautionary meas- Defending double champions St. Peter’s on Saturday told to rest for 4.15 pm with defending champions St. Peter’s ures to prevent such incidents this time College are tipped to retain the League and three months, meaning he will College, Colombo taking on Dharmaraja around. He further highlighted that the President’s Cup this year too. Isipatana not be able to play for the College, , in the curtain raiser at St. matches have been scheduled in such a way College, Colombo, who were runners-up to Mumbai Indians in the inaugu- Malinga Peter’s College, grounds. that total of 240 matches to be played in eight St. Peter’s last season, will certainly play ral Indian Premier League The last schools rugby season was not weeks at a rapid pace freeing the students their hearts out to try and topple St. Peter’s tournament. my injury and not sure that rosy in the contest of organization and well ahead of the G.C.E. A/L examination. at the top, under the guidance of coach And Malinga admits he whether I will be fit to play participation. Added to that, certain schools St. Peter’s College, Colombo, unbeaten Bimal Perera. St. Anthony’s College, Kandy does not know whether he will India in July either," he said. were banned from competing and the SLSR- League champions of last season will field a and Kingswood College, Kandy are the other have recovered in time for the "But I will try hard to be fit. FA was even taken to court by various quar- relatively young team having lost 12 players top contenders in the championships. three Tests and five ODIs "I am disappointed at miss- ters and as a result of it, the glamour of the from the champion outfit of last season. It should be an exciting season of rugby against the Indians in July and ing the IPL as the injury I event was taken away. Idunil Rohitha, the Sanath Martis, the energetic coach of St. where the top schools confront each other for August. picked up in Australia hasn't secretary of SLSRFA, speaking to ‘The Peter’s College, is a master tactician and he supremacy. "I am still struggling with healed properly."