Late City Edition Wednesday 11th January, 2012 REX CLEMENTINE Sangakkara are going to be around for 2015 when it reporting from Paarl will be held. Plus, Dilshan’s age is as same as that His ‘bullets’ after the Durban hun- of Thilan while the two former captains are not far outh Africa’s Media Manager Lerato dred may well have been targeted at behind. Malekutu prior to yesterday’s media briefing some of the selectors who have had Ours is not a call to make Samaraweera a per- Swith A. B. de Villiers had a question for a manent member of the ODI squad in place of some- touring Sri Lankan journalist. ‘Is Thilan horror records playing for the coun- one else. But it’s a call based on simple logic. The Samaraweera part of the ODI squad?’ Don’t be sur- try. While Don Anurasiri played 45 World Cup is three years away and Sri Lanka’s prised if that exactly was the question on most of ODIs as a left-arm spinner and took batsmen have had issues in the Test series in South the South Africans’ mind, leading up to the ODI leg Africa and those are the two reasons for of the cricket series between the two countries. 32 wickets, Ranjith Madurusinghe Samaraweera to have been persevered with in the Samaraweera’s has been some sort of a played 12 ODIs as an off-spinner ODIs. No one should, at the same time, get carried Cinderella Story. Despite being the best player in and took just five wickets. The two the side of spin bowling, he was dropped for the away with his exploits in Tests and call for his spin-friendly conditions in UAE against Pakistan men have put more years as nation- inclusion in the ODI squad. Take the case of Thilan Samaraweera celebrates his hundred in the sec- and was initially overlooked for South Africa, one al selectors than Sir Don Bradman, Hashan Tillakaratne. He toured South Africa in ond Test against South Africa in Durban. Former South of the toughest tours in the world and later added 2002 and while the second Test in Centurion was in African captain Shaun Pollock who was commentating only as cover for an injured player. And after com- Sir Richard Hadlee and Sir Viv progress, the ODI squad was announced. Two days said he may well have been shooting at the selectors. ing here, he creates history by hitting back-to-back Richards put together. Thilan later, Tillakaratne became the first Sri Lankan to hundreds. Samaraweera… take a bow sir! score a hundred in South Africa and the selectors, Such were Sri Lanka’s struggles in the Tests sensing that his experience would be useful, South Africa was horrendous. The team had lost series that captain T. M. Dilshan, his deputy Angelo recalled him for the subsequent ODI series. Hashan six of the seven Tests played in this country before Mathews and premier batsman Mahela had collapsed twice in good batting conditions and at that stage had last played in an ODI three years while only one Sri Lankan had scored a hundred Jayawardene managed just two half-centuries Dilshan is sure to get a few more during the series. before. Samaraweera meanwhile was part of Sri here. among them. Yesterday the question was asked again and Lanka’s ODI squad during the World Cup. He gave us back-to-back Test hundreds batting The festive season certainly had gone into Dilshan defended the selectors’ decision. “Thilan Furthermore, India’s selectors recalled Rahul in the toughest of conditions with world’s number Dilshan’s head as he was in Santa Claus mood ever has played Test cricket usually in the last few Dravid at the age of 37 in England after India suf- one ranked bowler Dale Steyn fired up. It was his willing to throw away his wicket to whichever the years. We want to groom a few youngsters for the fered a 4-0 whitewash in the Test series. efforts that helped Sri Lanka win a first-ever Test South African bowler who sought it while next World Cup and that’s why we have retained Samaraweera is 35. in South Africa. His ‘bullets’ after the Durban hun- Jayawardene is becoming famous in South Africa Lahiru Thirimanne. Guys like him need to get as But anyway, we thought that age is not an issue dred may well have been targeted at some of the as a ‘flat track bully’ for in 45 innings in this coun- much experience as possible and get ready for the with the current selectors. It was the same lot that selectors who have had horror records playing for try, in both Test and ODI cricket, he has managed next World Cup. That’s the main idea. As selectors recalled Sanath Jayasuriya to play an ODI and a T- the country. While Don Anurasiri played 45 ODIs as just five half-centuries! So much for him being a and senior players, we discussed and I think it’s the 20 International in England a week before his 42nd a left-arm spinner and took 32 wickets, Ranjith better batsman than Aravinda de Silva! right way to move forward,” Dilshan told journal- birthday. And, having had the guts to do the Madurusinghe played 12 ODIs as an off-spinner and Question of the absence of Samaraweera in ists yesterday. unthinkable, less than six months after, why should took just five wickets. The two men have put more ODIs has featured frequently since his second cen- Point granted. But the World Cup in Australia is they be complaining that age is in fact an issue? years as national selectors than Sir Don Bradman, tury on tour at Newlands when Sri Lanka’s batting not starting next year and there’s no guarantee that Thilan Samaraweera has proved his critics Sir Richard Hadlee and Sir Viv Richards put the trio of Dilshan, Jayawardene and Kumar wrong. Prior to this tour Sri Lanka’s record in together. Thilan Samaraweera… take a bow sir! REX CLEMENTINE REPORTING FROM PAARL ri Lankans have happy memories of Paarl. The last time they were Shere at Boland Park eight years ago, they won an ODI with more than 45 overs to spare. The opposition was Canada and after putting them in, the Sri Lankan bowlers dismissed them for 36 runs, the lowest total in a World Cup match and the second lowest ever in an ODI. The hero for Sri Lanka wasn’t one of the usual stalwarts, but fast bowler Prabath Nissanka, who ran through the opposition’s middle-order. Nissanka last played for Sri Lanka at the age of 22 and it’s a shame that this promising talent from Matara could not blossom due to a combination of knee Extreme heat provides teams different challenge injuries and attitude problems. Today the political clout he ODI Schedule enjoys has made January 11 (D/N) (Wed): him a ‘prominent 1st ODI at Boland Park, Paarl figure’ in cricket January 14 (Day) (Sat): circles taking on 2nd ODI at Buffalo Park, even the Minister of Sports. Nissanka East London early this year made the trip to India to again. “We played good cricket in those January 17 (D/N) (Tue): strike a deal with Indian cricket offi- three series at times, but we weren’t 3rd ODI at Chevrolet Park, Bloemfontein cials so that country’s IPL contracted consistent enough. If we can be consis- January 20 (D/N) (Fri): players didn’t return home early to go to tent here we can finish well in this 4th ODI at De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley England as per required by series. We have discussed a few things January 22 (Day) (Sun): Mahindananda Aluthgamage. and the important thing is to start well 5th ODI at New Wanderers Stadium, Borland Park has not hosted any tomorrow (today),” Sri Lanka captain Johannesburg international games since the 2003 Tillakaratne Dilshan told journalists World Cup and a full house is expected yesterday. side of the field and learn from that.” for today’s day-night encounter. The Proteas will be led by A.B. de He was also asked on captaining The players will have to adjust to Villiers in the ODI series as the South Smith, who has led South Africa in all playing in extreme heat here with tem- African selectors decided to split the forms of cricket in the last eight years. peratures touching nearly 40 degrees captaincy of the national team. Graeme “We are different people. I am younger, Celsius. The Proteas yesterday opted not Smith, the Test captain, is still a mem- less experienced. You can expect a cou- to train here and have their net sessions ber of the ODI unit and will open bat- ple more mistakes. I won’t be scared to at Newlands in Cape Town instead. ting. try out new things and a bit of flair. We Paarl is about an hour’s drive from Cape De Villiers was appointed captain know each other very well and we’ve Town and the Sri Lankans made that after South Africa failed to go beyond played a few years together. I know he journey yesterday to have a practice ses- the quarter-finals of the World Cup in will be on my shoulder but he has told Lasith Malinga’s return to the national side will bolster the pace attack that looked one sion that lasted for more than three March last year, but he has not led the me that he will let me captain the way I dimensional during the Test series.