SL Cricket team's midsummer nightmare

Manori Ranasinghe (Businesswoman)

Notwithstanding the pathetic performances of our Cricketers, I still have confidence in them and sense their true potential is yet to be fulfilled. As such, I suggest the Sports Minister summons a brainstorming session, open to a wide spectrum of current and past players, their managers/coaches, present and past administrators of the game, Sports Ministry officials in charge of Training and Development of Sports, and even officials of other Sports governing bodies, for an open and frank deliberation, not to find fault with individuals, but to take stock of what has gone wrong in the way, “we are applying ourselves to the game, what should be our correct attitudes, short and long term training and development and who are the most suitable persons/group to handle these identified grey areas.”

Bathiya Wijesurendra (Security Coordinator)

"There is no talent at all in the present Cricket team. Those were the days we had talent in batting and bowling. Jayasuriya, Mahela and Sangha were talented batsmen. And bowlers such as Muttiah and Vaas did yeoman service in our bowling department. Speaking of the newcomers, I feel they were selected due to political influence. We are experiencing a very bad period in Cricket presently. Same thing happened to the West Indies. After players such as Sobers, Lloyd, Richards, Lara and their fearsome fast bowlers were no more, there was a decline in Windies Cricket. We will take many years to recover".

Oliver Fernando (Rtd. Snr. Instructor)

"The only reason I find for the failure of our Cricketers in England is that, our batsmen could not cope with the fast wickets. In other Cricket playing nations such as Australia, South Africa, England and New Zealand, their Cricketers train on wickets. But unfortunately, our Cricketers still play on spinning wickets in Sri Lanka. For this reason, we cannot blame the Cricketers, but the selection committee and administrators should take the full responsibility. The selection committee does various types of testing. For instance, Upul Tharanga is asked to open the innings. Then sometimes he is sent as a middle order batsman. And there is no good replacement for Cricketers such as Mahela, Sanga and Dilshan. I suggest a selection committee should continue their services for 5 years at least. But nowadays, we can see our selection committees are changed every 3 to 4 months. By this change, how can you expect to identify new cricketers to the National team? For this dismal performance in England, the full responsibility should be taken by the selection committee."

Vijitha Harischandra (Retired Banker)

"I am not a person addicted to Cricket, but am interested. Though we are past winners of the World Cup in 1996 and T20 champions in 2014, it is very disappointing to see the dismal performances of our Cricket team on their recent tour of England. For the debacle in England, not only our Cricketers are responsible, but coaches, selectors and administrators too should be held responsible. We don't see unity within the present team at all. When compared with the World Cup winning team of 1996, where team unity was at its highest level, the present team lacks it very badly. Most of the Cricketers in our National team give number 1 priority to money, not to the National team. From past incidents we have observed, we can rightly say the number 1 priority is money for the present set of Cricketers. To come up from this abyss, we need to prioritise on team discipline and team spirit. This should be applied to all Sports in Sri Lanka, not only in Cricket."

A.K. Nanayakkara (Chauffer Guide)

The present team should be changed. Also, I feel if we put a player to open, he should be given chances to perform, instead of removing him after failing in his first or second outing. These youngsters should have been included in the team when senior people like Mahela and Sangha were playing. Then they definitely would have learnt something from these two senior players. Angelo Matthews captaincy is okay, but rest of the players did not support him fully on this disastrous tour."

Poorna Kahingala (Fitness Trainer) (Boutique Owner)

"There were newcomers in the team. It was the reason for poor performances. The newcomers were not prepared for the seaming wickets in England. Finally, the newcomers were not in the runs. Our bowling too was not at its best. The only player that caught my eye was Dimuth Karunaratne. There is nothing to say on Angelo Matthews' captaincy. Definitely, the climate in England and poor umpiring decisions too had an adverse impact on our players. But newcomers will perform better in the forthcoming series against Australia here. The England tour was a disaster."

Commodore Sanath Uthpala (Former cricketer)

"Though I am a Cricketer, I did not follow Cricket for the last few months. I hate Cricket. I think the main reason for our downfall in Cricket is the Indian Premier League (IPL). We don't have to get worried or be ashamed due to this. The main reason for the downfall in our Cricket is not having experienced cricketers. During Arjunas' time and MahelaSangas time, they had the services of senior players. The senior players indeed gave their best service. But today, unfortunately, we cannot see this from our present set of Cricketers playing for the National team. The change of selection committee, frequently is bad, and the selection criteria too should change with it. If the selection committee for instance, have 6 members, at least 3 should be Cricketers and not employed. The 3 members should watch all first class matches, full time. Even if they are paid extra, it is not a bad thing. Presently, the selections are done by selectors referring paper cuttings. Today, the game of Cricket is destroyed by school level coaches. Their main aim is to win matches at any cost. This is a disaster for Cricket in Sri Lanka. Hence, to develop coaching skills of school level coaches, a special training programme should be organised by SLC."

"In the Cricket squad that toured England, I cannot see a balance squad. In previous teams, we could see seniors and newcomers blending well. It was a complete unit. In those days, Cricketers had the passion and will to succeed. Kumar Dharmasena was affectionately known as 'Unanduwa' by the local Cricketing public those days. The very reason being he had the passion. After retiring from international Cricket, now he is a much respected ICC Test match umpire. It was all because he had the passion and will to succeed. Cricketers during that time played for the National team and country from their heart. Today, we cannot see that from our present set of Cricketers. Today, our Cricket is following the path of money. But I am not saying all the Cricketers are tempted by money, only a few. Also due to change of selection committee on a frequent basis."