Angelo reacts, attests fitness lets his “bat do the talking”

When Angelo Mathews scored his third half ton in the second Test, showed his bat with a woofing signal with his fingers gesturing towards the dressing room obviously indicating that he let “his bat do the talking”. Angelo who was obviously hurt over his sudden eviction as the skipper of shorter formats after the Asia Cup catastrophe. He had done this in the Test in Galle too after reaching his twin half tons. These were the moments he exhibited his emotions for the first time letting “his bat do the talking”.

Angelo had voluntarily resigned from all formats in July 2017 after captaining for almost five years in the best interest of the game. However, in December 2017 after the head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe was appointed, he had pleaded to Angelo in person to once again to take over the captaincy reigns of the shorter formats. Mathews had confessed in his resignation letter that he had reluctantly accepted the mantle despite discouragement from his family and close friends, as the new Coaches’ intention was to elevate the performances of the team. After the Asia Cup debacle, the head coach and the members of the selection committee had made a hasty request to Angelo to resign as skipper of shorter formats for reasons best known only to them. On their insistence Angelo was bewildered, disheartened and distraught. The reasons for his removal was later made known citing accusations on fitness concerns.

In his letter of resignation Mathews had stated that he felt betrayed as most decisions are usually taken collectively by the coach and selection committee, his part is only miniature hence the entire blame for the debacle cannot be positioned on him, but he is willing to take only a slice of the responsibility. He says he had been very unethically named as the ‘scapegoat’ of the Asia Cup Saga. In this backdrop Mathews had said that he is even contemplating from retiring from all shorter formats as he does not intend to be a burden to the team.

After Angelo performed admirably in the Galle Test with fighting half ton’s coach Hathurusinghe had made a sarcastic comment that there had been a development in his fitness and attitude since been axed from the shorter formats. Angelo had retorted saying there had been no difference in his preparation for the three Test series as it was predominately his usual self.

Following his 88, Mathews was asked sarcastically by Hathurusinghe again whether he was happy with his running between the wickets and fitness - the two reasons Hathurusingha had furnished as justification for his omission. Mathews replied: "You tell me. That's not something that I have told. But as people are concerned, they need to answer that question."

Hathurusingha had said ironically after the loss in Galle that Mathews was now "making the effort to do things the way we expect". But Mathews very appropriately had denied that he had not done whatsoever different. He had said "I have done nothing extraordinary when it comes to preparations, he said. "I have been training the same mode for the past ten years. I must thank the high performance to the supporting staff, all coaches, the physios, trainers and everyone for providing me with all the facilities. I concentrated on what I need to do. I didn't concentrate on other things. I prepared myself like I had always prepared. If I get the opportunity, I want to score runs. "My job is to score runs and not worry about other things. Just focus on the game and move forward and not to worry about what other people are saying. If I am honest with myself, If I am doing the things, that's what matters."

Mathews had been Sri Lanka's most consistent ODI batsman, averaging over 42.36 per inning having batted 173 times in his 203 ODI matches much more than all other batsmen in the squad. Which is part of the reason why he had felt especially distressed."My stats will speak on behalf of me," Mathews said. "But they took a decision. I'm disillusioned but I can't control it’’

Mathews had added that he is still fit enough to hold a place in the shorter formats as he had more than adequately performed as a batsman. His average is more than enough for him to retain his place in the shorter formats. In this context all cricket followers scattered in the island and overseas should sturdily condemn the act of the ex -selectors and head coach in forcing Mathews to resign despite objecting to it. It should be the fervent wish of all cricket fraternity that the rest of the members of the team be revamped considering their averages and skills by the new selection committee targeting the World Cup in England and Wales in June 2019.