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Angelo Mathews will play a first-class match for his club Colombo Colts CC after seven years
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
A cricketer makes it to the national team initially by playing for his club side and once established at the top he seldom turns up to represent the club that gave him the opportunity to make it to international level. This has been the scenario with virtually every national cricketer who has made the grade. For one reason or the other he has not availed himself to represent his club.
One such cricketer is former national captain Angelo Mathews who last represented his club Colombo Colts CC in a first-class match way back in 2012-13. Mathews will return to play a first-class match for Colts after seven years when they take on Saracens SC in the Premier Super Eight 3-day match at the P Sara Oval starting on August 10.
That opportunity has come with the present COVID-19 pandemic that has led to the suspension of international cricket matches for Sri Lanka. Since March this year Sri Lanka has postponed series against England, South Africa, India and Bangladesh and the domestic tournament which is set to resume on Monday affords the country’s national cricketers the opportunity not only to return to competitive cricket following the lockdowns and postponement of tours, but also to represent their club teams which they have not done for some years.
“After the lockdown we started training, now to get the opportunity to play at whatever levels is very exciting,’’ Mathews told Daily FT.
“The club has always helped me a lot to get me to where I am today. I am glad that I played such a long time for Colts. I am really grateful for all the opportunities they provided.”
“I first came in when I was 18 and still at school. I played for Colts in the under 23 tournament (2005) and ever since then I have been a member of the club,’’ he said.
Commenting on his inability to represent his club regularly, Mathews said, “I never got a chance to play because of national commitments and if at all I was available for games I had to rest because we were just after a series or before the start of a series. I also had to fight injuries as well.”
Mathews however made a brief appearance for Colts during 2018-19 when he played in three Premier one-day limited-over matches, but otherwise was too busy with the national team.
Mathews who has gradually begun to bowl in white ball cricket said that it is very unlikely that he would turn his arm over during the 3-day matches for Colts.
“I might try and role my arm over for a few overs maybe. It all depends on the workload management given by the physios and trainers,’’ he said. “I have started to bowl slowly getting ready for whatever the next series that may come up.”
Mathews, 33 is the senior most-player in the Sri Lanka squad having represented his country in 86 Tests, 217 ODIs and 75 T20Is.
He is not the only cricketer returning to play first-class cricket for their respective club sides after a long period.
National Test and ODI captain Dimuth Karunaratne last played a first-class game for SSC in 2017-18, Thisara Perera (now with Sri Lanka Army) last played for Colts in 2013-14, Niroshan Dickwella for NCC in 2016-17, and Kusal Mendis for CCC in 2017-18.
The players who will be seen in action during the domestic tournament from the Sri Lanka men’s squad that took part in the two residential training camps held at the CCC grounds and Pallekele International Stadium:
SSC – Dimuth Karunaratne, Dasun Shanaka, Nuwan Pradeep, Danushka Gunathilaka
Tamil Union – Suranga Lakmal, Isuru Udana, Dhananjaya de Silva
Saracens SC – Kasun Rajitha
NCC – Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Embuldeniya, Niroshan Dickwella
CCC – Vishwa Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kusal Mendis
Colts – Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Dilruwan Perera, Avishka Fernando
Sri Lanka Army – Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera
Ragama CC – Lahiru Thirimanne
Chilaw Marians – Oshada Fernando
BRC – Bhanuka Rajapaksa
