Chance for players keen on red ball cricket to grab spotlight

• Fourth NSL 4-day tournament kicks off today
• New changes introduced to improve standard of cricket

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

White ball cricket is becoming so dominant with its ability to spin more money than red ball cricket that it has shoved red ball cricket towards the backend especially in a country like Sri Lanka.

Otherwise, how can one explain a country that had fought so hard to gain Test status playing just a handful of 4 Test matches for the entire year?

In that aspect the fourth National Super League 4-day tournament that commences at two venues Hambantota and Galle from today becomes essential for players who are keen to showcase their talent in the longer version of the game. The dearth of Test cricket in the country attaches more importance to a tournament like the NSL 4-day. 

The two finalists of last year Galle and Kandy will face off at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, while the other match is between two teams that have not won the title Jaffna and Colombo at the Galle Cricket Stadium. 

The cream of Sri Lanka’s first-class cricketers which includes all the Test cricketers will be on show at this tournament which serves as a selection criteria in red ball cricket for Test cricket, ‘A’ team and Emerging team.

A total of 100 players, 20 in each side will get the opportunity to display their skills at 6 different international venues across the country. The players selected to represent the five sides in the tournament will be keen to put their best foot forward to catch the eyes of the selectors. They have been picked from the form shown by them in the recently concluded SLC Major Club 3-day tournament. So it is imperative they carry that form into the NSL 4-day tournament as well.

Sri Lanka Test Captain Dhananjaya de Silva leads Dambulla, Sri Lanka’s white ball skipper Charith Asalanka captains Colombo, Kandy is led by Sahan Arachchige who lead NCC to the Major Club 4-day final, Ragama CC skipper Janith Liyanage heads Jaffna and, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Moors SC’s acting captain is in charge of Galle. 

SLC High Performance Centre Manager Ruwan Kalpage said that one of the reasons the tournament will be very competitive this year is because of the availability of all the national players.

Kalpage said that they have brought a few changes to the tournament this year to make it more attractive and competitive.

“We have made the changes in consultation with the coaches. What we are trying to achieve is the goal of the national team in this tournament. In every innings prior to its commencement the fielding side must announce the names of four bowlers who will bowl during the innings. These four bowlers have to bowl a minimum of 15 overs for a day. The bowlers can be changed in the second innings.”

“Another aspect is that the selectors have taken a decision to keep more grass on the pitch than it is done for Major Club 3-day matches to encourage fast bowlers to be used constantly. When you keep that extra millimetre of grass fast bowlers and spinners will develop to bowl on good tracks and take wickets. While we are developing our domestic cricket, internationally we are also developing good bowlers. The wickets prepared for these matches will be similar to that made for international matches.”

“From the batting perspective if a side scores 400 plus runs and maintains a run rate of over 3.5 runs per over they will get an extra point. From the bowling viewpoint if a side gets another side out for less than 400 they get an extra point. These changes have been brought to make cricket more competitive and to produce good batsmen and bowlers.”

The teams

Colombo

Avishka Fernando, Vice-Captain (SSC), Kusal Perera (Police SC), Navod Paranavithana (Tamil Union), Kusal Mendis (SSC), Charith Asalanka, Captain (SSC), Kevin Perera (Nugegoda SWC), Shehan Fernando (Kandy Customs CC), Sanoj Darshika (Colts), Kaveen Bandara (NCC), Dhananjaya Lakshan (Colts), Lahiru Madushanka (Bloomfield), Kasun Rajitha (SSC), Akmal Fazly (SSC), Nipun Ranshika (NCC), Sampath Nishshanka (NCC), Prabath Jayasuriya (SSC), Nishan Peiris (Negombo CC), Dushan Hemantha (Panadura SC), Muditha Lakshan (Colts), Movin Subasingha (BRC).

Jaffna

Shevon Daniel (SSC), Ravindu Rasantha (Colts), Thanuka Dabare (Ace Capital CC), Angelo Mathews (Colts), Ahan Wickramasinghe, Vice-Captain (NCC), Niroshan Dickwella (NCC), Janith Liyanage, Captain (Ragama CC), Shalith Fernando (Panadura SC), Sasindu Malshan (SSC), Sandun Weerakkody (Tamil Union), Chamika Karunaratne (NCC), Kavishka Anjula (Colts), Isitha Wijesundara (Bloomfield), Asanka Manoj (Tamil Union), Sithum Dissanayaka (Ace Capital CC), Jeffrey Vandersay (Bloomfield), Nimesh Vimukthi (Panadura SC), Tharindu Rathnayake (Tamil Union), Murvin Abinash (BRC).

Galle

Oshada Fernando (Panadura SC), Nipun Dhananjaya (SSC), Avishka Perera (Nugegoda SWC), Thulina Dilshan (Tamil Union), Dinesh Chandimal (Colts), Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Captain (Moors SC), Sadeera Samarawickrama (Moors SC), Krishan Sanjula (SSC), Vinura Dulsara (Ragama CC), Dunith Wellalage (Colts), Ramesh Mendis, vice-captain (Moors SC), Milan Rathnayake (Moors SC), Dilshan Madushanka (Colts), Nisala Tharaka (SSC), Udith Madushan (Colts), Nimsara Atharagalla (Ace Capital CC), Dilum Sudeera (Police SC), Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (Tamil Union), Shashika Dulshan (Ragama CC), Lakshan Sandakan (CCC)

Kandy

Lahiru Udara (NCC), Pathum Nissanka (NCC), Janishka Perera (Moors SC), Kamil Mishara (NCC), Nuwanidu Fernando, Vice-Captain (SSC), Sohan de Livera (Moors SC), Ashen Bandara (Police SC), Pawantha Weerasinghe (Ace Capital CC), Kasun Abeyrathna (Bloomfield), Sahan Arachchige, captain (NCC), Chamindu Wickramasinghe (SSC), Ravindu Fernando (Bloomfield), Lahiru Kumara (NCC), Chamika Gunasekara (NCC), Shiran Fernando (Moors SC), Mohamed Dilshad (Panadura SC), Ashian Daniel (NCC), Wanuja Sahan (Ace Capital CC), Sahan Nanayakkara (Bloomfield), Vishwa Lahiru (Panadura SC)

Dambulla

Lasith Croospulle (CCC), Nishan Madushka, Vice-Captain (CCC), Ron Chandraguptha (Bloomfield), Pavan Rathnayake (CCC), Dhananjaya de Silva, Captain (CCC), Vishad Randika (Police SC), Priyamal Perera (Police SC), Sahan Kosala (Kandy Customs CC), Sammu Ashan (Ace Capital CC), Sonal Dinusha (CCC), Dasun Shanaka (SSC), Dinura Kalupahana (SSC), Asitha Fernando (CCC), Vishwa Fernando (CCC), Mohamed Shiraz (BRC), Chamidu Wijesinghe (SSC), Lasith Embuldeniya (NCC), Akila Dananjaya (Colts), Duvindu Tillakaratne (Chilaw Marians CC), Vihas Thewmika (Tamil Union)