Confident SL looking to continue playing “smart cricket”

By Madushka Balasuriya

Confidence is a fickle thing. Less than two months ago Sri Lanka had just lost consecutive matches to Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, and Chandika Hathurusingha’s team, it seemed, couldn’t buy a win. 

However that loss to a confident Bangladesh outfit on 19 January, by 163 runs no less, was also Sri Lanka’s last one. Since then they’ve played six limited overs games, five against Bangladesh, and won each of them. Bangladesh in the same period are on a six game losing streak.

Going into today’s Nidahas Trophy clash the confidence levels of the two sides are on opposite ends of the spectrum, and Sri Lanka will be looking to continue their brand of “smart cricket” at the R. Premadasa stadium this evening.

“To a great extent I think the players are playing with confidence now, but at the same time it’s important that we continue to play smart cricket,” said Sri Lanka’s fast bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake speaking on the eve of the game.  

“What is smart cricket? It’s about adapting to in-game situations quickly. What Hathuru has done since he came in is he has given the players the freedom to make those decisions.”

That freedom is now translating to results on the pitch. Whether it is Kusal Perera bludgeoning 27 runs in an over, Kusal Mendis taking it to the bowlers at the top of the order, or Thisara Perera summoning timely blows at the death, the Sri Lankan players have been given the freedom to fail. Ratnayake sees this as a key component of Hathurusingha’s coaching philosophy. “As I always say talent was aplenty in our team, it’s just that the mindset of the boys - and I think coach Hathuru has come in taken maximum part in that – I would say he has changed their mindset by letting them do the things on their own.  “It’s all about smart options, I think he lets people take smart options, and even if you fail he will say ‘well, that was good enough let’s try again next time’. For an example, you tell a boy to go and play some shots but if he gets out you can’t ask him ‘why did you play that shot?’ So he’s a man of his word. And we have given the players that confidence, and if it has shown in the boys that’s good, but consistency is what we’re looking for in the future.”

For Bangladesh tonight’s game offers a chance of redemption and replenishing confidence levels. Against India on Wednesday, several Bangladeshi batsman were guilty of trying to hit their way out of trouble instead of focusing on sound cricketing fundamentals such as rotating the strike. Ratnayake expects a better showing from the wounded Tigers this time around.

“They’re a strong side. They are a team which has beaten several top international teams in Bangladesh. They beat us in Sri Lanka as well. So they’re a strong team with several guys who have the potential to do extremely well. But we’re prepared for them, and so we sit down, discuss things, and prepare, like with any other team.”