Fumbling fitness!

Selection Committee Chairman Sanath Jayasuriya and Sri Lanka national cricket team  Captain Angelo Mathews

By Madushka Balasuriya

Sri Lanka Cricket’s Chairman of Selectors Sanath Jayasuriya has called on his players to “come out of their comfort zone” and up their commitment when it comes to training, following the team’s return from their largely fruitless tour of the UK and Ireland.

Sri Lanka’s bowling attack was short of five frontline bowlers by the end of the tour. The team lost Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera during the early part of the tour, while Lasith Malinga and Jeffrey Vandersay were ruled out even before the tour began. Shaminda Eranga, meanwhile, was banned midway through the series after being found to have had an illegal bowling action. Apart from Eranga, all of the others were sidelined due to a variety of injuries, with captain Angelo Mathews himself playing on with a hamstring strain. 

SLC’s new high performance manager Simon Willis had on Wednesday suggested that the spate of injuries may have been attributed partially to squad announcements being made too close to the start of a tour. Willis explained that if squads were named earlier, players who were sure to take part would have time to undergo more strength and conditioning work. Jayasuriya while agreeing with Willis, believed the onus fell on the players as well to an extent.

“Simon Willis is correct in some respects. But my concern is that this has been happening for a long time. We need commitment from the players. And I’m saying this in front of the players as well. They have to come out of their comfort zone and train.

“It’s a commitment from the player. Myself, Simon and Sri Lanka cricket are very committed, but if the player is not committed you can’t do it. I’m not saying they’re not committed - they’re committed - but the thing is they need to do something different to solve this issue.”

Jayasuriya also acknowledged that individual players will have specific needs, but said that was a conversation that needs to be had between all stakeholders.

“Yes, there will be a lot of cricket as well. If you don’t like that, then you have to pick the tours and say: ’I’m not fit, we’ll only be playing on these particular tours’. 

“That is up to the trainer and also Simon, and us selectors as well, we need to sit down and come up with a plan. If it’s too much cricket then the player must say: “I’m not going to last long, so I have to stay out’. Then we can think of something else.”

SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala was absent from the media briefing following the team’s return, as he was kept busy with Parliamentary proceedings. However speaking on Wednesday, Sumathipala echoed Jayasuriya sentiments on injuries impacting the team’s performances.

“They are a team that is better than the results have shown. Their batting is much better than their bowling and fielding. They should have performed better this series. But there were a lot of injuries. 

“Technical issues as well as how they prepare for tournaments need to be evaluated,” he added.

Mathews though while in agreement that injuries had played a significant role in the poor display of his side, stopped short of using them as an excuse.

“I’m not trying to give excuses. I don’t like to give excuses. Yes, there were lots of injuries, even I was injured, and our best bowlers were the ones that got injured, but credit to Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep they carried the burden well

“Credit should also go to the England batsman - they were very good. But yes, once the team recovers I’m sure we’ll be better.”

Despite the tour being “tough and challenging” Mathews was keen to look at some of the positive elements that had come out of the tour.

“After the disastrous first couple of Tests, we saw some improvements within individuals, especially the way Kusal Mendis batted. The way Chandimal batted, Danushka Gunathilaka. 

“Especially Kusal, the way he took up the challenge up front, especially batting against Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad in cold and seaming conditions.”

“Really from the second inning of the second Test, all the batsman started hitting the ball a lot better - from the middle of the bat. Unfortunately we didn’t have a game where everything clicked at once.”

Drunken brawl earns Vithanage one year ban

By Madushka Balasuriya

Kithruwan Vithanage, 25, has been handed a one year suspension by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) after a Disciplinary Committee found him guilty of misconduct and in breach of ICC Code of Conduct clause(s) 3.1.9.10 and 3.1.9.11, SLC announced yesterday.

SLC said following the disciplinary inquiry on 16 June the Disciplinary Committee had “recommended an immediate suspension” for Vithanage after finding his conduct “unacceptable when considering his status as a public figure, and a role model for the youth of Sri Lanka”. 

Taking into account the committee’s recommendation, the SLC Executive Committee has confirmed Vithanage’s suspension for one year, effective immediately. Vithanage will have an option to appeal the verdict.

According to an SLC source, the incident in question saw Vithanage hospitalised after getting involved in a drunken brawl at a hotel in Battaramulla. This is not the first time Vithanage has landed himself in trouble. He was docked his full match fee and been placed on probation for one year, after he had left the team hotel overnight during a 2014 Test in Galle against Pakistan. That incident was not an outlier either with Vithanage believed to have left the team hotel on two previous tours without permission.

Vithanage has played 10 Tests, 6 ODIs and 3 T20Is for Sri Lanka. His last international match was a T20I against New Zealand in Auckland, in January 2016.

Meanwhile, no disciplinary action has been taken against Vithanage’s friend and teammate Ramith Rambukwella, who is believed to have taken an injured Vithanage to the General Hospital.