Sri Lanka’s downward spiral in T20 cricket continues with series loss in Pakistan. Concern about batting technique and consistency needs urgent redress before upcoming World Cups. BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor).
Sri Lanka’s continued failure in T20 cricket is a worrying trend for more reasons than losing.
The 2014 T20 World Cup champion is now lagging far below acceptable standards as the get rich quick format appears to have only revealed players who focus on individuality rather than team success.
Beaten convincingly by Pakistan in both games so far, Sri Lanka’s coaching and selection officials must be at their wits end about how to reverse this unhealthy trend.
So far, leaving out players with their own agendas has exposed the vulnerability and inexperience of the team which top teams will easily exploit.
Depending on skipper Kusal Mendis to fire in every game is too high an expectation as game two showed. He failed in both games and they lost.
It was Mendis that gave Sri Lanka a rare win over England on his return to the team while the others had not much to show for encouragement.
What’s most obvious is that they have lost touch with the rapidly evolving game.
And popular belief that their representation at the IPL and other franchise cricket will improve their performances at international level could not be a more obvious fallacy.
But with two upcoming World Cups in the not too distant future, it calls for drastic action to have them primed for the more important national commitments rather than the focus on individual financial gain which is strongly indicated in some of the current squad.
This draws attention to the urgent requirement to turn the spotlight on the emerging talent and the mental direction given to them about where their priorities lie for national selection.
It appears to be something lost in the past years of a selection criteria allowing players once established, choosing their own pathway without pride or interest in the country’s progress.
I stand corrected if I am wrong in this assessment about the continued failure of the team that is more a Jack- in- the-box competitor than one that can string a few consecutive wins over their past commitments.
Sri Lanka’s recent T20 performances have been abysmal to say the least, thrashed by England, now Pakistan and the current trend is, without stating the obvious, on a concerning downward spiral.
In a recent interview, Sri Lanka’s all format skipper Kusal Mendis backed South African coach Gary Kirstan and his vision for the future. But Kirstan is limited to his direction and cannot transfer his expectations onfield where he continues to be let down.
The Cricket Transformation Committee set up by the Sports Ministry under Eran Wickremaratne have cleared some of the mess of the past administration, and the suggested guidelines appear to be on track for the game to progress on the desired path.
But the current crop of players have shown clear lack of consistency, correct technique and mental control that is required to compete with the best.
Looking around, while Sri Lanka cricket has stopped, countries like West Indies and Zimbabwe have made giant strides in their development, while Bangladesh and Afghanistan also look well above and beyond this once proud cricketing nation.
What ails Sri Lanka cricket, and what remedial action is in the pipeline, is currently like desperately looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
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