Profiling a player and categorizing one is a very difficult and dangerous task. Whatever said and done, this categorizing of a player happens at some point. Hence, it is with a great foreboding that I attempt to understand the Sri Lankan selectors’ point of view without any form of labeling.
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Three questions immediately struck my mind as I first saw the lineup for the first test, of the Sri Lankan team against New Zealand in the ongoing series: the non-selection of Dinesh Chandimal and the selection of Lahiru Thirimmane and Niroshan Dickwella.
Lets take these issues one at a time. If one looks at Chandimal’s record, there is a very clear indication as to which format of the game he does well at. In 14 matches Chandimal boasts a batting average of 44 with three centuries in Test Cricket. However, in the ODI format ,he averages only 30 from 89 matches. What is also clear is that Chandimal’s issue is more psychological than technical. Chandimal’s lack of understanding of his own game, has led to his downfall in ODI Cricket. Therefore, the argument of playing Chandimal in Test Cricket, becomes even more potent.
Thrimanne’s story is the opposite of Chandimal’s. Though of late, Thrimanne has found some form in ODI Cricket, it begs the question as to whether that should warrant him a place in the Test team.An appalling performance in Test Cricket this year, finds Thrimanne averaging a mere12 with the bat.
Dickwella meanwhile manages to find a place in the Test team without the backing of many runs at either Test or First Class level. After scoring a half-century in his maiden match, Dickwella showed that he has a lot of talent. But with a First Class average of 31 in 28 games, on batsmen friendly wickets, is not a good enough reason for him to find a berth in the Test team. What makes the decision seem even more bizarre is that Dickwella was played as a fulltime batsman.Which raises the question: is Dickwella one of the top six batsmen in Sri Lanka?
Just to sum-up on the whole matter, the selection of Tharindu Kaushal at the expense of Dilruwan Perera, shows the muddled thinking process of the selectors. All in all, it was a poor team selection for the first test. Lets hope the selectors get there act together for the second Test.
