Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Tuesday, 14 February 2023 00:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
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| Nishan Madushka (364 runs) |
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| Lakshitha Manasinghe (9 wickets & 185 runs) |
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| Jack Carson (9 wickets) |
“‘A’ team cricket is all about giving chances to players who will be the probable replacements to the senior team and for players who want to find form. The main objective should be grooming the players who are next in line,” said Sri Lanka ‘A’ team Coach Avishka Gunawardene.
In this aspect the recently concluded two-test 4-day unofficial test series between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and the touring England Lions afforded an opportunity to right-handed opening batsman and wicket-keeper Nishan Madushka to showcase his talent against foreign opposition and thereby book a berth in the Sri Lanka Test squad to New Zealand. Madushka had already left a mark in the domestic circuit becoming the quickest to top 1,000 runs in a first-class season with five centuries that included a triple hundred. On that performance he was picked to play against England Lions and he went onto prove how good a player he is by reeling off three centuries in three matches against the tourists – 150 (rtd out) for SLC Board President’s XI, and 241 (first unofficial test) and 100 (second unofficial test) for Sri Lanka ‘A’.
Madushka’s success with the bat was one of the positives to come out of the ‘test’ series against England Lions.
“In terms of batsmen there were quite a lot of positives especially with the younger players, Nishan Madushka obviously, Lasith Croospulle who seems like in good nick although playing ‘A’ team cricket for the first time, and captain Nipun Dananjaya who got a good hundred and was looking good,” said Gunawardene.
“More than scoring runs it’s the attitude that I am actually satisfied about. They were not afraid to go out there and express themselves. They played positively, and when the boundary option was available they were not afraid to take it. I am quite happy how the players handled the situations and all that.”
Gunawardene said that in both unofficial tests Sri Lanka ‘A’ were behind with England Lions taking a big lead in the first innings. But on both occasions Sri Lanka ‘A’ came from behind and almost won. In the first ‘test’ England Lions chasing 333 were struggling at 221-7 and, in the second ‘test’ England Lions left with a target of 284 to chase were writhing at 173-7. “If we had time we probably would have come through,” said Gunawardene.
“In terms of bowling I expected a little bit more especially from the spinners. I know it was not a typical Galle wicket, but I expected a little bit more from them because they are amongst the first five in Sri Lanka. Praveen Jayawickrama was playing red ball cricket after a while. Lasith Embuldeniya looked good but I want him to be more consistent with his lengths.”
Jayawickrama in his only ‘test’ took three wickets for 99 runs and Embuldeniya conceded 405 runs for his five wickets in two ‘tests’.
The bowler who impressed Gunawardene most was off-spinner Lakshitha Manasinghe.
“Lakshitha showed that not only with his bowling but he is a capable batsman too down the order, and a decent spinner, someone whom we have to keep an eye on in the future because nowadays, if you can find a bowler who can bat down the order that gives you an extra option when you are picking a 11 to balance the team,” said Gunawardene. “He played in the last ‘A’ team series as well. He has shown much improvement from the last tour to this one, but still a bit of a long way to go.”
Manasinghe finished the unofficial test series with 185 runs (46.25) and was joint top wicket-taker in the series with England Lions off-spinner Jack Carson, taking nine wickets each.
With the unofficial test series concluded both sides will commence a three-match unofficial ODI series at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday.
Leading run scorers(Qualif: 150 runs)
Leading wicket-takers(Qualif: 5 wickets)
