Fringe players give SLC selectors ‘good headache’

Captain Dasun Shanaka handing over the T20 trophy Sri Lanka won after beating Pakistan to SLC President Shammi Silva

By Madushka Balasuriya 

Sri Lanka’s selectors will have to put up with a “good headache” when picking the squad for the team’s tour of Australia later this month, SLC’s Chief Selector said yesterday, following a string of impressive performances from several fringe players in Pakistan over the last few weeks.

Sri Lanka lost the ODI series 2-0, but were comprehensive winners in the T20Is, sweeping the series 3-0. While a T20I series whitewash is always an impressive feat, the fact that it came against the world’s number one ranked side in the format made many people take notice. But what made it all the more astonishing was that the travelling Sri Lankan party were shorn of several of their usual match-winners.

Regular Captain and Vice Captain Lasith Malinga and Niroshan Dickwella, both chose not to travel, and they were joined by eight others, of which Dhananjaya De Silva, Thisara Perera, and Kusal Janith Perera would all have realistically been able to stake a claim in the first string side. Kusal Mendis meanwhile missed out due to injury.

But the performances of players like Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando and Wanindu Hasaranga, have now given the selectors plenty of food for thought, not just for the upcoming Australia series but also next year’s T20 World Cup.

“It’s a good headache to have. Earlier we had a problem of selecting in-form players, now we have 12-13 players that are vying for about six places, especially in the batting department,” stated SLC Chief Selector Ashantha De Mel, at a media briefing at SLC headquarters yesterday. 

“What I was impressed with the youngsters is that they took the opportunity they were given with both hands. Bhanuka was debuting, and Oshada was debuting as well, and they played out of their skins. We have watched these players, but to really come out and perform against the best T20I side in the world - their bowling is one of the strongest - for the way they played it was amazing.”

Both Rajapaksa’s and Fernando’s defining knocks on tour were match-winning efforts. Following a brisk 32 in the first T20I, the 27-year-old Rajapaksa blitzed a 48-ball 77 in the second game, to help Sri Lanka post a daunting 182. Then in the final game, with the series already decided, Fernando was drafted in to the side having sat out every game on tour barring the first ODI, where he was out for a single run. But if there was any pressure on him to perform he scarcely let it show; coming in to bat with his side struggling on 30 for 3, and then 58 for 4 after eight overs, Fernando produced a consummate counter-attacking knock, breezing to a 48-ball 78, on what was a fairly sluggish batting track.

“He took no risks, he reminded me of Mahela, just placing it over extra cover, very risk-free batting,” said an effusive De Mel of Fernando’s innings. “As a Chief Selector I was happy because we were able to give these guys a chance. Because sometimes what happens is we take them on the tour but we’re not able to actually give them a chance.” De Mel however reserved his highest praise for leg-spinning allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga. Still just 22, the youngster from Galle has been a revelation in recent times, and finally looks poised to carry over his domestic form to the national side.

Hasaranga was among the few Lankan bowlers to threaten Pakistan’s batsman in the ODI series, picking up three wickets in two games, but he really came into his own in the T20Is, taking eight wickets at an average of 9.87. While he is still to show off his prowess with the bat in national colours, an average of 45.46 in first-class cricket means it’s possibly only a matter of time.

“For me Wanindu [Hasaranga] is the most improved player that I’ve seen this year. Whether it’s batting, bowling, fielding, the confidence he has is now fantastic.” For De Mel, now comes the unenviable task of picking the best possible squad. Though he explained that he had made it clear to the players that opted out of the tour that they ran the risk of losing their spot if some of the younger guys took their chance.

“In this particular instance I spoke to the [SLC] President [Shammi Silva and he was also agreeable that we give these boys a chance, and they have now given the selectors food for thought. When it comes to selecting the squad for Australia we will have to take these performances into consideration. Because like I told the guys who didn’t go, if the guys who go perform then one or two of the guys who didn’t may have to get left out. Form matters.”