Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur

• First T20 International against West Indies in Antigua tonight

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Despite all the setbacks the team has had to undergo in the build-up, head coach Mickey Arthur says that he is extremely happy with the training session the Sri Lanka team had at the Coolidge Cricket Grounds in Antigua in preparation for the three-match T20I series against West Indies that commences at the venue late Wednesday (West Indies time).

“It took us a long time to get here and then we had three days in isolation. We had a really good training session last night; the boys are just keen to get out there. We had so many setbacks, we don’t have some of our regular players here, our bowling coach – unfortunately that happened – and we don’t have our captain but a new captain. It’s all a little bit of a disruption, but to be honest the boys have taken it in their stride,” said Arthur in a virtual media conference from Antigua.

“We worked incredibly hard and the training was of a really high standard. It is opportunities for some young players to step up, now that we are short of our regular players. I can’t wait to see these young guys get out there and do the job and show us what they’ve got. The team morale is excellent, the guys are just so good they just get on and do the work.”

With experienced players like Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Avishka Fernando, Dasun Shanaka and Kasun Rajitha missing from the line-up, the selectors have included youngsters like Pathum Nissanka, Ashen Bandara, Dilshan Madushanka and Kamindu Mendis.  

“For the experienced guys this is a real opportunity for them to put in some really good performances to get themselves into that eventual World Cup squad. I’ve got a pretty good idea with the selectors on what our best 15 is, but opportunities are there now for the guys because we got so many of them who would start out, and I expect these young guys to come in and play without fear and show us what they can do. At the training session last night these guys were superb, I was really impressed with them; the intensity around our fielding session was outstanding, the way they got stuck in, in pretty tough conditions in the nets, and shown us what they had, was great. There is a really good feeling in the team.”

Arthur said, judging by the wicket they had practiced on, spin could also play a part in the contest.  

“The T20 is played with the Kookaburra white ball at the venue we trained last night. Coolidge Cricket Ground, where the T20Is will be played, the wicket is very bare at the moment. I think it is going to take a little bit of turn and the reason why we got so many of those spinners in the mix is to have a look at them to make sure that we know what our best combination is when we go to the Asia Cup and the World Cup, because they are both in subcontinent conditions where we think spin is going to play a clear role. This is clearly an audition for the spinners to show us that they deserve an opportunity and a position in that ultimate World Cup squad.”

In the absence of newly appointed T20I skipper Dasun Shanaka, who failed to make it to the Caribbean due to a visa issue, experienced campaigner and former captain Angelo Mathews has been given the task of leading Sri Lanka in the T20I series.

Role for Malinga

Arthur said that he saw a role as mentor for legendary fast bowler Lasith Malinga in the Sri Lanka white ball team.

“I had a long chat to Mali and I think he can play a real role for us in a mentoring capacity with our young quick bowlers, particularly in the white ball format where he’s got a wealth of knowledge. I like to see him being able to impart that knowledge onto our younger bowlers. 

“In terms of his cricket career I think he’s had a fantastic career; I don’t want to talk for him but with the World Cup being cancelled last year it’s just become a bridge too far for him. He’s had a wonderful career and I do see a role for him mentoring our young quick bowlers without a doubt.”

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