Will the National Super League serve its purpose?

Reigning National Super League four-day champions Kandy

• Key Test players are overseas playing franchise cricket

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The National Super League four-day tournament, due to commence today with five teams in participation, is expected to be a forerunner to picking the Test squad for the tour to New Zealand in March.

As Sri Lanka played their last Test match six months ago in July 2022, the NSL four-day was supposed to provide the Test players ideal preparations with the red ball, but unfortunately only a handful will make use of the opportunity as some of the key players are overseas playing franchise cricket.

Furthermore, when the national selectors pick the Sri Lanka ‘A’ sides for the two four-day unofficial test matches against England Lions and the three unofficial ODIs (from 25 January to 21 February), the five teams playing in the NSL four-day is bound to weaken further, which makes one pose the question whether the tournament will serve its purpose with the majority of national and top domestic players absent.   

For instance, Kandy who won the title last year are without their captain Niroshan Dickwella (who is the Test wicket-keeper/batsman) and vice-captain Chamika Karunaratne and Test fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, as all of them are in Dubai playing in the International League T20. Also missing from the Kandy line-up are Test batsman Pathum Nissanka who is playing in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Kandy head coach Malinda Warnapura said that these players will be available only for the final two matches of the NSL four-day and in the absence of both captain and vice-captain, Sahan Arachchige will lead Kandy. Their opening game commences today against Colombo at the SSC grounds.

Colombo are also without their captain Kusal Mendis who is away in South Africa playing in their T20 league. Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne who was named deputy to Mendis was expected to captain the team, but according to head coach Ruwin Peiris, Karunaratne is not available for the first match as he has a muscle strain in his eye. 

He is expected to be back for the second match. In the meantime, Nipun Dananjaya, Sri Lanka’s former Under-19 captain will lead Colombo but will not have the services of Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka who are currently playing franchise cricket in Dubai.

Jaffna, runner-up to Kandy last year are without captain Dhananjaya de Silva who is in Dubai playing in the International League T20. Sadeera Samarawickrama, the vice-captain will lead the side. Jaffna will also be without their head coach Thilina Kandamby for a major part of the tournament as he will be involved as assistant coach of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team against England Lions. Assistant coach of Jaffna, Dhammika Sudarshana will handle the side in Kandamby’s absence.

Galle, led by Ramesh Mendis, will be minus Test batsman Dinesh Chandimal who is away in Dubai playing in the International League T20, but have the experienced hand of former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews who is still committed to playing in all three formats although the national selectors find ways and means to keep him out of white ball cricket.

Mathews, looking forward to playing red ball cricket after a long lapse, said, “The conditions here will not be perfect to what we will face in New Zealand. But playing four-day games is ideal in terms of preparation for five-day Test matches. It is very helpful for us to get back into rhythm and play games.”

“Every game I give my 100% whether it is a domestic or international, whatever format I play (I haven’t given up playing white ball cricket), especially domestic cricket I like to share my experience with the younger players and also to keep getting better. Even though I have played 100 Test matches I still can get better. Can still learn something day in, day out. That’s the passion I have towards playing cricket.”

Galle play Dambulla at the R. Premadasa Stadium commencing today. Dambulla captained by Kamindu Mendis will miss the services of Wanindu Hasaranga, essentially a white ball player. They will also be minus their head coach Avishka Gunawardene who will be involved in the same capacity with the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team in their five matches against touring England Lions. Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Upul Chandana will take charge of Dambulla until the return of Gunawardene.   

Coaching staff of each team

nColombo: Ruwin Peiris (head coach), Saman Jayantha and Nishantha Weerasinghe (asst. coaches), Priyantha Udayaratne (manager)

nGalle: Ruwan Kalpage (head coach), Shanuka Dissanayake and Indika de Saram (asst. coaches), Dilran Abeysekera (manager)

nJaffna: Thilina Kandamby (head coach), Dhammika Sudarshana (asst. head coach), Ravindra Pushpakumara and Thamara Abeyratne (asst. coaches), Shezard Nizar (manager)

nDambulla: Avishka Gunawardene (head coach), Upul Chandana (asst. head coach), Sajeewa Weerakoon, Tharanga Dhammika and Pasan Wanasinghe (asst. coaches), Suranjith Dharmasena (manager)

nKandy: Malinda Warnapura (head coach), Manoj Abeywickrema (asst. head coach), Ian Daniel and Sarath Jayawardena (asst. coaches), Shamseer Jaleel (manager)