Players need to improve their game situation – Chief Selector

Chief Cricket Selector Upul Tharanga (right) with Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya

• Problems confronting T20I team
• Wanindu Hasaranga out of ODI series against Zimbabwe

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Chief Cricket Selector Upul Tharanga said that the players need to improve their game situation as Sri Lanka try to grapple with consistency to their T20I side.

Currently, a seven-match SLC T20 League consisting of three teams is in progress at the SSC grounds to pick the Sri Lanka T20I squad to Zimbabwe for a series of 3 matches.

“The problem with today’s players is that they have to improve their game situation and play accordingly,” Tharanga told Daily FT. “If they can put that into their heads on how to handle situations we can move forward. They are talking about it with the coaching staff and are trying to learn to bat according to situations. They have the technique and all they need to do is read the game situation. As they keep on playing only it will register in their heads. Our job is to back them.”

Tharanga sees this as the main problem that is holding back the T20I side from performing consistently.

Comparing the period he played and now, Tharanga said, “There is much better talent than when we played, but the game has also evolved with the advent of T20 cricket.”

Tharanga partnered Sanath Jayasuriya (the present Head Coach) in several match winning opening ODI partnerships including the one-time world record stand of 286 against England at Leeds in 2006 which is Sri Lanka’s highest partnership for any wicket.  

“Sanath had the power and the timing also. But more than anything else his strength was that he batted according to the team’s needs and situations. That is what our players must learn. How to bat according to situations.”

To improve the Sri Lankan batters hitting, Sri Lanka Cricket brought in renowned power-hitting specialist Julian Wood to conduct an exclusive program for the national cricketers (men and women).

“What he has taught them is balance. Without using only the hands he has taught them how to use the body as well. Most of the players use only their hands and arms for power hitting. Julian’s technique is how to make use of the body as well with the movement. There is a certain technique to power hitting,” said Tharanga.

“The players are currently working on what he has taught them. You cannot get results immediately but going forward you will see an improvement in power-hitting. The players are putting into practice what he has taught them during training.”

Tharanga said that they are trying to pick a mixed squad of young and experienced players for the Zimbabwe series.

“We are trying to select a side with the Asia Cup in mind and give youngsters a chance because we need to improve our fielding a lot. There are a few players who have been performing in the SLC T20 League like Nuwanidu Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, and a few others which is good. Our main problem is to find a suitable player for the no. 4 position. At the moment Nuwanidu has played well in that position. He might probably get a chance to play at 4. We are still keeping our options open as there are still 3 more matches to play.”

“As an international T20 side we need to improve in all three departments, especially fielding and batting. Bowling is alright but fielding and batting lacks consistency. Some days they bat and field well but the consistency is lacking.”

Tharanga said that when Wanindu Hasaranga returns to the side there won’t be a place for two all-rounders to play, so it will be a toss-up between Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne.

“At international level we have to look at our batting. We have an issue in the batting so we will have to go with 7 specialist batsmen.”

Tharanga said that Hasaranga won’t be fit for the ODI series against Zimbabwe which starts on 29 August at Harare, but they are keeping their fingers crossed for the T20I series which commences on 3 September. “He has only a 50-50 chance of making it.”

Hasaranga is recovering from a hamstring injury in his right leg sustained during the third ODI against Bangladesh in July. As regards Kusal Perera’s injury to his left index finger Tharanga said that it was not serious and the X-ray showed no fracture. Perera was hit by a ball from Pramod Madushan during a SLC T20 League match on Sunday.