Half plus half equals one

Dilhara  Lokuhettige, one time fast bowling all rounder of Sri Lanka, has accused Angelo Mathews for "not selecting him" in his retirement press conference. The evidence he gives dates back to 2013, where he found from a selector that Angelo chose a different player instead of him. "The captain wanted a batsman instead of an all rounder", says Lokuhettige.

Now this story falls apart itself. Lokuhettige is a 110k bolwer, and Angelo was correct that he does not need another player who bowls at same speeds as himself occupying a slot where a proper batsman can play. In fact Lokuhettige has been given ample chances long before Angelo  played under 19, and has never done anything special, only noteworthy is the 26 runs-an-over  humiliation in the hands of Sehwag around 2005. There is nothing needing explanation about Angelo's decision. Obviously it wasn't personal, but was based on principle, that a proper batter should play the all rounder slot.

And that principle, which Angelo seems to have forgotten today, has opened a worthy discussion, which is more relevant than Lokuhettige legacy itself.

Batsman for an all rounder, or bowler for an all rounder, would have been a nice theory to revive limited overs cricket of Sri Lanka today as the team is plagued with such players who will not be selected for their batting skills or bowling skills considered alone. But just because of their half skills in each discipline, they earn the classification of all rounder. Half and half summed to one and then they are in the playing XI.

Term "all rounder" may be misused here. Players like Angelo Mathews are by all means all rounders, just  like  how Sanath  Jayasuriya  or Kapil Dev  was. But they developed one  discipline to such an  extent  that they'd  be  selected only on that basis. In that light, their other skill becomes only an add on. 

After 2015 WC Sri Lanka has started using these "half plus half equals one" players quite often, and with no surprise, their returns in every discipline is not much different to Lokuhettige. However they keep getting selected as the captain seems to have redefined his principle as "all rounders for batters and bowlers". Even at the era of batting carnage, Sri Lanka is throwing these half bowlers and gets hammered around the park.

Dilhara Lokuhettige made a claim which is becoming laugh lot in all circles. But in the wake of that claim what Angelo should ponder is how far he has deviated from his correct call in 2013. How many Lokuhettiges he's carrying with him today where talented others wait for a chance.

In simple Angelo should follow Angelo of 2013. Perhaps that is a good nourishment to pick from the dirty can of worms served today in many press conferences.

Through the backdoor of Premadasa Stadium - 2002

SLC has restricted match ticket selling to the internet. This is very unfair as the life blood of the game in Sri Lanka was always not internet or the elite but the street and the common man. This will create chaos, and eventually this will discourage regular visitors.

There were chaos already at Dambulla. If people protest for not having tickets available, go after black market to buy them and finally storm the gates resulting 45000 people (mostly without tickets) packed into 18000 capacity ground SLC gotta be happy. Still the matches are sell outs, and cricket is very very popular.

It is YOUR people that you denounce. Karma is a bitch Sri Lanka Cricket. Do not cry for lack of crowds in ten years time.

Anyways, the last time where there was such a mess that I remember was when ICC took over tickets and sold them via super markets etc. Here is a personal experience, a bit of nosta, but all lovely memories. This was posted in many other blogs by me, so this is really a re-post.

It was during 2002 champion's Trophy, I and few others wanted to watch SL vs Aus. We were attracted more than the cricket and dancing girls, by Shane Warne - simply that we wanted to booooo him. A Big Big BOOOOOO.

Incidentally Mr Warne is the only person whom I have ever booed throughout my "disciplined" life so far; for those purists and my school teachers. Further more for any reborn purists I have to remind that indecent booing originated in Australia against Murali, and Warne was a chief architect behind that. This is a tit-for-tat. A capital TAT.

And tickets were going like, err... national flags after war victory. We called dozen places, including Food City outlets and numerous lads in Sri Lanka Cricket, but luck was not in our side. Finally, we walked in thinking of 50/- or 100/- "on-the-spot" ticket. It took one huge hurdle to get to the ticket counters to see the soldout indication - a sellout crowd as rare as it could be in SL. I never knew that it was a national task to boo the bastard.

Wandering hopelessly in the outside alley of the ground [while the cheer and beer tossed high on sky inside] we met this hawkish man. If you make Russel Arnold not taking a wash for 3 months you could caste this man out of Arny, but the sharp eyes were much the same. Before we realized who he was, he did, and spoke.

"Mahatthayala ticket gaththe ne neda?"

Firstly a very innocent voice, with a strong muslim accent.

"Hmmmm"

We were puzzled...

"Sadda nethuwa mage passen enna"

Whispered a hidden demon in him.

We followed, rather were choiceless to follow. He was our only hope. Is he the president of the cricket board in disguise? Well... even the board president couldn't put anyone in, as ICC had taken over complete ticketing rights.

As we were kept waiting for some good pacie overs which were dispatched by Aussie openers many a times to the ropes, we wandered anxiously.

Then suddenly, he came to us throwing three remains of tickets already used and torn by the gateman.

"Ara inne ape mahaththaya. Shape eke oka denna"

Demon spoke again.

"Man athenta enawa..." he showed us some unattended corner around the park.

"...mata ticket thuna aapahu oone" he commanded.

"Ekak thunsiya panahayi".

Dammit, whatever it costs.

When I looked at it, they were Rs 300 tickets. Just 50 more, and without the ticket tag. That was just the cost.

So we walked into the park, over crowding the sellout by another three [no wonder why some stadiums crash], with the kind curtsey of his "mahaththaya". We had no issues in entering Rs 300/- category.

With the noise of the game, we heard a sharp whistle from our behind to see a centimetre gap between two sheets that serve as the wall of the ground. A thin finger was calling us, rather commanding.

While Sanath Jayasuriya tossed the ball in dilemma to choose spin or fast bowling within first 15 overs, we toggled with the idea of teaching him a lesson [look who's talking ethics anyway] by not returning his precious ticket tags. But again somebody with little more grey matter suggested that we give it or else, it will be us to receive a better lesson by his lads around the park. Sanath also opted it right for Aravinda De Silva [as we gave away the ticket tags] who tossed a teaser which got Aussie opener [Hayden, wasn't he? Note that we missed the game so far] to walk down the track and miss it completely. We looked back to see stumps in rattles.

Rest was history as it always happened during the great times of SL cricket. Wickets went crumbling and brought Warnie way too early. We did indeed boo him, in an unprecedented standing ovation, just to find that it encouraged the man to top-score in the lower scoring game. Sri Lanka won the game but Warnie shone in the cacophony of "over crowded" stands.

When we walked out we saw our friend strolling down the side road perhaps for his daily dose.

End of a good day for everyone.

It is very hard not to interfere into team selection

It is very hard not to interfere into team selection for a captain. In most places, captain has a legitimate right to choose alongside with the coach and the panel of selectors. Specially on the grounds that you are the most accountable individual for the conduct of the other 10 individuals you select. 

What happens is that the fallible and at times sinful human in the captain pulls his leg. Going beyond his interest to play the best XI, some captains may choose players of preference for reasons outside of talent. Perhaps your club member, perhaps your cousin, perhaps the school buddy or a compatriot of social elites, religious groups, races or castes. Sometimes the skipper's right to pick may have saved a Sanath Jayasuriya who could not play in the V, but some captains make a horrible mess in selecting 'his team'.

It is very hard not to interfere into team selection for the bigwig of the cricket board. Unlike the captain this is not a rightful interference but having the almighty powers of the game in a country, or imagining so, his majesty the king of the game would always make an evening phone call or watch the match with the selector and his wish will come true. After all, the selectors can never be independent of the man who "selects" them.

It is very hard not to interfere into team selection for the minister in charge. Well, he cannot pick players but he can block a selection by not approving. So there is a hidden but legitimate power in him. With that and other connections and powers of lobbying half a dozen other politicians can interfere selection. Among them there is one who only could not do a gender transition in 1978, and today, with magic of medical sector, has nothing left that (s)he cannot do. Political henchmen and relatives or sons make their way to team quite often or loose their fair selections on similar grounds. Surprisingly these politicians show an unbelievable solidarity that this influence is retained for their buddies in opposition.

It is very hard not to interfere into team selection for the regional cricket powers. To start with, most regional cricket powers even interfere school teams, and simply who can play within their locality. Despite being lesser obvious this is the dirtiest part of the selection game. This is where father's booming business can cause son's expulsion as his rival leads the regional cricket entity. Coaches may go to bed with fellow cricket candidates irrespective of gender. Money may be a reason to play, where not being a slave to one's supremacy to get sacked.

Fair or not, legitimate or under the table, these actions that interfere into selection on matters irrelevant to the skill has caused many to suffer and loose their futures, perhaps burying more Sangakkaras, Aravindas and Muralis among them. Selection interference in Sri Lanka provided enough to write a thriller of a book called Chinaman by some musician called Garfield Shehan Karunasena under the pseudonym of Shehan Karunatilake, yet many feel that his book is only about sundries of the unfair selection whereas there are centuries he missed to talk about. Anyways, for the XI chosen, there are CXXI others to talk about, and that talk around the town is perhaps the only way to regulate the selection and reduce injustice.

For that matter, as cricket fans it is very hard not to 'interfere' into team selection for folks like us. It may raise a shout such as "oh another selection pundit" or "which backyard team have you played to select a team". Agree, helmet off, but IT IS SOOO EFFING HARD NOT TO WRITE SOMETHING ON SELECTION when you saw the XI at Dambulla on last day of August 2016. Apologies before the chest-high beamer.

Sri Lanka should consider followings for ODI.

- To play a minimum of two genuine fast bowlers no matter what (test cricket may be different) because most part of ODI cricket is not spinner's game any more. If some are injured fetch others. I can name few such as Kasun Rajitha, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Dasun Shanaka etc who may perhaps be choices if the ones in squad are not.

- To reduce the number of all rounders in the squad. Accept the truth that we have only one complete all rounder (or very close to it) in captain. So others are all half/half players. In S Prasanna and likes even the half is questionable. Name only about two of them and that is enough. Currently we have Milinda, Sachith, Prasanna, Thissara and Dasun in round robin, none allowed to establish.

- Try to establish on at least one opener. Well the only set opener in past six seven years is chased even before his partner settled. Last thing you want is a musical chair for openers in post-Dilshan era.

- Have experience in no 6 and no 7. If possible have your best players like Angelo. Angelo's promotion in batting is not justified in ODI as he is not the most elegant in middle part. I believe SL can train a better no 5 if Angie plays no 6. Pls think of the WC Angelo, we cannot entertain individual ego, just like you may have spoken to T M Dilshan.

- Selectors should not consider cricket game plans as runaway marriages. Plan of sending Tharanga at no 7 worked so well in England. So please do not divorce your sweetly working game plan for the next bimbo who walks past you. 

I know that the interference cannot be avoided and favouring happens always. But at minimum there should be some sanity in the XI and squad. If we allow today's nonsense to continue we may play an XI of all batters all bowlers or all so called whatever percentage all rounders. Or all sons of politicians or all from one school. 

Favour you may, but don't harm the balance.