In these columns last week we suggested to the selectors that Jayasuriya be appointed vice captain and be groomed as captain for the future. We take a bow and applaud the selectors for doing so. They who have played the game know what they are doing.
Jayasuriya in the two games he has captained against foreign teams performed adequately and proved that he has what it takes to be a great leader. We wish Jayasuriya well.
It is paramount that Sri Lankans win the First Test against the New Zealanders beginning at the R. Premadasa Stadium tomorrow and the two Tests to follow.
Sri Lanka's cricket which suffered a dent when they lost the two Tests to the South Africans, will have to redeem themselves with victories over the Kiwis. Not to do so would mean that we are back in square one.
While the selectors did right in not throwing youth at the awesome South Africans, they are endeavouring to front up the youth against the Kiwis who on paper are not a bad side.
While appreciating and applauding the selectors for this, they must see that they do not rush the young and promising cricketers blindly at the visitors.
There are Three Tests to go and the youngsters must be slipped in after careful study and consideration of the opponents strong and weak points.
The selectors have slipped in left arm 'leggie' Niroshan Bandaratilleke and right arm 'leggie' Malinga Bandara to support spinning sensation Muttiah Muralitharan. These two spinners deserve their places after their showing against the tourists in the run up games.
Anyway the Tests are different ball games to the run up games and it will be interesting to see how they go. But now that they have been given their caps we hope that they will be persisted with.
It is also nice to see Ruwan Kalpage back. This all rounder has for far too long been languishing in the wilderness. He has been picked as an allrounder, something that our cricket has lacked for a long time.
Now that Mahela Jayawardena has struck it rich in the one drop slot, it has necessitated the dropping of Roshan Mahanama. Mahanama after his 'shuffling flops' in South Africa was lucky to be nominated to the pool.
Jayawardena is one of the most exciting prospects to emerge after a long time. He is exciting allround material and we hope he will be nurtured and developed that way.
Skipper Ranatunga must be disappointed that he has no fast men to launch a pace blitz at the Kiwis. The medium pacies so far tried have failed to respond. With left armer Sajeewa de Silva dropped for poor form and with Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa injured the only one who could have obliged and partnered Promodaya Wickremasinghe was the once much talked about Ravindra Pushpakumara.
But it is intriguing what has happened to Pushpakumara. If he had done something naughty, then hold an inquiry. So far what we hear are allegations. What the authorities should have done was to have played him pending an inquiry and later decided what to do to him. By having him suspended in mid air as it were, it is the game that is suffering. From what we can gather only allegations are available against him. That is not enough to prove him guilty. Sri Lanka cricket needs him. Bring him back!
Minister of Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports S. B. Dissanayake who is always alive to the needs of sports in the country did well in insisting on the Cricket Board having a doctor and a psychologist. The South Africans who will be a mighty power in cricket soon, in addition to a doctor and a psychologist, also carry with them a dietician, biorineticist and a physiotherapist. No wonder then that they are such a fit and sharp team. Losing to them was certainly no disgrace.
On the South African tour one who was a big hit with the South Africans spectators and public was Nawaragodegedera Lionel who was tagged the 'cheering ambassador'.
Every time he walked into every venue of play proudly holding aloft the Sri Lankan flag, he was given a rousing welcome and youngsters would even rush to him for his autograph.
He was so popular, so much so that he was in demand on SA TV and was even interviewed by Luke Alfred, a renowned cricket writer of the best selling 'Cape Argus'. In that interview when the writer asked Lionel what he was looking for he replied:
``I don't want gold. I don't want diamonds. I don't need riches. What I am searching for is peace. Peace in my country so that we can all live as one''. Lionel who is an ardent admirer of South African President Nelson Mandela, even called on Mandela to do everything possible to bring peace to Sri Lanka.
That was Lionel and his sponsors Ceylinco Insurance have done well in taking an insurance with Lionel.
Premasara Epasinghe the famous cricketer and commentator who covered the one day series for radio and 'Lakbima' was also a big hit when interviewed by Radio 5 of South Africa. He gave his observations in a no-punches-pulled broadcast and it was well received. 'Epa' will be doing his thing when the Kiwis are in action.