Young cricketers promise dazzling new decade

By Elmo Leonard

The Sri Lankan newcomers who packed an essential punch in the island pocketing the Tri-nation, Idea Cup in Bangladesh ooze with potency. The ‘youngsters’ seem capable of repeating their part of blending with the more experienced players, to provide a dazzling decade, just dawned.
The Sri Lankan team had to beat India in spite of Dhoni’s men having a better batting line up. So, it was the youngsters that won for the nation, the Idea Cup.
Some of the `young ones’ were debutants; yet, were less coy, being in the plural. Earlier, in contrast, Angelo Mathews was pressurized to perform among a band of established players. The youthful, do-well-guys must have glorified their luck for the crop of injuries among the established players.
Suranga Lakmal: Our interviewee and coach, Udaya Ananda Perera thinks Lakmal, a fast medium right arm bowler could develop into a good allrounder. Besides, he is a quick mover, the essential ingredient of a good fielder in the making.
Suraj Randiv: A very promising offspinner and bowling allrounder; for he got a 50 in an ODI, showing his prowess with the bat. His bearings of an excellent offspinner is backed by his good fielding, even in the covers. Suraj could well be the spinner to take over when bowling world record holder, Muttiah Muralitharan calls it a day.
“Yes, he spins the ball, is tight in bowling and if he did so well on docile wickets in Bangladesh, could do much more when the wickets takes spin and bounce,” Perera contented.
Thisara Perera: That rare and precious blend of a batting allrounder who bowls medium fast is now apparent. He is further dissimilar to Chaminda Vaas in that he bowls right arm.
Batting low down in the order, he showed he could change the complexion of the game, scoring quick runs and bowling tight.
Lahiru Thirimanne: He is another debutant and left hand opening bat who played when Dilshan was injured. Our interviewee says he had watched Thirimanne score a century in a practice match against Pakistan, on home grounds not long ago. Then, Thirimanne had scored a quality century when the Pakistani pace attack was better than the recent Indian pace battery.
He seems a safe fielder inside the circle.
Mahela Udawatte: Left hand top order batsman who has been in and out of the side. Although Udawatte is the vice captain of the Sri Lanka `A’ team, he lacks opportunity to prove himself.
Kaushal Silva: This wicketkeeper and very useful batsman, besides being captain of the Sri Lanka `A’ team has a long way to go. Like Thilan Samaraweera, Kaushal has batted brilliantly under pressure.
Because of Presanna Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara, Kaushal does not get the opportunity to establish himself, but he is young and has time. Such time, on the hand of our younger cricketers must be fruitful. The authorities must play more `A’ level cricket, even better, if `B’ internationals see the light of day.
A team that can win matches must be able to take even seemingly impossible catches. Now, these `new’ guys seem to bring with them the component of athleticism; so needed when a team aspired for excellence.