Some say, that it must have come as a rude shock to the cricket board. Whilst yet others, are of the view that there may have been insidious overtures made to the board, so as to ensure that Davenall, does not enjoy continuance in a post that has in recent times, become not only prestigious, but the most coveted one at that. Who knows it may even be for personal reasons.
Such naive, uncharitable notions could glibly be shrugged off as unfounded, baseless speculation. Nevertheless, pondering over it may encourage balanced thinking, enabling thereby to have our priorities and perspectives aright and work with greater zest and unflagging zeal, to see that this unmatched tempo achieved in the field of cricket be sustained.
However to the countless number of cricket lovers, many of them cricket zealots, Davenall's decision to move away from the Sri Lankan cricket scene as coach, has come as a surprise. Something that they cannot easily understand and hard to reconcile with. This is mainly because they hold him in high esteem and have a regard for his proven ability, which amongst other things, has led to the recent triumphs of our cricketers. We must not lose sight of the fact, that two years ago our cricket internationally was in total disarray. Having been comprehensively whitewashed, annihilated if you like, by both Pakistan and India and suffering other subsequent reverses, our cricket plunged into abysmal depths.
One can imagine the thoroughly demoralising effect, it must have had on the cricketers, with everything looking hopelessly bleak and nothing to look forward to. It was at a time like this, that the former cricket board president, virtually picked the game up from the ground as it were, giving it the impetus and drive and setting as well the tone and direction for it. He rallied the cricketers around, whipping up enthusiasm and gave them a target by providing a slogan for cricket. With this, happily for us, Sri Lanka cricket is steadily forging ahead and the slogan may turn out to be a prophetic utterance by the year 2000. Irresistibly challenged by this slogan, the Sri Lanka born and Australia nurtured Davenall.
Whatmore, responded to Sri Lanka's call in its hour of need. Having watched the Sri Lanka cricketers undergoing the toughening experience on their Australian tour. He must have in all probity be quick enough to realise that there was potential and talent in our players awaiting to be moulded and harnessed, the totality of it all, to be made use of to outplay our op- ponents. Each player, was made to believe in his ability and the team as a whole was collectively made to feel, that they were as good as any or even better. He was able to inculcate and in- stil this in them with authority, coming as it does from his wide experience in the world of cricket.
Aided by equipment and other facilities at his command, he was found to give of his best, so as to motivate and unify the team to think and act as one, giving advice on strategy and planning, with a particular emphasis on fitness brought about by physical exercises, which may not have gone done well with a player or two.
The end result was that the Sri Lankan team, arose from its ashes to burgeon forth to record a series of successive victories. Our recent defeat at the hands of Pakistan, following our two splendid victories, to say the least was most unfortunate. Up against a formidable score of 372, the phenomenal freak batting of Afridi, there was the psychological disadvantage, more so at 29 for 4. But with all the odds against us, we did well to grow in stature as a champion side to score 289 and miss out by just one run to enter the final. Suffice it to then say, that no Lankan coach has achieved so much in so short a time. In a venture like this, it is normal, to now and again, have casual altercations of just yes or no with officials or the odd player, nothing so serious as to warrant relinquishing of services. We are not quite certain, as to the feelings between him and the board, which may have led him to act this way.
But if we are permitted to think aloud and project our own thoughts by providing our own reasons, two aspects emerge. It might well be, that our cricketers through a period of time with him, have become skilfully competent to the extent that there is nothing more for him to tell them. And so his desire to coach elsewhere a weaker side, that has much to learn from him. This reminds us of Alf Gover, who having watched the great Hanif Mohamed batting at his school for a week, told him ''sonny there is nothing for me to teach you, you can now go home.''
The other and the more significant, is that he probably wishes to be rather associated with success and not failure. Wanting to bid adieu at the peak of his achievement for Sri Lanka cricket, not waiting till he has outlived his period of usefulness. So that he will always be remembered at his highest and not on the decline. There have been sportsmen, officials and those in public service, a few in fact, who have in the past stepped down thus, but sadly not anymore for now we have them clinging on to office until they are pushed out.
This is a crucial period for Sri Lanka cricket, not a time when we could be without Davenall's guidance and experience. A concerted attempt must therefore be made to keep him, at least for sometime or else it's imperative, that a reputed coach from abroad be brought down. Nothing short of this will do for our players, who are widely travelled, having played much more test matches and limited over games, than any likely aspiring coach here.
Book learning is not what they need, but practical know how, born out of personal experience and no coach here has that much to give our now highly accomplished cricketers. Furthermore, a local coach will make it a home and home affair, with that hey fellow, well met chum attitude, which will undoubtedly cause much embarrassment to both players and coach alike. The remedy may lie, in a senior player from this historic team, turning out to be a coach in the future.
Whilst we are on cricket, lets make a passing reference to prizes. Awards be it in the form of cash or motor vehicles, in itself are good incentives. The few regular frequent winners of our team, have hitherto sorted things out amicably, in order to see that other members of the team do not become envious, which has become the salient feature of a very united side.
The moment envy steps in, disunity will creep in, the team will crack up and go the way of other foreign test teams in the past. Unity is the corner stone around which our team has been built and it must continue thus, not so much to win all the time but to raise the standard of our play, wherein we will find men saying that there is something distinctive and special about our team, which is what will matter most in the end.