Mahela Jayawardene - 15 May 2001
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The time has come to start preparations for the future. Our break after the ARY Gold Cup in Sharjah was short-lived, as most of the squad turned out for their clubs in the last two weeks of the Premier League and are now busily preparing for the Mercantile Cricket Association tournament, a competitive one-day tournament that will provide us all with excellent preparation for the forthcoming triangular series with India and New Zealand.
The fact that there are just eight sides in the top Mercantile division ensures that this is the most competitive domestic one-day tournament of the year. With all the national players also participating, there will be some extra spice too, as the young players set out to make a name and try to grab the attention of the new selection panel.
There are some exciting young players about, so it will interesting to see how they fare in this years tournament. At the risk of missing other promising players, three players have caught the eye in the past few months: Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Sanjeewa Weerakoon, and Sukitha Peiris.
Young, Pushpakumara, 20, is not a new kid on the block. He toured with us to Pakistan last year and to South Africa over Christmas. He did not get many opportunities, but he impressed with his attitude and fitted in well. Hopefully the decision to give him experience on those tours will bear fruit in the future.
He did though perform during the Under 19 tour to England and against England when they toured a few months back. He is a batting all rounder. A useful off spinner, a fine fielder and an impressive batsman, who is graced with a solid technique and a calm calculating temperament. Indeed, it's his ability to score runs when the pressure is on that marks him out as a player to watch.
Sajeewa Weerakoon, a left arm spinner from Burgher Recreation Club, has also been around for a couple of seasons. He impressed me a while back as a very accurate spinner, who looked especially effective in the one-day format of the game. This season, however, he took 79 wickets to become the highest wicket taker in the first class competition, nearly spinning his club to the championship in the process.
Sri Lanka needs a long-term spinning partner for Muttiah Muralitharan, someone who is given two years to develop the necessary experience to perform at the top level, both at home and abroad. There are a handful of left arm spinners in domestic cricket and most of them are taking regular wickets, so the cupboard is far from bare. Sajeewa Weerakoon could well be an option for the future.
Sukith Peiris is a right-handed batsman from Nalanda College that I have not watched, but have heard a great deal. He is apparently a free flowing opening batsmen, prepared to play his shots, but also blessed with a fine technique. The fact that he prospered Down Under on the recent Under 19 tour is a testament to that technical skill. Hopefully he can develop those skills and progress to the highest level.
There are many other players coming through the ranks, which will maintain a healthy pressure on the national pool. They say you are only as good as your last innings and there is no time for complacency, especially when you are preparing to take on a resurgent Indian team, that could be furthered strengthened by the return of Anil Kumble.
I will certainly be working hard on my batting, focusing on the need to maintain a high level of consistency. We need big scores in Test cricket, as thirties and forties rarely win games. Although I have improved in this department in recent times, I want to make sure that I don't waste any opportunities once established at the crease, as my aim is to want to make big match winning hundreds on a regular basis.
© CricInfo
| Teams | Sri Lanka. |
| Players/Umpires | Mahela Jayawardene, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Muttiah Muralitharan. |
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