There is no rocket science to observe the quality and capabilities of players in Cricket! If you watch one over of Chamara Kapugedera and Milinda Siriwardena batting, you will realize how good clean strikers they are. With gifted six hitting abilities, they are amongst those ‘impact players’ teams look for, in shorter formats.
Sadly, though, Sanath Jayasuriya, The glamours Chief selector of Sri Lanka team, doesn’t think so.
As a result, during his tenure as a Chief selector, and he is eternally there right after his retirement, careers of both Kapugedera and Milinda have been brutally curtailed, again and again.
As a batsman, Sanath Jayasuriya was amongst all time greats! He never compromised with his batting style, even after failed multiple times in his playing days.
As a selector, Sanath Jayasuriya is all about Compromises! As, he used to be a politician as well, so one can expect this quality from him.
So, he gave countless chances to all Pereras, Silvas, to all his colleagues, friends sons, brothers, nieces etc. etc.
In the meantime, Kapu and Milinda had to wait… wait and just wait. He had something against them. He had even made a negative comment about Kapugedera few years ago.
Critics can say about Kapu performance in given chances, as he has just eight half centuries in 100 games. But, statistics doesn’t always put the true scenario. Even after 100 games, his role in the team is not clear. Is he a finisher? or his role is to anchor the innings in the middle overs.
Over the years, selectors, largely Jayasuriya, messed up with Kapu and ruined the career of one of the most gifted player if Sri Lanka, a player who smashed towering sixes on the bowling of Brett Lee, when he was a nineteen year old sensation!
Now, as Sri Lanka cricket is reeling, everything has been messed up, finally Jayasuriya has realized that really Kapu and Milinda are players, who deserves place in the shorter formats.
So, here we go. Milinda smashed a timely half century and Kapu supported him to dragged out Sri Lanka from another dreadful score against India in the second ODI at Pallekele today.
This is not a winning score, by any means. But, at least Kapu and Milinda have something to cheer!
