Dont waste Thisaras precious talent
Since Ravi Ratnayake, we have been desperately searching for that all-rounder, who will give us that much needed balance. The fast bowling all-rounder solves so many problems and as the current series against South Africa showcased, when Sri Lanka wanted to play two specialist spinners when the conditions were spin friendly, Thisara Perera solved that problem.
Captain Angelo Mathews is another player who falls into the category of fast bowling all-rounder, but to be honest, Mathews is an established batsman who bowls a bit. Perera, meanwhile, is a far better bowler and has the potential to develop into a hard hitting batsman.
Such has been Sri Lankas desperation for a fast bowling all-rounder that we even gave some players an extended run to realize their potential, but to no avail. Suresh Perera got an extended run when Dav Whatmore came as coach for a second time and since then others like Dulip Liyanage, Hasantha Fernando, Gayan Buddika have got a look in. They even played Test cricket although they were better suited for ODI cricket.
One genuine all-rounder was Farveez Maharoof. However, injuries were a big drawback in his career.
Chaminda Vaas has even got a Test hundred. He scored over 3000 Test runs and has 15 half-centuries to his credit. In fact Vaas Test batting average of 24 is far better than that of Jehan Mubarak, who averaged 15 in ten Tests, possibly two more games are awaiting him in the upcoming series in Zimbabwe.
Coming back to Vaas, he grumbles that he was never allowed to develop as a Test batsman. He had a grudge against Sanath Jayasuriya for declaring when he was on 74 not out in a Test against Zimbabwe at SSC in 2001. He also felt a few years later that under a certain captain he didnt get proper net sessions.
The guy who has an excellent potential to be a true all-rounder is Thisara Perera. His exploits were there to be seen in the recent series as he clubbed 34 runs off a Robin Petersen over. Then the other day he scored 20 runs off a Wayne Parnell over to turn a game that was hanging in the balance Sri Lankas way.
The selectors felt that he wasnt giving hundred percent during the Champions Trophy and just to send him a wakeup call they dropped him for the tri-nation series in Caribbean. The break has stood in good stead for Perera. Now he seems to be keeping a higher premium for his wicket while his bowling looks faster than what was visible during Champions Trophy.
Five years ago, Pereras career was heading nowhere. Coaches at SLC realized his immense potential and sent him on a tour to New Zealand with the Development Squad. Perera in fact went on that tour a bit reluctantly due to personal reasons. But he must be thanking those who made the decision on his behalf as it was the right decision for his career.
The wrong decision by SLC was to give him his Test debut during Sri Lankas tour of England in 2011, way too early. The selectors perhaps had no choice for Dirty Austin had promoted Lasith Malinga to take that selfish decision to give up Test cricket.
Mind you Perera is not yet 25 and he was the second highest wicket taker in the recent ODI series. His ODI career bowling average believe it or not is better than that of Malinga. While Pereras bowling average is 26:35, Malinga averages 26:53.
Perera not only has the potential, but a fine temperament too. He is not overawed by any occasion and has a bright future. If handled properly, he could go onto be a match winner soon.
One thing that Sri Lankas team management hasnt done is to do a few experiments. It seems that Perera has a permanent batting position of number eight and the team doesnt seem to want to promote him up the order even when the Batting Power Play is on. At number eight, most of the time, he gets a handful of deliveries to swing his bat.
Everyone knows that Sanath Jayasuriya had enormous potential, but that potential emerged with the experimentation that was done by sending him to open the innings. Current management need to try out a few things like that to catch some of the opposition by surprise.
Since Ravi Ratnayake, we have been desperately searching for that all-rounder, who will give us that much needed balance. The fast bowling all-rounder solves so many problems and as the current series against South Africa showcased, when Sri Lanka wanted to play two specialist spinners when the conditions were spin friendly, Thisara Perera solved that problem.
Captain Angelo Mathews is another player who falls into the category of fast bowling all-rounder, but to be honest, Mathews is an established batsman who bowls a bit. Perera, meanwhile, is a far better bowler and has the potential to develop into a hard hitting batsman.
Such has been Sri Lankas desperation for a fast bowling all-rounder that we even gave some players an extended run to realize their potential, but to no avail. Suresh Perera got an extended run when Dav Whatmore came as coach for a second time and since then others like Dulip Liyanage, Hasantha Fernando, Gayan Buddika have got a look in. They even played Test cricket although they were better suited for ODI cricket.
One genuine all-rounder was Farveez Maharoof. However, injuries were a big drawback in his career.
Chaminda Vaas has even got a Test hundred. He scored over 3000 Test runs and has 15 half-centuries to his credit. In fact Vaas Test batting average of 24 is far better than that of Jehan Mubarak, who averaged 15 in ten Tests, possibly two more games are awaiting him in the upcoming series in Zimbabwe.
Coming back to Vaas, he grumbles that he was never allowed to develop as a Test batsman. He had a grudge against Sanath Jayasuriya for declaring when he was on 74 not out in a Test against Zimbabwe at SSC in 2001. He also felt a few years later that under a certain captain he didnt get proper net sessions.
The guy who has an excellent potential to be a true all-rounder is Thisara Perera. His exploits were there to be seen in the recent series as he clubbed 34 runs off a Robin Petersen over. Then the other day he scored 20 runs off a Wayne Parnell over to turn a game that was hanging in the balance Sri Lankas way.
The selectors felt that he wasnt giving hundred percent during the Champions Trophy and just to send him a wakeup call they dropped him for the tri-nation series in Caribbean. The break has stood in good stead for Perera. Now he seems to be keeping a higher premium for his wicket while his bowling looks faster than what was visible during Champions Trophy.
Five years ago, Pereras career was heading nowhere. Coaches at SLC realized his immense potential and sent him on a tour to New Zealand with the Development Squad. Perera in fact went on that tour a bit reluctantly due to personal reasons. But he must be thanking those who made the decision on his behalf as it was the right decision for his career.
The wrong decision by SLC was to give him his Test debut during Sri Lankas tour of England in 2011, way too early. The selectors perhaps had no choice for Dirty Austin had promoted Lasith Malinga to take that selfish decision to give up Test cricket.
Mind you Perera is not yet 25 and he was the second highest wicket taker in the recent ODI series. His ODI career bowling average believe it or not is better than that of Malinga. While Pereras bowling average is 26:35, Malinga averages 26:53.
Perera not only has the potential, but a fine temperament too. He is not overawed by any occasion and has a bright future. If handled properly, he could go onto be a match winner soon.
One thing that Sri Lankas team management hasnt done is to do a few experiments. It seems that Perera has a permanent batting position of number eight and the team doesnt seem to want to promote him up the order even when the Batting Power Play is on. At number eight, most of the time, he gets a handful of deliveries to swing his bat.
Everyone knows that Sanath Jayasuriya had enormous potential, but that potential emerged with the experimentation that was done by sending him to open the innings. Current management need to try out a few things like that to catch some of the opposition by surprise.