da betsul： Sri Lanka’s cricketers are enjoying a long overdue four-month break frominternational action after two years of nonstop cricket
da dobrowin： Wisden CricInfo28-Jul-2003Sri Lanka’s cricketers are enjoying a long overdue four-month break frominternational action after two years of nonstop cricket. When the team nextsteps out onto a field it will be against a rejuvenated England one-day sideat Dambulla in November.© CricInfoApart from allowing the players a much-needed chance to rest and refresh,the break marks the start of a new era as John Dyson, the new coach fromAustralia, begins a two-year term. He will settle in Colombo from August andstart the process of pushing a talented but frustratingly inconsistent teamforward.After reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup, Sri Lanka’s form dipped andsuccess dried up. There were one-day defeats at Sharjah and during the BankAlfalah Cup, as well as a dreary performance during the drawn home seriesagainst New Zealand and a lost two-Test series against the West Indies. Wereit not from the unexpected heroics of Upul Chandana at Bridgetown, whichallowed Sri Lanka to clinch the one-day series, the team would officially bein crisis.Fans will be hoping that the rare and welcome chance to rest will itself beenough to usher in a new competitiveness during another congested and toughyear in 2003/4 that includes two Australia series, home and away, as well ashome tours against England and South Africa.It had become increasingly obvious during recent months that several playerswere exhausted. Turned into factory cricketers by the never-ending touring,the players had been distanced from family and friends for too long. Mindswere turned stale and the cutting edge was lost. Come November theirbatteries should have been recharged and their hunger restored.© CricInfoPhysically, too, they suffered. The constant stream of matches meant therewas too little time for fitness training. The players lost shape – onepossible explanation for the spilled catches and momentary concentrationlapses that cost the batsmen dear – and niggling injuries stacked up. A newfitness trainer is to be appointed to work alongside the physio and his jobwill be to ensure that everyone is in peak condition by November.But a good rest will not be enough turnaround Sri Lanka’s fortunes. Firstand foremost they must shed the creeping negativity that has so shackledtheir cricket in recent times. Confidence has plummeted and the ebullientnatural strokeplayers have become stilted and unsure. Dyson, highlyqualified in the field of sports science and psychology, needs to injectfresh positivity into the dressing room and nurture greater self-belief.That assumes though that he gains sufficient respect from the players, someof who may be suspicious of his lack of coaching experience (his highestposition beforehand had been as assistant coach of New South Wales), as wellthe necessary support from the cricket board. It’s essential that he begiven extra clout, in selection and team policy, to implement his ideas andinfluence team decision-making.© ReutersDyson chances of putting Sri Lanka back on track will be helped by an end tothe experiment with two captains. Hashan Tillakaratne’s caretaker period incharge has been disappointing with three draws and a loss against mid-tableopposition. His safety-first approach has hampered the team’s progress,especially during the New Zealand series where Sri Lanka lacked the killerinstinct to ram home their home advantage.Marvan Atapattu, a more adventurous leader, has impressed sufficiently withthe one-day side to take over the Test captaincy burden too. His battingform has not suffered and his eagerness for the extra responsibility isplain to see. But whether the selectors, who appear less convinced about hiscredentials, are prepared to back him completely remains to be seen.They must. Only with strong and imaginative leadership from a secure captainand coach will Sri Lanka be able to make the most of their summer break andclimb back up the Test and ODI rankings. After a period of interim control,stagnation and disappointment, Sri Lanka now have a chance to move forwardagain – let’s hope that they are able to grasp this opportunity.
