The Sri Lankan talent hunt: Failure to produce quality youngsters

Scouting, or rather the lack of it, is another problem that has penetrated Sri Lankan cricket. There is no proper system for spotting talents, which implies that playing for the country is more of luck than excellence. In Sri Lanka, young prodigies are mainly spotted on the field during leisurely walks round the corner by celebrated personalities. Cricketers like Lahiru Thirimanne and 19- year-old Akila Dananjaya had fallen prey to similar fates when they were recognized by Aravinda de Silva and Mahela Jayawardene respectively.

The absence of ideal elementary coaching has its share of pros as well as cons, for the upcoming cricketers. Not only does this expose raw, unrefined talent to international cricket but also preserves the indigenous archetype of the islanders’ sport. Imagine what a toothless bowler Lasith Malinga would have been if that slinging action had been molded by orthodox coaching! Neither would have Ajantha Mendis developed the nickname of ‘mystery spinner’, nor would have Muttiah Muralitharan ended up as a legendary spinner.

Then again, lack of education isn’t all that harmless and at the end of the day, it stings you more than you expect. As a matter of fact, most Sri Lankan cricketers hail from rural areas where the economy isn’t steady enough to ensure appropriate education to the youth. Thus, all that you get at the training camp in Colombo is one big chunk of crude and unprocessed talent that needs to be cast into shape. But the primitiveness of their technique makes them almost impossible to coach and the rawness is what leaves absolutely no room for subtle adjustments and fine tuning without altering the entire game play, thereby downgrading characteristic originality to average regularity. No coach, especially when they are merely cricket enthusiasts and not qualified trainers, wants to jeopardize the natural instincts of a player and persuade him to imitate a particular style. Thus, talents are left raw and techniques are left faulty as Sri Lankan cricket moves on without pondering much upon the essence of the game.

Unequal distribution of technology in the country and the depressingly sluggish advancements in this field add to the woes of budding cricketers who, despite possessing promise, fail to make the cut. Off-field politics and frequent controversies also hamper the opportunities for numerous prodigies.

Having a 25-year-old leading the national side in the second most important ODI tournament after the World Cup visibly portrays the dilapidated state of affairs in the Lankan dressing room, which is thriving for sustenance via the next generation. With only Dinesh Chandimal showing some kind of expertise, the day may not be far behind when the responsibility of the entire team rests on his shoulders. And if that turns out to be so, the doomsday for Sri Lankan cricket may be already approaching.